Found a injured dove in my yard today! What should i do? BAD NEWS

[boykin2010]

I live off from a road but i actually found it about 75 yards from a dirt road so that is very possible.

 

[cochinGurl]

i realy hope it does alright

 

[Larkspur88]

It's a male mourning dove.

They make great pets. Did you find any injuries? I had a mourning dove for a bit, but a respiratory illness took her life before she completely matured. I own a pair of ringneck doves now.

 

[boss400]

Could have a health problem i would not get it near my chickens dove and pigeons carry all kinds of diseases

 

[boykin2010]

I am keeping it away from my chickens. I put a little bit of cracked corn in for it today. I still havent seen it eating but it doesnt do anything while i am out there because it is watching me. It freaks out when i try to pick it up and pet it. Do you think this dove could be tamed and kept as a pet? Can someone tell me how to find out if one of his wings are broken?

 

[spikennipper]

A broken wing usually hangs lower than normal so if one is trailing on the floor then it is more than likely broken also if you watch the bird try to fly if a wing doesn't fully extend when it flaps then this is another sign, breaks can usually be felt when a wing is extended, a healthy bird will be able to pull the wing back sharply when you release it, if it is broken it will more than likely hang limply, depending on the type of break pure cage rest may be all that is needed, I wouldn't recommend keeping it as a pet especially if you can make it better, it's a wild bird and will not be happy permanently caged, if the wing is broken and doesn't heal then keeping it as a pet may be an option or putting it down but the decision is ultimately yours.

 

[Larkspur88]

It won't make a good pet. It's too mature. They're very flighty and skittish. In the dove world...everything is out to get them.

Doves eat wild bird seed out the bird feeder fine as a stable diet as long as grit is provided. They swallow seeds whole. They won't normally eat other things. Mine have been rather picky. I tried to give them treats before they were "scared" of.

 

[boykin2010]

I checked the wing like u said spikennipper. It doesnt seem to hang lower but i can tell where one wing doesnt work as well as the other wing. It does seem to be getting though. It was jumping and trying to fly today. Is it possible that this is a dove that was shot during dove season and never found. My neighbors and I both shot dove this season but it is almost impossible to find every dove that goes down. Maybe it was a dove that was shot but never found. Do you think it could live this long without being able to fly? Oh and i think the dove is eating some scratch feed i put in a feeder for it.

 

[GallusGal]

You should look at the website of the National Wildlife Rehabilitators Association or google "[x state] wildlife rehabilitators" and locate a rehabber in your state. The bird's best bet at both recovery and return to the wild is with a qualified, licensed individual who is experienced with injured wildlife. In most states, keeping a wild dove (if a native species) as a pet is illegal, and a mature dove removed from the wild - even for its own good - is not going to adapt well to captivity. Glad you are taking the time to help it, and I hope you can find someone who can figure out its exact medical problem and (hopefully) get it patched up and back out in the wild.

 

[boykin2010]

Ok i will see what i can find thank you!