# Missing Feet?
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/missing-feet/385343
**Category:** Factual Questions
**Created:** [December 23, 2006, 2:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/missing-feet/385343 "2006-12-23T14:20:32Z")
**Posts on this page:** 20
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@trixder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/trixder)
#### Post date: [December 23, 2006, 2:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/missing-feet/385343/1 "2006-12-23T14:20:32Z")
I live near LA California and have noticed a strange and puzzeling thing that maybe you can shed some light on. I ve noticed that probably 7 out of 10 pigeons I see have at least 1 missing, or severely gnarled foot. My question is: has this been noticed elsewhere and what happened to their feet?
đ
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### Author:  [@Patty\_O\_Furniture](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Patty_O_Furniture)
#### Post date: [December 23, 2006, 2:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/missing-feet/385343/2 "2006-12-23T14:35:30Z")
Iâve noticed a few here and there. But nowhere near 70% of them. They seem to do quite well with only one foot, and their heads donât bob nearly as much!
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### Author:  [@Chez\_Guevara](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chez_Guevara)
#### Post date: [December 23, 2006, 2:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/missing-feet/385343/3 "2006-12-23T14:46:58Z")
[QUOTE=trixder]
I ve noticed that probably 7 out of 10 pigeons I see have at least 1 missing, or severely gnarled foot.
[/QUOTE]
Before we go any further, could you possibly provide a photo of a zero-footed pigeon.
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### Author:  [@Chez\_Guevara](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chez_Guevara)
#### Post date: [December 23, 2006, 2:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/missing-feet/385343/4 "2006-12-23T14:48:05Z")
Which isnât somebodyâs dinner.
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### Author:  [@pseudotriton\_ruber\_ruber](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pseudotriton_ruber_ruber)
#### Post date: [December 23, 2006, 2:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/missing-feet/385343/5 "2006-12-23T14:57:25Z")
Damn, thought this was another delightful thread about versification.
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### Author:  [@The\_Scrivener](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Scrivener)
#### Post date: [December 23, 2006, 3:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/missing-feet/385343/6 "2006-12-23T15:19:51Z")
At least these birds arenât walking âpigeon-toedâ anymore. Perhaps this is the dastardly work of a deranged podiatrist, pediatrician or pediatric physical therapist who adopted a policy of amputation after his pigeon-scaled leg braces failed to cure them of the habitâŚ?
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### Author:  [@Swallowed\_My\_Cellphone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Swallowed_My_Cellphone)
#### Post date: [December 23, 2006, 3:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/missing-feet/385343/7 "2006-12-23T15:49:41Z")
[QUOTE=trixder]
I live near LA California and have noticed a strange and puzzeling thing that maybe you can shed some light on. I ve noticed that probably 7 out of 10 pigeons I see have at least 1 missing, or severely gnarled foot. My question is: has this been noticed elsewhere and what happened to their feet?
[/QUOTE]
I noticed this when I moved to Toronto and used to think it was due to the cold. However, Iâve been told this happpens often as a result of âpest controlâ stuff. Itâs a paste that renders surfaces sticky and pigeons donât land on it. But some peoople use glue boards instead.
[QUOTE=A Humane Society Website]
An extremely inhumane method of pigeon control is the use of an adhesive substance or adhesive strips installed on ledges where pigeons like to roost. As with glueboards used for mice and rats, these devices cause tremendous suffering when the pigeons (or other birds) land on the strips and become more and more coated with glue as they struggle to free themselves. They will peck at the glue so their beaks will also become stuck and they will suffer a lingering death.
[/quote]
An âanimal loverâ I know (note: not necessarily a dependable source of information) said this is also responsible for a lot of missing pigeon toes. It damages the pigeonsâ feet and they lose digits.
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### Author:  [@betenoir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/betenoir)
#### Post date: [December 23, 2006, 4:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/missing-feet/385343/8 "2006-12-23T16:52:21Z")
Well goodness, there are so many things that can happen to you in the city. And birds arnât meant to be walking around on concrete. Iâve always thought it was nice of them to stick around and eat our garbage. Otherwise the wildlife of most citys would be cockroaches. And âflying ratsâ should be considered hate speech!!!
Anyway I think they stay here for the food we throw out but itâs still a peril for a bird in a concret jungle.
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### Author:  [@AskNott](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AskNott)
#### Post date: [December 23, 2006, 5:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/missing-feet/385343/9 "2006-12-23T17:57:57Z")
City pigeons lead a risky life. Some of the hazards are manmade and meant to bother the pigeons, and some arenât. Urban roofs have a smattering of steam vents and such, that are dangerous to land on. There are alley cats, owls and falcons to feed on the pigeons. A near-catch might cost a pigeon foot, but leave the bird alive.
The manmade dangers are many. Besides the glue boards already mentioned, there are razor brackets (sharp zigzag steel things on window sills and parapets.) Every pigeon that lands on one learns not to do it again, but might lose part of a foot to the experience. Thereâs a hotfoot chemical for window sills, and pigeons might peck off a foot rather than endure the pain.
In every big city, there are pigeon fanciers. They raise the birds for racing, and each pigeon has a leg-band for ID. Do these bands ever injure the birds? I donât know, but I have wondered.
The old court house in my county had opening windows for ventilation. The county workers always complained of getting lice from the pigeons on the window sills. Between that and the carpet of bird poop on the sidewalks, the âfeathered ratsâ epithet is easy to understand. Even in Venice, the feeding of the pigeons of St. Markâs square is now forbidden.
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### Author:  [@Sapo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sapo)
#### Post date: [December 23, 2006, 7:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/missing-feet/385343/10 "2006-12-23T19:04:45Z")
[QUOTE=betenoir]
âŚAnd âflying ratsâ should be considered hate speech!!!
[/QUOTE]
I will meet you at flying squirrels.
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### Author:  [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)
#### Post date: [December 23, 2006, 9:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/missing-feet/385343/11 "2006-12-23T21:33:33Z")
I suggest âflying ratâ is far too complimentary a term for a species we ought to render extinct with all possible speed. Even after we do that, in 100 years I suspect the damn things will be back.
(Kidding, but just barely.)
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### Author:  [@Eric79](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eric79)
#### Post date: [December 23, 2006, 9:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/missing-feet/385343/12 "2006-12-23T21:59:20Z")
I swear I read a straight dope column about this maybe it was the competitor, one of David Feldmanâs books
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### Author:  [@betenoir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/betenoir)
#### Post date: [December 24, 2006, 2:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/missing-feet/385343/13 "2006-12-24T02:22:50Z")
[QUOTE=Sapo]
I will meet you at flying squirrels.
[/QUOTE]
Iâm picturing a bird with a furry tail. I like it.
And I remain beliving we should give some respect to the squirrels and pigeons. They hang out with us where no one else will. (Other than the rats and the cockrouchesâŚwho I have a certain amount of respect for but I donât want them around)
We need a little wildlife in the places weâve made difficult for wildlife. I donât want to be in a place without animals.
So if that means a NYC bird foot replacment program, sign me up.
_Goes out to fill up the bird feeder._
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### Author:  [@BMax](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BMax)
#### Post date: [December 24, 2006, 4:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/missing-feet/385343/14 "2006-12-24T04:51:38Z")
[QUOTE=betenoir]
Iâm picturing a bird with a furry tail. I like it.
[/QUOTE]
Iâm picturing a cartoon character with a leather flight helmet and goggles on his forehead. he hangs out with a moose.
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### Author:  [@Richard\_Pearse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Richard_Pearse)
#### Post date: [December 24, 2006, 7:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/missing-feet/385343/15 "2006-12-24T07:53:18Z")
Are you sure they are missing a foot and not just standing on one leg? This very common for some bird species (donât know about pigeons.)
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### Author:  [@chowder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chowder)
#### Post date: [December 24, 2006, 8:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/missing-feet/385343/16 "2006-12-24T08:05:35Z")
I agree with **LSL Guy** âExterminate, exterminateâ\*\* the filthy buggers.
\*\*In Dalek speak
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### Author:  [@Aunt\_Flow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aunt_Flow)
#### Post date: [December 24, 2006, 8:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/missing-feet/385343/17 "2006-12-24T08:42:04Z")
[QUOTE=chowder]
I agree with **LSL Guy** âExterminate, exterminateâ\*\* the filthy buggers.
[/QUOTE]
Awww âš I love pigeons. I feed them whenever I can. Them and seagulls đ I have a picture of me at the Exploratorium in San Francisco, sitting on the grass, with about 20-25 pigeons perched on various parts of my body. It was a hoot!
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### Author:  [@chowder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chowder)
#### Post date: [December 24, 2006, 12:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/missing-feet/385343/18 "2006-12-24T12:14:49Z")
[QUOTE=Aunt Flow]
Awww âš I love pigeons. I feed them whenever I can. Them and seagulls đ I have a picture of me at the Exploratorium in San Francisco, sitting on the grass, with about 20-25 pigeons perched on various parts of my body. It was a hoot!
[/QUOTE]
So itâs _you_ is it. :mad:
Right, the hit squad is on its wayâŚbe afraid, be very afraid
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### Author:  [@Swallowed\_My\_Cellphone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Swallowed_My_Cellphone)
#### Post date: [December 24, 2006, 2:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/missing-feet/385343/19 "2006-12-24T14:24:06Z")
[QUOTE=1920s Style âDeath Rayâ]
Are you sure they are missing a foot and not just standing on one leg? This very common for some bird species (donât know about pigeons.)
[/QUOTE]
Yes, you can very definitely see pigeons walking around on club-like remains of their toeless feet. Itâs so common here, that I would say one in six is probably missing a toe or two or is doing the liitle hobble walk with no toes at all. You can see the full leg, all the way down to the ankle and then whatever is left of the foot.
Iâm going out later, Iâll try to bring my camera and see if I can take a picture of one with the missing toes/foot. Itâs very obvious ot the naked eye.
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### Author:  [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)
#### Post date: [December 24, 2006, 2:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/missing-feet/385343/20 "2006-12-24T14:28:39Z")
[QUOTE=Chez Guevara]
Before we go any further, could you possibly provide a photo of a zero-footed pigeon.
[/QUOTE]
[http://www.sunsuiwah.com/about/squab.jpg](http://www.sunsuiwah.com/about/squab.jpg)
> [@](#):
>
> Which isnât somebodyâs dinner.
Would YOU eat that?
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