Baby mourning dove

[biophiliac]

Lol OK
Last night he ate 3ml for his last feeding. His crop sure was big should I go for 3 1/2? He still wanted more after he finished .
I'll weigh him today . Do you know what he should weigh?

In feeding my baby pigeon I would load the feeder with more than I expected him to eat...then he would stop feeding when full. Some babies will stop and pull their beak out to catch their breath briefly and then resume feeding. So when he stopped feeding I would wait a moment and offer again to be sure if he needed more or not. I weighed him and made a note before and after each feed just to help me verify his progress.

I think I said before that my experience is with pigeons not mourning doves so I have no idea how much he should weigh. I think when the feathers start to come in the growth in weight slows a bit.

@Pyxis , @WVduckchick - Do you know of any educators or members who have experience with mourning doves, ie hand feeding babies??
I know they are fed by their parents the way pigeons are, but that's about it! So far OP has kept the little guy going and growing.
@jak2002003 ?

 

[Pyxis]

I don't, sorry I would know how to tube feed if it came down to that, but that's it. I've also hand fed a parrot but that's probably pretty different.

 

[crazychickenlady5]

I have a contest I'm going to today and I'll be gone from 4:30 - 9:00ish. Would chicky be OK if I feed him before I leave and he doesn't eat until I get back?

 

[WVduckchick]

In feeding my baby pigeon I would load the feeder with more than I expected him to eat...then he would stop feeding when full. Some babies will stop and pull their beak out to catch their breath briefly and then resume feeding. So when he stopped feeding I would wait a moment and offer again to be sure if he needed more or not. I weighed him and made a note before and after each feed just to help me verify his progress.

I think I said before that my experience is with pigeons not mourning doves so I have no idea how much he should weigh. I think when the feathers start to come in the growth in weight slows a bit.

@Pyxis , @WVduckchick - Do you know of any educators or members who have experience with mourning doves, ie hand feeding babies??
I know they are fed by their parents the way pigeons are, but that's about it! So far OP has kept the little guy going and growing.
@jak2002003 ?

Sorry, I haven't read back yet, but has @JaeG been here? Pretty sure she would at least have some ideas.

 

[crazychickenlady5]

This is him after eating about 3ml is his crop full or to full?

 

[biophiliac]

This is him after eating about 3ml is his crop full or to full?

Looks good to me. Did he still want more?
eta
A side view might help to see better...

 

[crazychickenlady5]

Good news. We found a wild life rehab nearby we're gonna take him to tomorrow. I'll miss him but he's gonna have a good life
I want to thank you all i don't think he would have made it this far without all the advise and help we got from everyone. @biophiliac Thank you so much for all the help and good luck with your pigeon

 

[biophiliac]

You have given him a real good chance to make it. Did the rehabber think he could be released to the wild when grown?

 

[crazychickenlady5]

You have given him a real good chance to make it. Did the rehabber think he could be released to the wild when grown?

I don't know my dad was the one who talked to him I'll update tomorrow

 

[biophiliac]

We have mourning doves nesting in the brick facade of our building so I'm kind of fond of those guys.