HELP! baby pigeon fell out of tree in nest, what to do?!?!?!

[ToniZoso]

Hello. Today we were cutting down some trees and a nest fell out of one of them, which we didnt notice. the mother pigeon wouldnt take the baby back so now it is in our care, we think it is about 12 days old. we have nothing to feed it tonight, except budgy seeds, oats, and bread, but we dont think these are good things to feed it, any other household foods which will be good for it? also how should we keep it overnight, we put a heat pad under some towels in a cage, is this suffice?

HELP!

-Toni

P.s. Its night time so i cant buy bird food.

[Angelsmum]

I would be trying tomorrow to put the nest and baby outside where the mother can find it.

I have sent you a PM.

[maggy]

It will need fluids immediately, use a eye dropper and give it body temperature water with sugar dissolved in it, this will keep it hydrated and give it some energy. Keep it in a darkened environ, warm is good, good thinking. Now can you ring an animal rescue service, WIRES or somesuch? The RSPCA should have a number for them or they may know someone who rescues wildlife locally to you. You could also look up the telephone book for wildlife centres, they could help. Maybe ring a pigeon organisation, even if they don't take the bird they could put you on to somene who can help. Good on you for helping this little baby.

[Ashling]

Wash your hands well after touching it and do not let it ANYWHERE NEAR your other birds. Wild birds have parasites (mites, lice etc) and can carry diseases such as psittacosis (contagious to humans) Keep it somewhere warm and dark to treat it for shock, keep noise levels low and don't disturb him if you can help it.

Is it a spotted turtle dove? I tried to rescue one when I was little. They have a strict diet packed full of protein from their parent's crop milk and will need a special food developed for pigions/ doves. I can't say if it would be best to feed it or not- sometimes we do more harm than good. As maggy said, at the very least a bit of water and sugar won't hurt but make sure it goes into the crop, not down its windpipe or you will drown it. If you can use a cotton tip to let it lick the water off, that will be less dangerous. Then asap call a wildlife rehabilitation center or a wildlife carer who is a bird lover. Some people won't help because spotted turtle doves are an introduced species and a pest so some people believe they are better off dead. Keep us updated plz