This post turned out to be quite long—again. Somehow, whenever I write, it ends up feeling like a personal blog post. Normally, I can’t even remember what I did two days ago, but if it’s about pigeons, I remember every detail vividly.

I’m using the Voyager app, and I don’t know how to embed a picture into this post. I’ll add it in the comments instead.

Since my last post about the blackbird, a lot has happened in my personal life. That’s why I haven’t been posting much lately. Things have settled down now, though, and I want to start by wishing everyone a Happy New Year (I know, it’s a “little” late). I hope you achieve your goals this year and stay as healthy as possible.

So, pigeons are still visiting me, as they regularly do. Where I live, the temperature has recently dropped below 0°C (32°F), and I’ve been feeding them to help them through the cold. The sparrows, blackbirds, and pigeons seem very happy with that. Luckily, where I live, feeding birds in winter is allowed.

Two days ago, I noticed a new pigeon on my balcony. It was smaller than the others and looked a bit helpless, as it was easily bullied by the bigger pigeons. Usually, I don’t interfere in such situations, but this little one couldn’t even defend itself or run away. It got so bad that a bigger pigeon jumped on it and started pecking aggressively.

The most concerning issue was that the little pigeon walked strangely, though it could fly. This immediately made me worry about a potential neurological problem, which is often a very bad sign in pigeons. There’s usually no cure for such issues, and I became deeply concerned that my other pigeons (two feral pigeons and a disabled wood pigeon) could catch whatever it might have, should I take it in. I found myself in a moral dilemma. I truly love pigeons and have an emotional connection to them — they’ve made my life so much better.

After deciding not to take the sick pigeon in, I was sad as hell and then tried to distract myself. I asked my wife to let me know if the little pigeon came back, so I could avoid it. But at one point, we forgot, and I went to smoke. There it was again, on the balcony. It tried to eat but was chased away as usual, running away rather than flying off like most pigeons would. My wife looked for it and found it hiding in a corner behind a large box.

That was enough for me and I needed to take a closer look. After a couple of minutes, the pigeon came out and moved closer to the balcony door, where the sun had warmed the glass. I opened the door carefully, and it only retreated about a meter (3 feet), seemingly unbothered by my presence. At that moment, I noticed that its issue didn’t look neurological but rather something else. I slowly approached it and managed to catch it easily, which is generally a sign that a bird is very weak. Holding it in my hands, it was obvious, that it needed to be quarantined.

While the cage as prepared, I held the pigeon, and it wasn’t scared at all. In fact, it enjoyed being scratched and petted, and the warmth of my hands seemed to bring it comfort.

Here are the issues I noticed:

• Its feet were severely swollen — about twice the normal size — which can happen in damp, cold environments.
• Its feet were caked with an encrusted layer of excrement, likely because it was too weak to move or clean itself.
• There was a slight crack in the lower part of its beak, possibly from falling out of a nest.
• It appeared malnourished; it was very light and underweight.
• In its current state, it wouldn’t survive another night out in the cold.

I also think it’s a male pigeon. Roosters (male pigeons) often have a certain “aggressive” look, which, to be honest, I found incredibly cute in this little guy.

I placed him in the cage with a towel formed to a donut for support, water with added minerals, and plenty of food. He didn’t really stand but instead lay down on the towel due to his swollen feet. However, when he tried to defecate, something seemed wrong. He struggled a bit and had diarrhea, which pigeons often get if they’ve eaten something bad or haven’t eaten enough. A healthy pigeon’s poop is solid and mostly odorless. His, however, smelled terrible, and that’s not a good sign.

He also wasn’t eating much and seemed to be trying to vomit after eating. This behavior suggests a potential parasite issue. We checked for yellow plaque in his throat, which can indicate Trichomonas gallinae, but we didn’t see any signs of it — though the parasites could still be in his crop. Based on his feces, there’s a good chance he has a Giardia infection.

While a cure does exist, the problem is money. I’m currently unemployed and disabled, so finding a suitable job has been a challenge. Things are looking up, though, and I hope to secure something later this year. But right now, funds are tight, so we’re trying to get over-the-counter medicine that doesn’t require a vet. Unfortunately, there’s also a shipping delay, and I’ll hear more about it in a day or two. Wish me luck!

If that doesn’t work out, we’ll have no choice but to visit a vet, even if it means cutting back on other expenses like food for ourselves. It is what it is. I’m not in as bad a state as this pigeon, so it’s something I can live with. Unfortunately, some vets here refuse to treat pigeons, calling them “wildlife” (which they aren’t). But I am sure I will found one.

Until then, we’re encouraging him to eat by placing seeds near his cage where he can see our other pigeons eating. Tomorrow, or the day after, I’ll buy a syringe to force-feed him if his appetite doesn’t improve.

Of course, there’s a possibility he might not make it, but we’re doing everything we can with the resources we have. If the worst happens, at least he’ll have known some comfort and care. I spend a lot of time talking to him, scratching his head, and cuddling him — always disinfecting afterward. He seems to love the attention, and lowering his stress levels helps his immune system.

He’s an absolute cutie. I think he only learned to fly about a week ago and is still more of a squab than an adult pigeon. He’s curious, especially about the wood pigeon. Skin contact seems to make him happy, and seeing his little reactions brings me so much joy. Guessing that he is male, his name is “Mini-Rooster”.