New Pigeon That

Question
QUESTION: I own a pigeon that really can't fly. A couple of weeks ago while we were in my backyard, another pigeon appeared. It's twice as big as my pigeon and just stands there while my female pigeon pecks at it.  It can walk pretty fast but can't run or fly. It's fairly easy to catch, so I caught it, checked it over, and it looks fine. It eats well and drinks water. I keep it in a cage in the house, since I don't want my pigeon getting too close to mine in case it has a disease. My pigeon is female. Haven't a clue about the sex of this bird.  I do take them outside and let this bird out of the cage to get exercise of a couple of hours, then bring it back in when I come in. It never bobs it's head or moves it's body except for walking and getting up & down from perch, and jumping out of cage. All info will be greatly appreciated.
Thanks, Carolyn

ANSWER: Carolyn, not sure what the question is!  Seems like an odd scenario.

Dave

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QUESTION: Sorry I was so vague. Since it's wings look OK, I don't understand why it can't fly. Since my 1st question, I've seen it watching another pigeon on our chimney (perhaps it's mate). It really wants to fly to it and tries too but can't go more than a foot or two into the air. It looks like it doesn't have the strength to flap it's wings well enough, but it does move it's head now. I'm hoping this is an injury that it will recover from and be able to fly away. Thought you might tell me something to hasten it's recovery. Does it need warmth and rest or more exercise. Is there a disease that could affect it's being able to fly? Could it have eaten something that made it sick and with time it will get well. I'm giving it high-protein grains and sources of calcium and vitamins but don't know if that will have any effect. We're having rain for at least another couple of wks., so I'm keeping it inside except for short dry spells when I take it out. My pigeon still attacks it when they're around each other, so I can't keep it indefinetly.

ANSWER: I am afraid I am not going to be much help.  Do you have any idea how it "appeared" in your yard?  The presumption being it must have flown in.  It does sound like it could be a female, but that doesn't provide any clues.

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QUESTION: To answer your question, Not sure when or how it appeared. It could have walked through one of our gates while it was open. However, it could have been attacked after it flew into my backyard, since I do have 3 cats.  They don't attack my pigeon or this one since I've started taking care of it.  Is it possible it's just too old to fly? You said, "it does sound like it could be a female". Is that because I said my female is attacking this one?

Answer
If your female has been alone for awhile, I would think hormones would kick in if the new bird was male!!

Does the bird feel thin, or bony?    Not much I can offer I'm afraid.  Being in possession of 2 pigeons that can't fly, from 2 sources puts the odds in the stratosphere!  Aside from Parlor Tumblers (google it) which cannot fly, I have never seen a healthy pigeon that couldn't.

Severe internal parasites can restrict movement, due to toxicity, but at that level the bird wouldn't live very long.

Dave