Found a baby mourning dove!! HELP!

[shelleyd2008]

My dog found a baby mourning dove a little while ago. We looked for a nest to put it back in but can't find it. The baby is only about 2-3 weeks old or so, so I don't think it can eat on its own. What do I do with it?

 

[Tam'ra of Rainbow Vortex]

Look up wildlife rehab centers. They will take it in. Call animal control if you can't find the number, they should know it. For some reason it's always hard to look up places like that.

In the meantime, you may have to feed it. Baby birds do not drink water, they get all their liquid from their food. You can replicate something palatable for it pretty easily. All I know is the recipe for crow/raven/jay/robin food, but it should work, short term, on a dove. I think long term they are less carnivorous, but the extra protein won't hurt for a day or two.

Combine:
1 jar of chicken flavored baby food
1/2 cup high quality dry cat food (like science diet)
1/2 cup warm water

Soak until the catfood mushes easily, then blend together. I might not remember the measurements correctly, but you can add water if you need to. It should be the consistancy of pancake batter or wetter. If you have any bird (chicken) vitamins on hand, you can throw them in (small ammounts) and maybe for a dove I would sub some chicken food for the cat food.

Anyway, once you have a thick liquid, you can eyedropper it into the baby's mouth. Or dip a straw into the goop and put you finger over the other end to create suction, then release it in the bird's mouth. It should catch on pretty quick and open up for you. Birds like food! If it seems resistant, try wearing a sock on your arm the same color as the parent bird. As long as you are feeding it, it won't mind.

Good Luck!

 

[BrattishTaz]

Search mourning dove in the search box. Someone else just had the same problem a couple of days ago.

 

[NicInNC]

If there is a way to keep your dog away from it, I'd put it back where it was found. I couldn't get the baby mourning dove I found to a rehab center in time and it died. It was doing GREAT eating the Kaytee food that I was told to buy and then the next day it died. A neighbor had it for a few days and gave it to me. I had it 2 days. I couldn't put it back in his yard because his cat would get it. I wish he had never given it to me because now I feel like it's MY fault it died.

Going by everything I read, the parents will care for it when it's on the ground. They also kick them out of the nest at a VERY young age. Is it fully feathered? if so, then more than likely the mother kicked it out already. Do you have a hanging planter? You could also put it in one of those and watch out the window to see if the parents come back to care for it.

 

[shelleyd2008]

I hadn't thought of the hanging planter, I was trying to figure out some way to get it back 'up' where the dog wouldn't/couldn't get it. I gave it to a pair of my ringnecks and they seem to be taking care of it, so I think it will be fine.

It is mostly feathered but still has some of the long hairy down sticking out around the feathers. But judging by the size of my ringnecks, it's only about 3 weeks old.

 

[chickenzoo]

Are they feeding it?