Caring for a Baby Dove - need advice

[Rach5]

Hello, there are pics of him/her posted in replies.

 

[backyard pigeons]

Ok! I saw them. His toe is totally fine, don't worry about it.

 

[Rach5]

Thank you for looking! Can you tell how old he is?

I was basing my estimate by comparing other ppls pics that stated the bird age. I've had him for about 8 days.

 

[Fishkeeper]

You should really give him to an actual rehab place. Food for human babies isn't meant for doves, and there's a good chance he's not legal for you to own, depending on where you live. He needs to go to an expert who'll be able to raise him for release, without him being malnourished or dependant on humans. He's cute, but he should go to an expert.

 

[Rach5]

Also, it's funny seeing the pic from his first day! He looks so mad!
Now he is so happy to see me!

I ran out the next day and got a cage, bird seed and all this.. I wasn't sure what to put it in it and I just bought organic soil, sosused that & ripped up paper towels lol!

After the first trip i realized he wouldn't eat the seed. Finally had my duh moment that it's a baby needing something much different! Lol so that first night I followed a baby bird recipe until I got back to the pet store! Then I got formula and cage pine shavings, made a nest out of a bowl filled with soft stuff.

I'm really enjoying him! And love waking up to his peeps in the a.m.

Do you think he can be released? I don't mind keeping him if it's too late but I'd rather him have the happiest life possible, whatever that is

 

[Fishkeeper]

You should consult an expert in raising baby birds about if he can be released. Also, a lot of those recipes you see online aren't really any good. Most of the time, someone without the proper experience trying to raise a baby bird ends up with it malnourished and too accustomed to humans to ever be released. He's adorable, and I understand that you mean well and see why you want to keep him, but you shouldn't if you can avoid it. If you want pet birds, get pigeons! PigeonS, plural, they're social. Just like he is. Unless you're planning to go catch another wild dove, that's another reason not to keep him.
Seed is nowhere near a complete diet for birds.
If you're in the US and he's a native species, it's very likely not legal for you to keep him.

 

[Rach5]

When I say baby food, I mean baby food specially made for birds. I've been in contact with one rehab but it's very far away from me. The only other option is a woman whom is a bird enthusiast, who has a rescue of sorts in her home, and isn't really licensed. She also about an hour n a half away from me. And she wanted to splint his foot which I've been hearing isn't necessary, and I think it could hinder his learning to fly on time.

You should really give him to an actual rehab place. Food for human babies isn't meant for doves, and there's a good chance he's not legal for you to own, depending on where you live. He needs to go to an expert who'll be able to raise him for release, without him being malnourished or dependant on humans. He's cute, but he should go to an expert.

 

[Rach5]

Thank you for your concern... Have you looked up these laws you're referring to? Bc I'm not finding he is a migratory protected species.. and he is not protected in my state.

Which is interesting..I keep seeing ppl pass this around on this site.. and I'm not finding it's valid for this guy nor does my state have any laws with. Based on what I'm reading this bird act is very specific towards certain breeds.. and it seems at first glance ppl are referring to this bird act when they haven't actually read it themselves or know what birds it applies to. But who knows.. I could be wrong? But what I see so far doesn't apply.

I'm doing everything possible to give him the best chance possible. There are tons on cats in my area. I could not set him out and leave him even if his parents came back. He would be cat food almost immediately.

I've contacted many legitimate resources for help.

His diet is not just seed or his store bought formula. But since you said something, what else did you have in mind that I should feed him? I'll take down your recommendation if you have one.

This a forum for community input and I'm soliciting input on how to do the best possible for this creature. Ive made other bird ppl connections and I'm here to get more feedback, & other ppl opinions with first hand knowledge or experience.

He is getting the best treatment I can find or learn about. This isn't my first stop for info.

The first night was a home made meal and he survived my cooking.. I got the recipe from bird rehab/rescues blog. I trust it. Would go back to it if needed.

I do not take this lightly. I volunteer in animal rescue, but birds are new to me.. but I 100% I get how delicate care for a baby (any species) is.

If you have any experience with baby doves pls do share that.

You should consult an expert in raising baby birds about if he can be released. Also, a lot of those recipes you see online aren't really any good. Most of the time, someone without the proper experience trying to raise a baby bird ends up with it malnourished and too accustomed to humans to ever be released. He's adorable, and I understand that you mean well and see why you want to keep him, but you shouldn't if you can avoid it. If you want pet birds, get pigeons! PigeonS, plural, they're social. Just like he is. Unless you're planning to go catch another wild dove, that's another reason not to keep him.
Seed is nowhere near a complete diet for birds.
If you're in the US and he's a native species, it's very likely not legal for you to keep him.

 

[Fishkeeper]

I'm up too late to reply on the rest, but the migratory bird treaty act isn't a state-wide thing. It's the whole US, and I think Canada as well. It covers pretty much every native bird in the US and Canada. The only non-covered birds I can think of off the top of my head are invasive species. Some protected birds are allowed to be hunted under specific circumstances, but are still protected.
He's a dove. I can't tell what kind, but doves are migratory birds.
This https://www.fws.gov/birds/management/managed-species/migratory-bird-treaty-act-protected-species.php is a list from 2013 of what birds are included in the MBTA. It includes the below:

DOVE, Inca, Columbina inca
Mourning, Zenaida macroura
White-tipped, Leptotila verreauxi
White-winged, Zenaida asiatica
Zenaida, Zenaida aurita

 

[biophiliac]

Feeding, flapping making a mess, not all his feathers are in under his wimgs, or behind his head

Thank you for looking! Can you tell how old he is?

I was basing my estimate by comparing other ppls pics that stated the bird age. I've had him for about 8 days.

I think your estimate is pretty close. I'm going by his apparent development and I believe it compares to a pigeon chick of about that age. Do you think he's a mourning dove? I found this image of a juvenile online....

When all the feathers are in under the wings he should certainly be weaned. Pigeon keepers say the youngster is 'dry' under the wing. I hope he is releasable when grown, thanks to your efforts.