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Pigeon help... anybody know pigeons? by LarkspurDragon

Anybody know anything about pigeons? I cross-posted this to pigeons.biz (a pigeon forum) but I'd like to see what you guys have to say.

I have a feral flock of pigeons roosting in the top of my barn and a few days ago I noticed that one of them has been hanging around on or near the porch. She can walk fairly fast but seemed to be unable to fly well, more than maybe 18 inches high, and couldn't reach the tray feeder on the railing. I chalked it up to one of the males bothering her (there was a male following her around and cooing and doing the Neck Thing).

But yesterday she was still there and I thought maybe she was hurt, so I captured her (pretty easily, I might add) and put her in a towel-padded cat crate in my warm bedroom to keep an eye on her. I put in a dish of water and one of the birdseed I put in my outdoor feeders as that's what the feral pigeons are used to eating.

I let her acclimate for a few hours then went in to examine her for injuries. I didn't see anything amiss physically. She has no watery eyes and her nares are clear. Her feathers look good and glossy, her feet look fine, and she doesn't look like she has any neurological things going on. She did feel a little thin and her keel, though not sharp, was noticeable. I put her to bed and hoped she'd look better in the morning.

Then this morning I brought her out (with very little fuss; some wing flapping but no attempt to bite or scratch) and sat with her on my knee for about 15 minutes to see what she would do. Other than being startled by my hand movements and sliding off my slippery pants, she didn't do a whole lot, and mostly just hunkered down like in the picture below. She's standing, not resting on her front, but not by a lot.
https://www.dropbox.com/s/qz9vslj64eljwjk/2014-04-07%2008.48.49.jpg
She has a bit of a hunchback when at rest. Her wings are droopy and though she can hold them in place when she's startled, mostly they hang down like that. She also pooped on me, which was white and wet but didn't have any solid bits. I put her back in the crate for some rest.

What might be going on with her? Is it something I should keep her inside for, or should I move her to the smaller barn to keep an eye on her there? Her boyfriend (I can only assume that) has been sitting on the railing where he last saw her and cooing up a storm, so she's probably lonely too.

I'm assuming given the lack of solid material in her poop and her protruding keel that I should at least keep her inside until she's eating well and gained some weight. Is this right?

And should I be worried about whatever it is transferring to my geese or other birds?

Pigeon help... anybody know pigeons?

LarkspurDragon

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