ADVICE please! Have rescued a dove, but no idea what to do.

[Nonny]

I found a very stressed out dove that our cat seems to have been tormenting, it has no visible injuries but simply isn't doing much and I don't know if this is just what doves do, or if it's in shock maybe?

It's a gorgeous little turtle dove, I've been able to pick it up and examine it for injuries and I can't see any, but several feathers came fluttering out as I picked it up. The birdie didn't struggle or try to get away at all and seems very subdued.

I've brought it inside away from the cats in our neighbourhood, and have set it up in a small room with access to water so it can recover without getting attacked, but if anyone can let me know if there's something else I should be doing, or even can tell me if being incredibly tame and subdued is just normal dove behaviour I'd be really grateful.

 

[nzpouter]

keep it warm, put a pic up maybe we can tell wether it's a baby or a grown one...

 

[Nonny]

I kept it nice and quiet and warm, put some water and a bit of chook food (the smaller seeds out of it) in there with it, and after a few hours it perked up nicely so I left the front door open and placed the box next to the door, and eventually the dove made its way back outside and flew away.

It was lovely to see this little birdie fly away like that, because the last few birds I've rescued have all had to be euthanased by the vet. This was the first time one has had even the slightest chance of survival.

My neighbour has a bird feeder on the low fence between our properties, surrounded by bushes and trees - the perfect place for neighbourhood cats to lie in wait for their dinner. I'd like to sneak out there in the dark one night and "accidentally" tear it down!

It turns out it's actually a Spotted Dove.

 

[nzpouter]

yeah... she's an adult... we haven't got that many of them our way...

 

[Nonny]

Quote:
I just realised you're in NZ.... my home country.

 

[nzpouter]

yeah..? which part?

 

[Nonny]

Christchurch.

 

[nzpouter]

not there anymore... well some of it anyway

... we're in Ohoka.