10/29/2026
Last Friday i answered a desperate post about an elderly woman who is in the hospital due to bird lung, she had 5 doves that had to go ASAP, Dr's orders. So i volunteered to take 2 of them, a bonded pair of white Eurasian collared doves. They came with cage and food and are currently in our kitchen. They were pretty scared but settled with in a couple days. We named them Arcturus and Tau Ceti. At least one is a girl because there were eggs, but otherwise I cant even tell them apart yet.
Then today another plea about a hurt pigeon that I answered.... because I have nothing better to do i guess. This one. Can't fly but I sure dont feel an obvious break. One wing feels stronger than the other. Its also super skinny, so im wondering if it was just slightly injured and just hasn't been able to find food. Im letting it settle in a dog kennel now.
Pigeons are not wild birds, they are feral. That means they used to be domesticated but were left to their own devices and learned how to survive.. They are not protected which means any weirdo like me can pick one up and keep it, but it also means some rehabs and vets won't take them on either.
Much to my family's chagrin, ive given thought to doing pigeon rescue. But becoming a real rescue and 501k and all that is insanely expensive, time-consuming and difficult. But much needed. So I looked into a permanent sanctuary and it was much the same.
It seems legal to have a casual backyard aviary with rescued pigeons. So imma do that.
Pigeons and doves are like chickens in that if they are healthy and dry thry can stay outside all winter but, only if they get used to the changing weather gradually. So all 3 of these birds are going to be house birds over the winter its looking like.
