Hey everyone! Hi Arty! More questions: We have been bringing Prissy in to my kitchen every evening due to the cold - she goes outside during the day, but now we are officially in winter, as we got dumped on yesterday - 6 inches of snow and 22 degrees. Is it too cold to be outside? She doesn't have any friends to cuddle with, so I don't know what to do - we kept her inside all day yesterday due to the storm, but she sleeps in a "dog carrier" - which isn't too small, but isn't big either. She seems fine and dandy for the most part, but I noticed that she doesn't have anything to do but sleep most of the day (I know - that's what she does outside too). I guess I feel bad for her having to stay cooped up in the smaller cage all day, but wonder if it's too cold for her outside? Help! I'm sure she is bored to tears with nothing to do but look at the inside of a blue carrier. I really have no other options available to me as far as inside caging at this time, no room, no other cage, and a pigeon hungry dog. Also, sometimes she snuggles down on the fluffy towell inside the carrier, other times she stands on one foot and "puffs" up on her perch - is this good? Is she happy?

Well, she does seem happy to be here, a little spoiled - and actually becoming kind of tame! She's the sweetest thing, even if she has refused to bathe since coming inside at night - and she's really starting to STINK. Should I bathe her myself??? Any suggestions about my predicament would be much appreciated!!!!! Thanks all - xoxo, Jodee

Hey girl, long time no post.
You are asking a question that seems to pop up often.
Pigeons are timid birds, unlike the Parrot whom will play with toys, Pigeons seem to sit and observe (mainly) and they are curious birds, there tummy's demand they continue to fly and look for food.
Others that have adopted from me say they offer there bird of peace toys, what kind I do not know...Sorry.
Is it to cold?
Pigeons are a hardy bird, I am saddened when seeing many hover around the chimneys during the winter time to stay warm, I do not heat my loft, I provide straw during the winter months (helps me during cleaning) and boxes for the birds.
My loft has a trap door that is always opened, so the birds can go outside into the large in-flight I have attached, but a cold draft comes in there.
As long as the bird has a box with a doorway to enter to get out of the direct winds all should be okay, another thing to concider, while flying birds are generating energy and thus warms themselfs, your little one can't fly, so it maybe best to keep your little one indoors to be on the safe side.
Maybe you can do what all us Parrot owners do, allow your little friend out of cage time, even walking around checking things out will help, if you have other pets that may harm Prissy, then cage and or lock them up during Prissy's out of cage time, just be prepared to wipe up droppings now and then.
Otherwise a famous saying is (don't be a jailer) no animal should be caged 24/7.
I admire your concerns, and wanting to put a smile on your Prissy so to say, you have a very kind heart.
I always feel badly for my cripples (injured) birds that can no longer fly the skies freely, I do my best to feed them well and provide clean water and plenty of space to walk around and get nosey.
Just watch where ya walk as not to step on her and all should be fine.
I have missed you and am happy to see you post.
Arty

My boys live outside year round. Their cage is in a shelterbelt of trees so they don't have direct sunlight in the hot summer months, and the trees also provide wind protection during the winter. We tarp the side of the cage that the wind blows in, and both boys have a pet taxi filled with hay on their side of the cage. Their cage is large enough for them to fly in, so I'm sure that helps keep their body heat up. The boys are very hardy.

Hey Arty! Thanks (both of you!) for the help. I had thought about letting her out inside....not sure how I'm gonna do that one yet. Prissy's cage is outside, pretty big, she can't fly in it, but she can move around very freely (she can't fly anyway). She has a box in it, but won't go in it at all - it's quite nice too! hehe. We also have let her go out in the really big dog run when we are able to watch her, and she tries to fly for a while. Sad, but I think it feels good to her to try and stretch herself. We also have a tarp to protect her from winds and such. STRAW!!! We have some straw (hay?) bales left over from Halloween decorations Arty, we could break it up, and put on the floor of her cage, then I could let her run about outside for at least a couple of hours a day when the sun is out. ??

Okay - how about this one? Do you think I should give her a bath? Why won't she clean herself up like she used to? My word she stinks. hehehe. Cliff thought that maybe we could let her prance around in the bath tub with just a tiny bit of warm water? It that stupid? She used to keep herself clean, but I don't know if she's depressed or just getting lazy - haha!!!!

The straw (or hay, doesn't matter) idea is great. She should be fine outside in any temp, as long as she's out of the wind. A few hours in the sun would do her good.

You could try giving her a bath. Mine like cool to cold water though, never warm. Bathe her in the morning, and make sure she has plenty of time to get fully dry before you put her outside again. Mine are used to bathing in the cold, but Prissy isn't.

I use Straw, hay seems to have rope like fiber and I founds this to be fatal to one of my special birds, the twine like fiber wrapped around his claw, straw is cleaner, weed free in most cases.
Pigeons love to bathe, if for some reason Prissy isn't bathing on her own then by all means give her a bath, if possible add one teaspoon of Borax into the water and bathe her good, a real good soaking, this will keep all the little creepies such as feather lice and mites at bay.
Wash her up under the wings well.
A good soaking.
As Camille has said they perfer cold water and allow Prissy to dry completely before placing her outside in this cold weather.
Arty

Thanks again Arty and Camille! I wonder what I have, straw or hay? It's in the big bundles (squares) that we put on the porch as decor for Halloween?? Hmm.

Okay, so the borax (get that at the market?) won't hurt her, and I can just soak her down in the sink or tub? haha! She is going to be MAD at me. Last night, for my daughter's biology class, we put Prissy's "foot" print in mud, and made a plaster cast of it. It turned out AWESOME. Just thought I'd mention it, because I had never really looked closely at a Pigeon's foot, and they are quite remarkable. She has long toes!

Do you think something is wrong with her that she won't bathe? She always took little baths when she was outside. But now, even the last couple weeks, when she is out, she won't bathe. All else seems just great...

Well, wish me luck you guys! Givin' Prissy the pigeon a bath today!!! Take care, and thanks so much - Jodee

It could be the cooler weather, but in any reason, if she won't bathe, then you bathe her, the borax won't harm her, she won't drink anyways during a bath.
20 mule team borax, found in most grocery stores.
Better yet fill the sink half way and add 2 tablespoons of borax and mix it in well, room temp water will be fine, on the cooler side...
You need to get a camera girl, more than likely you have straw, but hay comes in bails like you have described also, one will have rope like fibre's in it, straw will be all straw.
Take Care
Arty

Arty! I have a camera! I just don't know how to USE it!!! I've been waiting for Cliff to help me out, because I also wanted to send you a picture of my cutie - she is very intelligent looking. Thanks a million for everything - no fiber-rope stuff here, must be the right stuff. I don't know what the heck I would have done if I hadn't found you! I am an extreme worrier (obviously!), and I lose sleep at night wondering if the animals I "help" are Happy with the choices I make on their behalf. I hope she is happy with me. Thank you thank you so much. I'll let you know how the bath goes!!! haha! No biggy, I've eaten soap before - bathing animals, what's a little borax now?

You sweetheart you, Please know this man admires you...a great deal.
You and Prissy are here with me more than you know.
Peace
Arty