[MTVN]

So today I noticed something tumbling past my window and looked outside and there was a pigeon there with a bloody crooked wing. It could walk around but couldn't fly and looked so sad sitting out there.

I put it in a box with a towel and some seeds and took it to the vets but they euthanised it which I was probably expecting. I am second guessing now though if that was the right thing and maybe I should have left it in the garden where it might have recovered slowly or taken it to somewhere where they might have treated it

Any pigeon experts out there or have you had a similar situation?

[Ammi]

…the thing is…if the wing was broken then that was the only thing to do, really …and from then it was their decisions because they understand the extent of the injury…

[Ammi]

…upsetting though……but you took it to someone who understood the injuries it had…

[MTVN]

Originally Posted by Ammi

…the thing is…if the wing was broken then that was the only thing to do, really …and from then it was their decisions because they understand the extent of the injury…

Yeah I started reading stuff online that broken wings can recover and also that vets will basically always just euthanise a wild bird even with minor injuries because they can't really afford to spend a lot of time and effort on treating them which made me think I could have done something else

It was probably still the only realistic outcome though

[Ammi]

Originally Posted by MTVN

Yeah I started reading stuff online that broken wings can recover and also that vets will basically always just euthanise a wild bird even with minor injuries because they can't really afford to spend a lot of time and effort on treating them which made me think I could have done something else

It was probably still the only realistic outcome though

…(…I think that’s the problem as well, we read and over-read at times until we read ourselves to think something that we fear…)…and that it could have been a brighter outcome, that may be the case sometimes but in reality…?…maybe not that often and more,quite rare…I know of animals that have been injured from time to time locally where I used to live and they have been taken to more specialist sanctuaries…?…and sadly, similar outcomes to the pigeon were the reality…honestly, there was no ‘something else’ to what you did because you did the best thing…

[AnnieK]

If you'd left it a cat or something would have got ut if it couldn't fly which would have been a way worse death. You did the right thing

[joeysteele]

You did the kindest thing you could.

Vets will sometimes try to help a wild bird usually only if it seems like there is a chance of healing.
The Pigeon would be greatly distressed by not being able to fly.
Plus they cannot say what pain they are feeling too.
Vets can recognise that.

You did absolutely the right thing.

[Kate!]

I also think you did the right thing. It had a humane death.

[Livia]

My Dad is as big a softie as me where animals are concerned and I've seen him chase an injured pigeon for miles. He would bring them home and set them up in his shed till they recovered. We had a couple with broken wings that did fix, but I guess you can never tell. I think you did the right thing. It was kind of you to do anything... lots of people would have said, it's just a pigeon.

[Crimson Dynamo]

I feed around 10 pigeons and a pair of wood pigeon every day 365 days a year. I have faced this twice before with aged or injured ones. I try to put them on a comfortable place but ultimately I leave them to mother nature to deal with.
I had a crow once with a very nasty cat related injuries so I killed it quickly with a spade (the crow not the vile cat)

[MTVN]

Thanks all

Originally Posted by Livia

My Dad is as big a softie as me where animals are concerned and I've seen him chase an injured pigeon for miles. He would bring them home and set them up in his shed till they recovered. We had a couple with broken wings that did fix, but I guess you can never tell. I think you did the right thing. It was kind of you to do anything... lots of people would have said, it's just a pigeon.

Aha that's pretty epic of your Dad and amazing that he was able to save them, I guess it took a fair amount of care and attention as they recovered. I know a lot of people find them a nuisance but I think they're quite sweet and they used to be so prized by humans until we had no need of them anymore

[Cherie]

You definately did the right thing, unless there is a local wildlife hospital near you, I think that under the circumstance it was the kindest option

[Beso]

If you have a shed, it could have gone in there when you could have had and watered it until it got better.