Wendell the very smart king pigeon with bumble foot

Wendell is a VERY smart stray king pigeon who was suffering from painful bumble foot (infected feet probably caused by spending his life standing on cage wire) and, on March 27th, somehow decided to present himself to the staff of the Bay Area Bird Hospital where he has been receiving tender care ever since.

Here's what they say about him:

He's a handsome fella. He's really getting more comfortable around the hospital staff now, coming right up to the front of the cage instead of hiding in the back, and he's cooing now too, even when being held in the towel for his medication. The doctor changed his bandages on Wednesday and I think the results were kind of mixed, where one area had improved while another area had gotten worse. I know the doctor modified the bandage when she re-wrapped his feet so hopefully, the results will be better the next time we check.



So, if you're not intimidated by a smart, independent pigeon with a preferred veterinary provider, consider adopting Wendell!


April 15 Update from BABH staff:
Wendell had surgery last week to remove the lesions on his feet and is doing great!! He still has his special shoes on and is walking all over the hospital and cooing up a storm!! WE TOTALLY LOVE HIM here, and he is going to make someone a WONDERFUL companion. :)

October 19 Update:

Wendy has been adopted! A lot happened along the way. On May 25th, I took Wendell/Wendy to Andy's to meet Johnny Pijj who had an empty spot in his foster cage and in his heart.

In this video, he's meeting Wendell (who we renamed Wendy) and doing his one-legged version of a look-at-what-a-handsome-buck-of-a-pigeon dance. I LOVE the slap of his little foot on the linoleum.



Johnny worked hard to make a good impression and it seemed to work. He and Wendy were mated for several months. It wasn't always easy for them- Wendy is a full size king pigeon and Johnny is a teeny-tiny homing pigeon with one leg and so their efforts to get together required Wendy's utmost patience.

They did well for several months but it seemed more like a marriage of convenience than true passion that kept them together.




In the meantime, another king, Dovee, had paired up with a teeny-tiny homing pigeon with a bad foot named Zoe... Seeing little her support his full romantic weight was painful to witness.

I've never before broken up a pigeon marriage to re-match birds but I decided to take a chance and break up two pigeon marriages- Wendy & Johnny and Zoe & Dovee in the hopes of having the kings (Wendy & Dovee) and the homers (Zoe & Johnny) bond to each other.

The effort has been half successful and Wendy & Dovee were a couple by the second day. By doing this rearranging, Wendy became officially adopted as Dovee's mate by MickaCoo supporter and volunteer extraordionaire Cheryl.

Zoe & Johnny Pijj are friends but there are no fireworks.