Fractured wing

Re: Fractured wing

Mark Hedberg — Wed, 19 Sep 2012 22:33:07 GMT

[quote user="james herriot lied"]

[quote user="Mark Hedberg"]

Why on earth are there all these single stars? It's a pigeon and we're being optimistic about it - is that such a crime?! *sigh*

(Yes, yes, I'll go lie down for a few minutes, it will pass!)

[/quote]

Don't sweat it, Mark. To you, it's just a red star; to the anonymous lurker, it's free therapy. It might just be their only social interaction.

Arlo, might I suggest that you change the anon log-in details? Might be about time.

[/quote]

Good point; i suppose i just got annoyed at what was a perfectly interesting welfare discussion (pts vs op & rehome) and someone being childish.

Re: Fractured wing

james herriot lied — Wed, 19 Sep 2012 22:09:16 GMT

[quote user="Mark Hedberg"]

Why on earth are there all these single stars? It's a pigeon and we're being optimistic about it - is that such a crime?! *sigh*

(Yes, yes, I'll go lie down for a few minutes, it will pass!)

[/quote]

Don't sweat it, Mark. To you, it's just a red star; to the anonymous lurker, it's free therapy. It might just be their only social interaction.

Arlo, might I suggest that you change the anon log-in details? Might be about time.

Re: Fractured wing

Mark Hedberg — Wed, 19 Sep 2012 20:53:22 GMT

Why on earth are there all these single stars? It's a pigeon and we're being optimistic about it - is that such a crime?! *sigh*

(Yes, yes, I'll go lie down for a few minutes, it will pass!)

Re: Fractured wing

Marie Kubiak — Wed, 19 Sep 2012 20:13:17 GMT

I have absolutely nothing against fixing pigeons if they can have a good quality of life afterwards. If it can be released or even live out a normal life in an aviary then I'm all for it. They are surprisingly tough patients and quite endearing.

Re: Fractured wing

Rajat — Wed, 19 Sep 2012 20:04:23 GMT

Really glad to see I am not the only one keen to have a go at fixing pigeons...!

Re: Fractured wing

CatherineThomas — Wed, 19 Sep 2012 19:51:24 GMT

I think the lady had a rethink once she realised that she would have to pay for the op. She was assuming that we would do it for free because it was wildlife. I hadn't even mentioned how much it would be. She phoned back later in the afternoon to say that she had changed her mind and we should put it to sleep.

It's interesting to see everyone has such different opinions of it though.

Re: Fractured wing

Hannah Wynne Richards — Wed, 19 Sep 2012 15:20:05 GMT

That's just it With the vast majority of wild birds I would be in the euthanasia camp-but there's no real genetic difference between wild and domesticated doves/pigeons,and given a regular food supply they seem to rapidly relish being handled (cupboard love) I feel this one could do well

Wynne

Re: Fractured wing

Bob Russell — Wed, 19 Sep 2012 13:30:22 GMT

'Wild' pigeons self-domesticate within days. This is why they can be such a pain!

As someone who is not fond of the damage these flying rats do I find myself in the situation of coming to the defence of this bird! If it has a good home to go to, sort the wing and let it live out its life with an 'owner'.

Good pain control post-op to reduce the welfare complaints about surgery and as soon as the bird gets used to on-tap food and shelter it will be like a pig in s**t!

They must be the most adaptable individuals around. Feral cats are usually not so adaptable and can make lousy pets.

I still don't like pigeons much!

Re: Fractured wing

Hannah Wynne Richards — Wed, 19 Sep 2012 13:04:30 GMT

If it was a species which isn't domesticated at all I would totally agree with you-that treating it would be to falsely make ourselves feel good rather than for the birds welfare-but with pigeons I tend to think of them more like feral cats Matter of opinion I suppose

Wynne

Re: Fractured wing

Mark Holmes — Wed, 19 Sep 2012 11:03:32 GMT

[quote user="Hannah Wynne Richards"]

No body set out to deliberately tame this pigeon-it's just that it's wing is broken-and the question is" What is best now?"

[/quote]

As far as the pigeon is concerned its wild, and therefore the process of amputation and domestication is not in anyway "best" it is simple - euthanase it.

Unless you believe a pigeon is on a one way ticket to Hell, whatever comes after death, be it nothing,a green cornfield in the sky or reincarnation it is likely to be somewhat less distressing to the bird.

Re: Fractured wing

Hannah Wynne Richards — Wed, 19 Sep 2012 10:53:42 GMT

I think (for the above reasons) that pigeons are in an intermediate category, so maybe feral would be a better description than truly wild My friends didn't set out to have a flock of domesticated wild pigeons-it's just their fantail hens were bred by wild pigeons, and after a few generations, some look exactly like wild pigeons-but with the occasional white feather

Same thing applies with racers The serious racing men worry dreadfully about wild interbreeding-bit like having your Oaks winner mated by the carthorse down the road

No body set out to deliberately tame this pigeon-it's just that it's wing is broken-and the question is" What is best now?"

Wynne

Re: Fractured wing

Mark Holmes — Wed, 19 Sep 2012 10:41:13 GMT

Why would you want to domesticate a wild pigeon? I am seriously concerned that anyone would seriously consider wing amputation in a wild bird, unless of course paralympic pigeon racing has suddenly become a sport.

Re: Fractured wing

Hannah Wynne Richards — Wed, 19 Sep 2012 09:42:39 GMT

I've gold starred you Seriously wild pigeons are the same species (can interbreed and produce fertile offspring ) with racers and even fantails, so can't see why domestication would be impossible I know someone who's flock of white fantails came over the years to look more and more like wild pigeons-but continued to live in the dovecot and fly around the garden Also Trafalgar square pigeons-wild but domesticated themselves

Wynne

Re: Fractured wing

Mark Rowland — Tue, 18 Sep 2012 15:29:52 GMT

Go on do it, the bird will have a happy life. The chickens are no more at risk from disease than they would be from other wild pigeons, you get a bit of revenue and a chance to show your caring side. go on red red red red, look Ill even red it myself to get you started c-:

Re: Fractured wing

Martin Atkinson — Tue, 18 Sep 2012 15:12:08 GMT

If you gave into every nutty old lady with an injured wild bird you would be forever fixing them, tell her that her chickens will all die a horrible death from the aforementioned diseases (and possibly her too if she's unlucky) and I reckon she'll see sense, then pull its neck.

Re: Fractured wing

Marie Kubiak — Tue, 18 Sep 2012 13:28:08 GMT

I would be firm with her and explain that the wing is not going to heal. Whatever you do to it that bone will die off. Amputation is possible but this is a wild bird that is not necessarily going to appreciate being kept in captivity with its natural behaviour of flight curtailed. It also risks injury from the chickens without normal mobility. Plus it poses a risk of a number of diseases (paramyxovirus and chlamydophila being particularly concerning) for the chickens. I would go with your instincts and euthanase this bird.

Marie