Another big day of bird rescue
Another big day of bird rescue today. First I boxed up Brutis, Bandit, Jade and Mei Mei for their trip to the Marin Humane Society. (Austin's feeling much better but I didn't want to risk a relapse and have held him back though he is now out in the loft.) Though I've had these birds less than a week, I've already grown attached to them and, as much as I need and appreciate MHS taking them, it makes me sad to say goodbye. I loaded them in the car and drove downtown to meet Mickaboo PR and Fundraising Director Pamela Lee for a Mickaboo hand off that included invitations to fold and mail for the Holiday Party and an infrared heat bulb donated by a volunteer to my kitchen counter hospital.

From there I went to too-full SFACC to pick up their 4 kings and 7 young chickens for the trip to MHS. Their king pigeons included Calistoga- a healthy little squeaker, Barley- an adult who was last week's Pet of the Week and whose beak was scissored, Aspen- a big old king bird with traces of dried blood around the edges of his nares (nostrils) and beak (probably from an impact injury) and who struck me more as a Detroit than an Aspen and Skyscraper- an aptly named baby with a fractured wing. The 7 chickens were all just youngsters, small and cute, with names like Shirley, Cluckers & Peepers. I knew Skyscraper would need vet care and a foster home recovery and I was a little concerned about Aspen's bloody nose but I was hopeful the MHS vet could trim Barley's beak.



A call to the shelter from the road alerted me that that wouldn't work. Then, thanks to help from a super nice WildCare volunteer, I got a referral to Central Marin Cats and Exotics Hospital. Then, thanks to their super nice receptionist, Ginger, who didn't blink when I called from the road saying, "Hi, I'm a new client with a rescued pigeon that needs a scissored beak trimmed like right now!" (because I was already overdue at MHS), I was able to get Barley's beak trimmed (meaning she could go to MHS) and Skyscraper's wing injury looked over as well (a day sooner than would have been otherwise possible). I was really happy that they were so accommodating and able to fit us in- very nice folks!



Once at Marin Humane Society, the pigeons were happy to be out of boxes and to check out their nice, big new (temporary) home and each other. They are are available for adoption from MHS. Before I left, Brutis was talking his line to Barley and I think she was buying it. The rooster, only slightly disappointed to have more king pigeons move in, supervised the whole operation.

There was another little wrinkle in that the bantam chicks that I had brought from SFACC were too small to be safely housed at MHS (I should have known that- I had to leave SFACC's quail behind for the same reason and they were the same size- duh!) and so, after a nice 4-hour long joyride with me, they found themselves right back at SFACC (and available for adoption there). Sorry, Littles- you'll get sunshine and grass soon, I'm sure.

So now, my home loft has 4 fewer pigeons but I've gained two on the kitchen counter hospital. Aspen is here for observation and may well be fine. His poops don't look great but he's a big, mature pij and they're tough and I'm betting he'll be fine with a little extra TLC. If he's had a head trauma, he's not showing any neurological signs. He's alert, oriented and steady.

Fortunately for me and for Skyscraper, he's got a foster home ready for him with Sherri and Peppermint. Dr. Bacon examined his wing and found that Skyscraper's own healing process has already stabilized the break and built callous around the injury. It's too far along to intervene and while it will continue to heal on it's own, he may not regain full extension (or flight) which isn't as bad for a king as it would be for any other pigeon because kings are such poor fliers anyway (and hawk magnets) that Skyscraper was already going to need to live in an aviary. He's dirty, young (about 4-5 weeks) and his poops don't look great at the moment but his prognosis is very good. If you'd like to donate to help cover Barley's and Skyscraper's vet bill, please click here and follow the prompts. The total is only $96! Woo hoo!
From there I went to too-full SFACC to pick up their 4 kings and 7 young chickens for the trip to MHS. Their king pigeons included Calistoga- a healthy little squeaker, Barley- an adult who was last week's Pet of the Week and whose beak was scissored, Aspen- a big old king bird with traces of dried blood around the edges of his nares (nostrils) and beak (probably from an impact injury) and who struck me more as a Detroit than an Aspen and Skyscraper- an aptly named baby with a fractured wing. The 7 chickens were all just youngsters, small and cute, with names like Shirley, Cluckers & Peepers. I knew Skyscraper would need vet care and a foster home recovery and I was a little concerned about Aspen's bloody nose but I was hopeful the MHS vet could trim Barley's beak.
A call to the shelter from the road alerted me that that wouldn't work. Then, thanks to help from a super nice WildCare volunteer, I got a referral to Central Marin Cats and Exotics Hospital. Then, thanks to their super nice receptionist, Ginger, who didn't blink when I called from the road saying, "Hi, I'm a new client with a rescued pigeon that needs a scissored beak trimmed like right now!" (because I was already overdue at MHS), I was able to get Barley's beak trimmed (meaning she could go to MHS) and Skyscraper's wing injury looked over as well (a day sooner than would have been otherwise possible). I was really happy that they were so accommodating and able to fit us in- very nice folks!
Once at Marin Humane Society, the pigeons were happy to be out of boxes and to check out their nice, big new (temporary) home and each other. They are are available for adoption from MHS. Before I left, Brutis was talking his line to Barley and I think she was buying it. The rooster, only slightly disappointed to have more king pigeons move in, supervised the whole operation.
There was another little wrinkle in that the bantam chicks that I had brought from SFACC were too small to be safely housed at MHS (I should have known that- I had to leave SFACC's quail behind for the same reason and they were the same size- duh!) and so, after a nice 4-hour long joyride with me, they found themselves right back at SFACC (and available for adoption there). Sorry, Littles- you'll get sunshine and grass soon, I'm sure.
So now, my home loft has 4 fewer pigeons but I've gained two on the kitchen counter hospital. Aspen is here for observation and may well be fine. His poops don't look great but he's a big, mature pij and they're tough and I'm betting he'll be fine with a little extra TLC. If he's had a head trauma, he's not showing any neurological signs. He's alert, oriented and steady.
Fortunately for me and for Skyscraper, he's got a foster home ready for him with Sherri and Peppermint. Dr. Bacon examined his wing and found that Skyscraper's own healing process has already stabilized the break and built callous around the injury. It's too far along to intervene and while it will continue to heal on it's own, he may not regain full extension (or flight) which isn't as bad for a king as it would be for any other pigeon because kings are such poor fliers anyway (and hawk magnets) that Skyscraper was already going to need to live in an aviary. He's dirty, young (about 4-5 weeks) and his poops don't look great at the moment but his prognosis is very good. If you'd like to donate to help cover Barley's and Skyscraper's vet bill, please click here and follow the prompts. The total is only $96! Woo hoo!
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