A couple of my wild friends ....

[Hezz]

.... a pair of peaceful doves. These two seem to be the more constant. I have counted 13 at one time last week. To explain, just before Christmas I noticed one of our scrub turkey hens was in a rather bad way with one leg/foot - she was not able to put the foot down at all .... for a bird who relies on scratching up her food, not being able to do so had to be a handicap I felt, so I brought in some wild bird seed; they eat anything - seed, native fruits, insects .... any extra fruits go overboard as well. Anyway the upside is that the peaceful doves come to visit as well. He was doing a big job of wooing just as I picked up the camera!





The best thing is that today I saw Hoppy the hen as well, the last time was about two weeks ago, doing a little better, and the first time I have seen her put the foot down at all ..... not for much weight, but at least a little improvement. I don't have photos of her; I was too happy to see her doing a little better, and didn't think about getting the camera. Next time, hopefully .......

[Shirls]

They are really pretty Hezz. I have a pair of doves that come down and ask for food in the afternoon when I go out to the chooks. Our variety are more plain than yours, but just as pretty.

[Marianne Marlow]

How lovely, they look so tiny, not like our pigeons!

[Hezz]

They are tiny, Marianne; only about the same size as a budgie, with a bit less tail, of course. All the info says that they should prefer the grass that the budgies have, and small bird - budgie/finch - seed mixes, but they don't seem to prefer these at all. They are perfectly content with the larger seed and quite ignore the smaller stuff unless that is all there is! Go figure!!!

[Marianne Marlow]

I suppose it's because the grass is abundant and the seed is something they rarely have?

[skysmum]

What pretty little things , they remind me of my little diamond doves i used to have

[milliej]

Don't they look a bit like miniature cuckoos? Very pretty (or handsome!)

[Hezz]

skysmum, they are about the same size as a diamond dove, the diamond dove is slightly smaller but by only a centimetre or two and a few grams in weight.

I can hear him out there right now, cooing and wooing, and can just imagine him lifting and fanning out his tail, bowing to his intended.

[samwiseg]

I thought from a distance that they looked like mini grey budgies lol!

Perhaps I need to get an eye test soon

[Hezz]

On a less happy note, I saw Hoppy Hen just before; looks like her foot is completely useless now. The whole foot is just hanging down, curling in on itself. I thought there was hope, the way it was a couple of days ago, but maybe something (else) has had a go at her - it would have to be a dog; a cat wouldn't take on something that size, they have few predators, that I am aware of, as adults, anyway.

It makes me quite sad, actually. I felt she was getting better and making progress, only to see her today having no function in that foot at all. Her other leg is certainly getting stronger .... but still .....

[OP]

Do I take it you don't have any charity similar to our RSPCA that you could get involved. I have no idea how big these animals are or how difficult they are to catch.

[Hezz]

OP, we do have RSPCA, but to my knowledge they only deal with pets and neglect, not wild native animals. A better option is our Wildlife Rescue, but I know they do have to work under strict guidelines with animals being able to be rehabilitated and released, otherwise are put down. I don't know how hard she would be to catch .... for size, think somewhere between a chook and a goose ..... about duck size, I guess - domestic, that is. I might give Wildlife Rescue and the vet a ring tomorrow after work,; they might have some suggestions that I haven't thought of.

[OP]

Thank you Hezz. I thought I had seen something like the RSPCA over there. We get some pretty large ducks and gees so at least I have an idea of size now. I can understand the ethics of the Wildlife Rescue, but if this bird is just suffering then it may be kinder to have it put to sleep.

[Shirls]

We have hundreds and probably more than hundreds of wild pigeons in this country Hezz that manage very well with damaged feet or legs. In busy places like the seaside or London even, you will see loads of pigeons that cope really well with these deformaties however they are caused. Hope your Happy Hen gets to manage o.k.

[Hezz]

I know lots of birds can manage with damaged feet and legs, Shirls, I have seen that myself (a lot of that is our fault as well, but that is another story) ...... my concern for Hoppy Hen is that the turkeys are like chooks, and always foraging, scratching up the ground looking for bugs and grubs etc. I don't know how well a forager can forage with only one useable leg. But maybe I was jumping the gun a bit and she was just having an off day, or maybe she had been using it a lot and was simply giving it a rest when I saw her. Hopefully I will see her soon and she will have improved.