Dove with possible broken wing.

[Gill-b]

Yesterday morning I found a Laughing Dove (an indigenous garden bird to South Africa), which I could tell was injured, walking around close to my backdoor. It was very easy to catch as it could not fly even though it tried to do so to get away from me.

I checked it all over as best I could, and it seems to have only one (open) wound, found on its right wing. I washed the wound with salt water, gave the dove a few drops of fresh water to drink using a syringe, and then left it in a darkened calm place to rest. I did think to put honey on the open wound but I am unsure how to wrap it after applying the honey, so I left the idea alone for now.

This morning the dove is eating and drinking on its own and is looking a lot more lively. I have placed it with my rescued Cape Turtle Dove, who has been with me for three years, and the Turtle Dove is helping to keep it calm. However the Laughing Dove's right wing is dropped/hanging and looks to be possibly broken.

I would please appreciate to receive suggestions on what my next step should be? Unfortunately it will need to be home remedy suggestions as I have to limit veterinary expenses. I have no experience in setting a broken wing even though I grew up with my parents keeping Fancy Pigeons.

I will upload photographs of the injury later today when I get the chance.

[Please note that I live in South Africa and I find that often medications that I have seen suggested on this Forum are not readily available here, or not easy for me to come by, as it is for people living in the United States.]

 

[Gill-b]

Laughing dove (Spilopelia senegalensis)

The only injury I could find.

The wing is swollen and a bit more so on the underside than where the open wound is on the topside.

The good news is that the wound had scabbed over during the night, but unfortunately the scab pulled off slightly when I opened the wing up. I feel bad about that.

Sweet little thing. Easy to handle. Does not appear to be a youngster judging by its beak and feet.

 

[R2elk]

View attachment 3994298
Laughing dove (Spilopelia senegalensis)

View attachment 3994299
The only injury I could find.

View attachment 3994300
The wing is swollen and a bit more so on the underside than where the open wound is on the topside.

View attachment 3994304
The good news is that the wound had scabbed over during the night, but unfortunately the scab pulled off slightly when I opened the wing up. I feel bad about that.

View attachment 3994307
Sweet little thing. Easy to handle. Does not appear to be a youngster judging by its beak and feet.

If you have access to BluKote, paint the injured area with BluKote. Other than providing a safe resting area, food and water, that is all I would do.

It is surprising how well birds can recover on their own.

A number of years ago I had a Yellow-billed Cuckoo get a broken wing. It spent the summer hiding in a dense stand of plum trees. By fall it was flying well and migrated south as usual..

 

[Gill-b]

@Liz Birdlover I hope you don't mind me asking if there is any additional advice you may have for me considering that you seem to be somewhat of a pigeon and dove specialist?

 

[CCsGarden]

Is it able too move it's wing?

 

[CCsGarden]

I care and rescue birds How is it today? has it eaten and drank?

If it got an injury,like I saw above, it may not want too keep it's wing in place.

 

[alinas2010]

I was going to tag you @CCsGarden

 

[Gill-b]

Is it able too move it's wing?

Hellooo


Thank you for responding to this thread.
Yes, I have seen the Laughing dove stretch both its wings, one after the other, along with its legs, as birds do when they stretch. However the damaged wing does not stretch out far and is still hanging low.

 

[Gill-b]

I care and rescue birds How is it today? has it eaten and drank?

If it got an injury,like I saw above, it may not want too keep it's wing in place.

Today, I have put both doves in the outside loft as it seems that the Laughing dove has recovered enough to start "fighting" over perch space in the cage. I take this as a very good sigh . As mentioned in my first post of this thread, it is eating and drinking on its own; and this morning it was the first one to the food bowl, so there is definitely no problem there.
I will post updated photographs of its wing soon.

 

[Gill-b]

The damaged right wing.

See how it drops / hangs low.

The rescued Cape Turtle Dove.

Both doves in the outside bird loft which was built for the Cape Turtle Dove and other rescue birds such as this Laughing Dove.

Here is a link to an unanswered question on BYC about the bird loft. Please go have a look if you have a moment:
Bird Loft question

I hope these photographs help.