#id:gravy

[rainyflock]

Gravy's all grown up 🥹

[rainyflock]

Very cute little dude was surrendered this evening. Bit of a mess but a little time to finish his molt and a few days of healthy meals should get him fixed right up.

[rainyflock]

This little guy is already looking a lot more grown up and filled out than when he got here a couple of weeks ago! And those neck feathers are coming in gorgeous. Won't be too long before he's ready for a home, too.

[rainyflock]

Me: oh man the snow is really coming down all of a sudden. I bet the pigeons don't want anything to do with this and are hiding inside, I'll go put them to bed early

The pigeons: Almost all outside eating snow like it's the most delicious thing to ever exist

[rainyflock]

Finally some good sunbathing weather! 😍☀️

[rainyflock]

Gravy's headed home this weekend! Good luck little guy! 🥹

[rainyflock]

Pigeons have long been abused and neglected by humans - whether it be intentional or not. Now that they have established themselves as feral after their domestication, they eat trash and scraps to survive, freeze in the winter, lose their feet and toes, and are picked off one by one. Additionally, large flocks are deliberately poisoned, birds can easily get trapped in man-made structures, and they get sick from the environment.

A single monogamous pigeon pair can raise up to twelve babies a year. This can quickly lead to hoarding and neglect of pigeons kept in captivity, and being that they often do not fall under poultry regulations OR pet regulations, a lot of mistreatment and abuse slips through the cracks. Many owners do not responsibly control hatches, and birds accumulate extremely quickly. I have dealt with several neglect and hoarding cases and will always advocate for pigeon birth control - please be responsible if you have multiple birds!

Free flight of pigeons is also almost always irresponsible. These birds do not have an adequate ability to respond to danger if they are raised in captivity. They are easy targets for predators, and they will also struggle to survive if lost. Unfortunately, many pigeon owners also see their birds as completely disposable - I have had a wedding release breeder in my area just tell me to throw one of their injured birds in the trash. I have had a pigeon racer tell me to release their clearly ill bird because "if they're good enough they'll make it back anyways", and another tell me to just "snap its neck, that one's not worth driving to you to get." And some intentionally release birds they don't want rather than controlling eggs or culling.

Please note, I am a rescuer first and foremost but I do also breed pets and show quality Indian fantails, which you will also see here! However, my priority will always be rescue, because the birds that are already here need all the help they can get.