Frost's story

6.12.14

First I'd like to say hello to Barbara - a new blog reader who came to me through buying feathers on ebay (I do put feathers on ebay sometimes, but most are sold through my feather shop called Real Birds Feathers on Groovycart - click the link to have a look  - see my feather shop!

23.11.14 – Sunday – I was out all day yesterday from 10.45am to dark – which meant that though I threw grain down before I left, I didn’t know which birds had managed to get some food (except the ones that were fed before I went of course – and that didn’t include Sausage. Today was a dreadful gloomy November day – raining heavily all day – but Sausage had arrived by 11.30am and I was able to pluck her from the clustering pigeons and take her in for a hand feed of about 13 peanuts. It’s about 6 days since I last fed her, and though she can feed herself and is doing well, she can’t seem to pick up the nutritious peanuts. I also weighed her and she was approx 234. The first weigh in was 197 so she has improved a bit, but still pretty low in weight as compared to Cloud – 354g  Cissie – 327g  Chino – 275g.

 My homies - Chino (brown), Cloud (white) and Cissie (grey)

If not many birds are about, they shelter in the doorway of the shed kitchen for safety

Later, I gave Chino a bath

 and kept him in the kitchen to dry off

I have been watching a white dove that seems old or a bit poorly. It has spent the last few nights locally – once on the ‘step’ of the entrance to Mr. Moon’s nestbox. He seems to be friends with Mr. Moon and hangs round with him.

I have named him Frost and he’s recognisable due to his scruffy look. This morning when hubbie opened the back door to go off out, he said ‘There’s a poorly white dove’ and there was Frost sitting on the step – but though I gently bent down and tried to pick him up, he flew off – so not too bad then! Frost came down later, again to the patio near the door, and ate a few small grains, and flew up again and I didn’t think about him til I popped out after lunch, coming back only a few minutes later to find that though it was only about 1pm, most birds had left the roof for the day (due to the incessant rain and gloom) and Frost was huddled on the doorstep – Any room at the inn? There is always room, Frost, so I got the net and very gently brought it up against him – he didn’t struggle and I picked him up easily. He obviously was wanting and asking for help (well, I think so!) The day was so vile that I decided to bring the homies in early anyway, so I swapped Cloud for Frost, and brought her in to her usual place – while I thought how I would house him. Chino hadn't been out all day, and I brought Cissie in from the run – so homies all in, and then I brought in Chino’s outside box – drained it all out, dried it up and got it ready to put Frost in. I had no intention of leaving him outside in the hutch. While he was in the hutch, I put some food in with him and saw him eat a little, but after he’d been inside for an hour or so, I hand fed him a few peanuts to perk him up, offered him a drink, and then settled him in the spare room where the homies sleep – before hubbie came home. He doesn’t take that kindly to even more homies! I will see how he is tomorrow - Frost, not hubbie!

 FROST

Monday 24.11.14 – Frost was alive and quite perky this morning. While I fed the flock and dealt with the others I put him in Cissie’s crate and saw him start to eat. A bit later, but while the flock were still there – I ringed him with an orange ring, and took him outside. We had had a light frost but the day was brighter than it’s been for days – if it had been like yesterday, dark and raining, I would’ve kept him in. I put him gently on the ground, but he flew to the table, and then the chair back.

 A male started making up to him, and sat next to him, so I think my Frosty is a girl –and perhaps that’s her mate, who knows?

She flew to the roof and after a while, was lost amongst the others. You can see from the paper from the night box that she has diarrhoea and is obviously not that well, but she can fly and it’s only right she should spend her time, free as any other bird on the roof. Hopefully she will stay near and I can bring her in for the night, if need be. 

 Above - Frost's night box paper and below, for comparison - Chino's

The flock was beginning to leave, after feeding, at about 2pm and Frost came down to the table and pecked about a bit – only able to eat small quantities of small grains. I approached her softly softly, but with the net in hand, and managed to easily catch her and bring her in with the others for the night. Thank goodness, as the temperature is dropping rapidly and when I have a poorly one I hate them having to spend the night, unprotected, on the cold roof. I was also able to give her a small top up feed of peanuts and hard peas. She (like Chino when he arrived in need of help) seems to understand the situation and my role in it and accepts my aid. I also saw Sausage with the flock at feeding time, so today was a good dovie day.

Tuesday 25.11.14 – Frost seemed a bit poorlier this morning but after I’d dealt with the other homies, I took her outside and put her on the table. She just sat there, hunched up, and I felt that I’d made a mistake, especially as the day wasn’t as bright as yesterday – so I went to pick her up, but she flew across the garden to the raised bed. I was able to quickly trap her there in the net, and bring her in to spend the day in Cissie’s crate – sitting quietly on the top of the box. 

 As you can see the diarrhoea is certainly not better, and Frost seemed disinclined to eat at all today. She feels extremely light and without substance – the birds often feel like that before they pass away, and I can’t see she can last much longer.  I weighed her and she was 270g – which surprised me, I thought she would be lighter. I did give her a small hand feed of about 10 peas at midday, and I offered her water several times during the day. When it was time for the homies to come in, I cleaned up Cissie’s crate and put Frost into the box that Chino uses during the day. I don’t like all this swapping of boxes and crates but don’t have enough facilities for each to have their own inside and outside ‘homes’. Obviously there is always the risk of infection but I do my best to clean up, and feel that each bird must take it’s chance – like members of a family when one has a cold or flu!  It seems likely that Frost might die in the night and I will be sad as she is a sweet thing. I don’t check the birds at night usually but I have made her as comfortable and clean as possible, and put two rugs over her box.

Wednesday 26.11.14 – Normally I am off out early but not having my granddaughter today, so didn’t have a rushed start. Frost is still alive, and I took her out of the night box for a drink which she accepted. Another gloomy day and I didn’t even think of giving her a chance to fly, she is not well enough and luckily I didn’t as we had a hawk attempt at the early feed. I had just brought Cloud back into the house and was going out to get Cissie – who was standing in the doorway of the shed kitchen – when there was a swoop and a flurry as the hawk pounced on a grey pigeon. My arrival meant that that one got away this time. I immediately scooped up my Cissie with her wildly beating heart and held her close to mine while I brought her in. There is always always danger from the hawk – I can never assume that it is ‘not around’. Frost and birds like her are ‘cleaned up’ by the hawk – survival of the fittest – and poor Frosty is not fit at all. She reminds me of the poorly Faith that I kept as a homie, I think it was last winter, in the lead up to Christmas. When doves are in this state, they are quite sweet as very quiet and accepting of my ministrations. Cloud and Cissie go out at the morning feed for a short while, are hand fed by me in the garden, unless it’s pouring, and then brought in for about an hour before going into their garden homes, the hutch and the run. Chino doesn’t go out on the lawn in the morning, because he is more difficult to catch and doesn’t enjoy being loose so much. So when I get him up, he goes straight into the conservatory, but then out into the garden box when the others go out. When they are all out, I will put Frost into Cissie’s crate in the conservatory, as it’s the largest, to give her more space and light for the day. I can cope with two homies that need hand feeding, one that doesn’t and a poorly one – but hopefully no more at the moment! Frost had a peaceful day – I saw her drinking on her own, but she doesn’t seem to want to eat, so I hand fed her about 10 pieces in the morning, and about 20 in the afternoon. Not sure if this is the best thing to do but ..... if she is dying, then she will die anyway.... and if she doesn’t eat then she WILL get poorlier and die.... better to eat, don’t you think?

Below, a big and beautiful pigeon I call Silver Shadow

 Unfortunately these gloomy November pics don't show his size and plumage to advantage

 Ah, that's a bit better!

 And this little white one below

 is my Fleur, with her flutey tail - hatched in the cote this year,

 And Grace, as always, flies to my hand for her peanuts

 and here I manage to cut Bianca's head off!

Thursday 27.11.14 – Frost was alive this morning, but just hanging on by a whisper. I gently took her out of the night box and wrapped her in a warm towel to take to the kitchen for a drink – which she accepted. Then I moved her box into the kitchen for the early part of the morning. I could see that it would be cruel and unnecessary to try and feed her. Her eyes had gone small and dim, and she kept closing them.

 After the others were organised, I made a water bottle with a towel nest on top and placed her inside. As I did so, I noticed one of those vile louse flies come to the surface of her feathers and burrow down again – they really are the most disgusting things, about the size of a medium house fly, sucking the blood of my beautiful doves and if I hadn’t known she was dying I would have immediately sprayed her.  She was soon sitting rather than standing, waiting for the end.

Just before I went out at 11.30, I went in and took her out for a sip of water, kissed the top of her head, bye bye baby..... and when I came back at 1pm, she had passed away. I took her body out and ruffled through the feathers trying to find the louse. Do they die when their host dies – if they can’t get on to another one? I went through several times but didn’t see it and decided to spray her anyway, for an experiment – which I did (Johnsons Anti-Mite spray), I noticed the can was well out of date - 2012.  I laid her body down on kitchen paper and went back to it a while later – quite a few lice had emerged on the surface and died.....

Dead lice on dead white dove

and I ruffled through again and saw the louse. Maybe it sensed the change in its host as it was scuttling about – or maybe the spray had affected it. I sprayed directly on to it but it took some killing I can tell you. Not all the pigeons/doves have them – or the little lice – and my homies definitely don’t – but a lot of the birds will have these parasites. I even saw a louse fly on one of my baby doves once, obviously transferred from the parent dove, but this was easily dealt with, as easily seen on a small baby with sparse feathers. More details about louse flies - 

Dead louse fly on dead white dove

Frosty had the usual river burial – RIP sweetheart. At least this sweet bird had a calm peaceful death.

Below, my Dolly poses nicely for the camera

30^th Nov 14 –  Today there was a squab pigeon, still with the fluffy yellow down on its head, with the flock. I fed it carefully, making sure I trickled lots of the wheat, which is small, down in front of it. It ate really well, and I was as proud of it as if I had hatched it myself in this late inhospitable season. It was there again the next day ....

 Pigeon squab, just fledged - above top, and below

and I have looked for it and fed it specially every day since and now it’s 6^th Dec.  Now it can eat the smaller ones of the hard peas, and other small grains. The yellow down has rubbed off and soon there won’t be any left, and my baby will be just one of the flock – so I took my chance and while it was feeding, in all innocence, having never heard of crazy dove ladies, or sparrowhawks, or any other dangers, I just reached down and grabbed it. I brought it in and ringed it (let’s call it him) – red ring, left leg – and named him Endeavour. I didn’t hand fed him as he is managing perfectly well on his own. I hoped the ringing hadn’t put him off but it hadn’t and he came down again quite quickly.

Sausage has also been seen every day and is very well, thank you!

There will be one more blog before Christmas when I remember the birds of the last year.

To be cont......

Bentley's Story and Sausage's Story

21st Nov 14

This blog is mainly two recent birds stories - both with happy endings!

9^th November ’14 – Remembrance Sunday - Members of the National Pigeon War Service Association marched past the Cenotaph today. I found online that they were allocated 30 tickets last year - I don't know how many it was this year but that’s how important pigeons are – so point it out to any of the ‘rats with wings’ brigade. Pigeons were an important part of the War Effort, enabling us to live the privileged lives we do today. Cissie poses with my new tea-towel - she is becoming much tamer.

Cissie remembers the war-time pigeons

Bentley’s story – Bentley was mentioned in the last blog. Around the 4^th Oct ’14, I had picked him up as unable to fly, and ringed him with an orange ring. Here he is with Sheridan in Oct.

He didn’t like being confined in the run with Cissie, and first set up home in the coal hole – and was cowering in there when the hawk got poor sweet little Sheridan. So then he decided it would be safer living under the cupboards in what I call the back kitchen, or the shed kitchen. (This is a separate building to the main cottage – the old privy – converted to a kitchen with shower room attached). This was a period of time when I had other pigeons in need of attention (Petronella, Sheridan – both now dead) so I let wilful Bentley have his way as it was more convenient for me than having another homie or poorly one. It was also a time when hubbie was working away so he didn’t know that a pidgie was living in the back kitchen – and fouling under the cupboards!!! So, Bentley stayed most of the day under a certain cupboard and only came out to eat when he could hear the other pigeons in the garden. I started to accommodate him – first I put paper under the cupboards to make cleaning easier, then I put a little pot of grains so I could be sure he was getting enough and when I saw him drinking out of a flower pot, I put a little dish near the pot with fresh water. He was pretty clever about diving back into the shed kitchen when the other birds flew away as he knew he would be more vulnerable alone.

I did worry about him at night, under the cupboards – as the back kitchen is left open so our adopted cat can come in to eat – and once we had a fox in there. I usually pushed a few things like paint pots and boxes in front of the cupboards at night but they wouldn’t have deterred a serious predator.

Gradually whatever was wrong with Bentley healed and he started to be able to fly to the roof – this is the 24th Oct, approx 20 days after I first picked him up.

But he still came down and hid under the cupboard again at night. Then one night he didn’t come back, and was gone for two days..... I assumed he hadn’t made it. But then he came back again – sometimes staying under the cupboard, and sometimes not. Below 29th Oct - Bentley and friend

Now, as I type, it is 21st November and Bentley – recognisable by his orange ring – is perfectly well again, and treated to peanuts when I see him every day with the rest of the flock.

Sausage’s story –

Sausage is actually Sausage2. The first Sausage was picked up, unable to fly, from the yard beyond the garden. You poor little Sausage I said - and the name stuck. He was brought in for the night, but was dead by morning. So when I found another very similar looking grey pigeon, having difficulty in flying, the next day, she became Sausage too. I can’t remember exactly what happened but she was ringed, spent some time in the run with Cissie, and then at the next afternoon playtime, was allowed out.... and disappeared. But the next day, I found her back in the run again – she must’ve put herself back in there at some point! Funny little Sausage!

A day or so later, she’d disappeared again and I didn’t see her, so imagined she had perished. But then two days later she appeared on the garden table when I was feeding the flock in the morning. I literally pounced and picked her up – to be given a top up feed, though I released her again afterwards, as she could fly. By the late afternoon, she had put herself into the coal bunker for the night – obviously too tired to fly again, and I felt I would leave her there, as it is reasonably safe, and just barricade her in.... but when I went out later, after the main flock had gone, I found that the hawk had made a kill – in fact was still eating it, and flew off with it when I opened the door. The usual mess and sinking of my stomach. 

I supposed the victim was a poor little pidgie with PMV that I had been trying to catch earlier. One thing I was thankful for – it’s face was left on the patio.....and by that I knew it’s suffering was over, and also that it wasn’t Sausage, who I found cowering near the entrance to the coal hole. Awkward though it was I delved into the bunker and brought her out.

 I knew she was a female as a male had been making up to her earlier. 

For the next two days, Sausage stayed with me and I gave her no opportunity to get away. Her body felt so fragile, so light that I weighed her and she only weighed 197g which is dangerously underweight. The other homies weighed:  Cloud – 354g  Cissie – 327g  Chino – 275g. During the day Sausage was in the run with Cissie, then in the late afternoons she was in the box in Cissie’s crate before spending the night in a box in the spare room. I didn’t want to leave her in the conservatory overnight as it gets so very cold in there. At dovie bedtime, currently even before 5pm, she went in the box with a covered hot water bottle, and then at my bedtime, I  removed that and put in a hard round microwave bottle which stays hotter longer, for the night. The first night, I expected her to be dead in the morning, but she wasn’t – then the second night, I thought surely she can’t last much longer, she is so delicate and underweight....but she did.

On the third day, I planned to take Sausage out of the hutch where she currently was, give her a little top up, and then back to the conservatory for the rest of the afternoon, before bedtime in the spare room... but Sausage had other ideas....she struggled past my clumsy hands, and flew out of the hutch! Oh dear.... silly Sausage, you are so fragile and underweight and yet you think you know best..... This was about 3pm; the November afternoon was already getting gloomy and Cloud, Cissie and Chino were already in the conservatory. There were a few pigeons still hanging around and Sausage joined them on the roof. I kept popping out, and when I threw some grain down, she came down – ate two or three tiny little grains, while the others gobbled up the rest. And soon they’d all gone, leaving Sausage on the porch roof....

and then she went away into the rainy night. She could’ve been in the spare room with her hot water bottle – but she preferred to be free.

That was the 11^th November, and I was pleased to see Sausage back in the garden on the morning of the  12^th  Here she is on the roof – it looks like night but was in fact about 9am.

She also came back in the afternoon, and I tried to make sure she got the kind of grains and small peas that she obviously likes to eat. I am amazed at her resilience.

13^th Nov – Saw my little blue-ringed Sausage at the morning feed, but not the afternoon which was a shame.  Saw both Tommy and Mercy today, as I always do and hope I always will do -  they are Snow White and Charm’s last babies of the season and are now approx 3 months old, and having a moult. Both of them will eat from my hand, as I had so much to do with them when they were growing up in the cote, that they are quite tame – and the last day or so, Mercy has started flying to my hand for her peanuts. They don’t usually come at the same time – Tommy is there in the morning and Mercy in the afternoons. I assume they belong to different smaller flocks or groups.

 Above, Sausage is in the middle

and below a white male makes up to her

 Poor adorable little Sausage

 Feeling a bit brighter

Fri 14^th Nov – Sausage had appeared by mid morning, and as the pigeons clustered down to the grain I had thrown in one spot only (my usual ploy for catching a single one) I was able to just pick her up. She felt damp which was not surprising as it was an extremely rainy morning, but there was a bit of warmth to her. I took her into the kitchen to hand-feed her peanuts and corn, which are the larger pieces of food that she doesn’t seem to be able to pick up herself. I was very tempted to keep her, but as she is not injured and can fly, I didn’t as I don’t feel I have the right to do so. She ate a bit more that she chose herself then flew away. I think this is her by the chimney stack, you can just about see her - looking a bit hunched and poorly.

Considering I expected her to die about five days ago when I had her in, she is doing pretty well! I just hope she can find a hidey-hole roost for the night, away from the weather, and the hawk flying over early morning. As I type this the day has brightened up a bit, so the pidgies can all dry off.

Sat 15^th Nov – Sausage again didn’t come til mid-morning, but after the early feed I popped out every half hour or so to see if she had turned up. She was waiting on top of the flat bit of the run – where I have left a bowl of water for her. I was glad she’d come as I was going out all afternoon and early evening so this was her chance to get fed, and I hovered protectively over her to trickle down the little blue peas she likes, which I picked out of the main mix. She seems pretty ok to tell you the truth, which is great. Afterwards, she sat on the run again, but by the time I’d got my camera she’d flown to the roof and was climbing up....

– and here she is at the end of the line.

I don’t know why I was able to catch and ring her when I did – I mean I don’t know why she had difficulty in flying before – maybe she was just a bit poorly or had arrived after a long journey and was weak from lack of food - that was probably it. Now she is ringed she will always be spotted and targeted for food. I didn’t attempt to catch her today as I didn’t want to scare her and there was no real need, though I would’ve liked to feed her a few peanuts. She seems unable to pick them up herself, but can swallow them when I hand –feed her.

Sun 16-Fri 21st – Seen Sausage every day and hand fed her peanuts only once. She now pushes in with the others, has lost her poorly look and can now be counted just ‘one of the flock’ – so that’s the end of her story for now.

18th November - 

 Above, some of the birds this morning

Below, a blurred Blackie - not ringed by me but a regular part of the flock

 Below, green ringed Dusty - hatched in my cote in June 14  so about 5 months old now

- sibling to Daisy, no longer seen

 Dusty, as a nestling, with Daisy

My birds!

To be cont.... and I will certainly do a blog before Christmas. Thanks for reading.