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Original poster

Injured pigeon - what the hell do I do

120 replies

shoulditbethishard1 · 20/05/2023 19:04

An injured pigeon has landed on my drive, it looks like it might have been hit by a car, it can flap its wings but it’s like it’s back end is stuck to the floor and it can’t get up.

I think it’s days are numbered but I’ve just been back out there, it’s breathing very heavily, I don’t want it to suffer needlessly but I couldn’t put an end to its misery myself.

vets won’t be interested, RSPB won’t be interested.

what would you do?

OP posts:
CopyThenPaste · 20/05/2023 19:28

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L1ttledrummergirl · 20/05/2023 19:28

Try the emergency number. There will be a vet you can take it too, they will probably pts if injured, but at least that will be a kindness to the poor thing.

marshmallowmatcha · 20/05/2023 19:28

shoulditbethishard1 · 20/05/2023 19:23

I’ve put a cardboard box out, it can still flap its wings but literally cannot go anywhere. Vets is closed and doesn’t open until tomorrow. I’ll post on my Facebook group and see if anyone can help

There will be an emergancy vet somewhere

cariadlet · 20/05/2023 19:28

I'd Google wildlife rescue to see if there are any groups near you. My local one has come round and picked up an injured pigeon and an injured seagull that we had found (separate occasions).

ScorpioSphinx · 20/05/2023 19:29

An injured pigeon wandered into my kitchen a few months ago. I took it to the vets with my DD and they called me the next day to tell me it had 'taken a turn for the worse' in the night and had to be put to sleep. I assumed that meant that the vets didn't want to treat it for free Sad

Lockheart · 20/05/2023 19:31

ScorpioSphinx · 20/05/2023 19:29

An injured pigeon wandered into my kitchen a few months ago. I took it to the vets with my DD and they called me the next day to tell me it had 'taken a turn for the worse' in the night and had to be put to sleep. I assumed that meant that the vets didn't want to treat it for free Sad

Most vets aren't going to treat an injured pigeon for free. If you wanted it treated why didn't you pay?

Twinpeaches · 20/05/2023 19:31

https://m.facebook.com/Pecksavers

These guys are obviously local to Norfolk but they might be able to offer advice/point you in the right direction.

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See posts, photos and more on Facebook.

https://m.facebook.com/Pecksavers

oakleaffy · 20/05/2023 19:34

@shoulditbethishard1 We found a poor wood pigeon that a magpie was attacking.
We shooed the magpie away, but the woodie had a hole punched deep into her chest, under her wing.
She couldn't fly.
My friend, a countryman, 'Wrung' her neck ..{Transporting her to a vets for euthanasia would have taken a couple of hours as 'Out of hours', the swift neck action was more humane}.

Xrays · 20/05/2023 19:35

shoulditbethishard1 · 20/05/2023 19:23

I’ve put a cardboard box out, it can still flap its wings but literally cannot go anywhere. Vets is closed and doesn’t open until tomorrow. I’ll post on my Facebook group and see if anyone can help

Most vets have an out of hours service - usually you ring their number and there will be a message telling you another number to ring. Usually that connects directly to a vet at home and you can ask their advice. They may tell you to bring it to them.

Xenia · 20/05/2023 19:36

We all have different views. I would just put it out of its misery or leave it alone to die.

ScorpioSphinx · 20/05/2023 19:38

Lockheart · 20/05/2023 19:31

Most vets aren't going to treat an injured pigeon for free. If you wanted it treated why didn't you pay?

Show quote history

What an odd comment. I didn't, particularly. But they did make it seem like they would treat it, probably for my DD's sake. Paying for treatment wasnt an option either! It wasn't even suggested.

Original poster
shoulditbethishard1 · 20/05/2023 19:38

Xenia · 20/05/2023 19:36

We all have different views. I would just put it out of its misery or leave it alone to die.

The kindest thing would be to put it out of its misery but I cannot do that myself, I just can’t

OP posts:
oakleaffy · 20/05/2023 19:43

Xenia · 20/05/2023 19:36

We all have different views. I would just put it out of its misery or leave it alone to die.

We found a very ill baby rabbit on a walk, and my friend was so upset by it, a vet was phoned..
The vet said that wild animals are really best left alone..They become very stressed being transported, and that it is better for the animal {Or bird} to leave it where it is.
The next day, I went back, and the bunny had gone.
Probably carrion crows.

CopyThenPaste · 20/05/2023 19:47

These threads always bring the animal haters out. IRL, they’re always the most pathetic, lonely and weak people who wouldn’t do anything like they suggest. 🙄

Lockheart · 20/05/2023 19:49

CopyThenPaste · 20/05/2023 19:47

These threads always bring the animal haters out. IRL, they’re always the most pathetic, lonely and weak people who wouldn’t do anything like they suggest. 🙄

It's not animal-hating to put a critically injured animal out of its misery.

CopyThenPaste · 20/05/2023 19:50

The vet said that wild animals are really best left alone..They become very stressed being transported, and that it is better for the animal {Or bird} to leave it where it is.

I was a vet nurse for many years and have many vet/vet nurse friends. None of us would say this. A short trip to a vet to be euthanised will be less stressful that what would otherwise happen with a slower natural death or being attacked by other animals or even humans.

oakleaffy · 20/05/2023 19:51

@shoulditbethishard1
If you really can't put the bird out of pain yourself, can you carry it to a secluded place in the garden?..Offer it water.. chances are it's dying, at least in a secluded place, it might feel safer.

Come nightfall, a cat of fox will likely take it.

Oilyoilyoilgob · 20/05/2023 19:52

OP you are still posting so I’m hoping you see this and answer-can you give an idea of where you are?

I’ve taken a fair few wood pigeons to rescues local to me in East Yorkshire and Lincolnshire. I’m also a member of this Facebook group who have done amazing members who will help quickly.

for now, please put some air holes in the cardboard box and leave the pigeon in a very quiet, darker room with no disturbances from pets/kids. Do not try to feed it.

At the very least, ring a couple of local vets-I’ve taken some very badly injured ones to ours and they quickly and kindly put them to sleep.

Injured pigeon - what the hell do I do
CopyThenPaste · 20/05/2023 19:52

@Lockheart youre being naive. For example look at one of the usernames on this thread.

ReleasetheCrackHen · 20/05/2023 19:54

I would not go near it. Avian flu is still making the rounds in the wild birds. That’s not something you want to catch.

Goodread1 · 20/05/2023 19:58

Hi Op@shoulditbethishard1

I rember several years, I came across a stunned injured pigeon in my town centre,

I took him back to my friends house and we tel the local vets practice nearby or Rspca,

they came out and took pigeon away,

My friends grandson ironically was a vet, but he lived too far away, to come and help,
Friend tried ringing him, couldn't get through to him for bit of advice.

Thank you for caring about this pigeon @shoulditbethishard1 ,

I have volunteered in past for Birdlife protection charity, one of their nature reserves in uk.

Regholdsworthswaterbed · 20/05/2023 19:59

Call me callous but I wouldn't be driving around trying to find an out of hours vet for a bloody pigeon. I think in this instance I'd call on a less squeamish friend of neighbour to put it out of its misery. Don't ask on Facebook whatever you do, you'll get the batshits out in force.

oakleaffy · 20/05/2023 20:02

CopyThenPaste · 20/05/2023 19:50

The vet said that wild animals are really best left alone..They become very stressed being transported, and that it is better for the animal {Or bird} to leave it where it is.

I was a vet nurse for many years and have many vet/vet nurse friends. None of us would say this. A short trip to a vet to be euthanised will be less stressful that what would otherwise happen with a slower natural death or being attacked by other animals or even humans.

Two experienced vets said the same thing re small wild animals..They can't both be wrong..Being carried, driven, then waiting in a busy hospital..

One of these vets did treat a cat I found on a walk..I flagged down a car, and two dogs plus the cat {Fractured pelvis and femur/internal bleeding} got into the back seat of the vehicle..a cat is domesticated, and able to handle the stress of transport.
The cat had almost white gums, and was in a bad way.

The cat survived, I met his owners and the cat several months later.

ALongFewWeeks · 20/05/2023 20:02

These threads always bring the animal haters out. IRL, they’re always the most pathetic, lonely and weak people who wouldn’t do anything like they suggest. 🙄

Well said. And yes, look at one of the goady usernames. And some of the usual names that can’t wait to be nasty about any animal. Pathetic.

Put it in a box and take to a vet OP. They’ll most likely euthanise.

Original poster
shoulditbethishard1 · 20/05/2023 20:08

Just been outside to put it in a box, it’s still flapping it’s wings like mad, I couldn’t get a good hold of it and it’s now shuffled under my car 🤦‍♀️

I’m not starting the engine, I’ll keep checking but it’s at the very least sheltered now.

OP posts: