A seven-day-old pigeon chick, found injured at Stourbridge Bus Station, has been nursed back to health by a dedicated veterinary nurse who has spent nearly seven weeks hand-rearing him. The chick, named No.9 by staff at Stourbridge Vets for Pets, was brought in by concerned resident Bethany Greenhalgh after being discovered with a head wound, too young to survive on his own.
Rescue and initial treatment
Stacey Reed-Owen, practice owner and senior veterinary surgeon, treated the injury, but it soon became clear the chick needed round-the-clock care to have any chance of survival. Senior veterinary nurse Vanessa Stokes then took No.9 into her home and has been caring for him ever since.
Vanessa said: "When No.9 came in, he was so young that he needed someone to take on that ongoing care, so I brought him home and I’ve been looking after him ever since. I’ve hand-reared pigeons before, so I knew the level of care and commitment involved, but every bird is different."
From basket to garage
No.9 began his recovery in a basket with a nest bed. As he grew, Vanessa gradually gave him more space to build his strength and learn to fly. He now has access to her garage and even visits the practice.
Vanessa added: "The care doesn’t stop when you leave work, and it takes a lot of time and patience, but seeing how far No.9 has come makes it completely worthwhile. He’s a smart little character and it’s been lovely to watch his personality develop. People sometimes wonder what happens when they bring a bird or another wild animal into a veterinary practice. No.9 shows just how much care can go on behind the scenes."
Future plans for release
The goal is to eventually return No.9 to the wild. If that isn’t possible, the practice has a trusted local pigeon carer who can offer him a suitable home. No.9 remains firmly under Vanessa's wing as he continues the journey from vulnerable bus station chick to confident young pigeon.
