Help! Starving Dove chick - should I interfere?

[ProbertaGerber]

Dear bird lovers, I have a nest of Mourning Doves in my rafters with 2 chicks, one is doing well - big, healthy, eyes open, but the other one is small and weak and starving. This has happened before with another pair of doves that had 2 chicks and they let the little one die.

I have read that if you take the big chick out of the nest then the parents will feed the little one. Then you put the big chick back, and continue rotating them like that and they can both survive. Does this sound feasible?

PS. I ordered Roudybush Squab diet to feed the little one by hand but it won't arrive for 2 days and I doubt he will make it til then. This "rotating" thing seems like the only thing to do immediately but I'm afraid, and I don't want to do anything that might hurt these precious creatures. Any suggestions?

TIA.

 

[SilkieNation]

Dear bird lovers, I have a nest of Mourning Doves in my rafters with 2 chicks, one is doing well - big, healthy, eyes open, but the other one is small and weak and starving. This has happened before with another pair of doves that had 2 chicks and they let the little one die.

I have read that if you take the big chick out of the nest then the parents will feed the little one. Then you put the big chick back, and continue rotating them like that and they can both survive. Does this sound feasible?

PS. I ordered Roudybush Squab diet to feed the little one by hand but it won't arrive for 2 days and I doubt he will make it til then. This "rotating" thing seems like the only thing to do immediately but I'm afraid, and I don't want to do anything that might hurt these precious creatures. Any suggestions?

TIA.

I wouldn't take the healthy one out because you don't really know what will happen and you may end up jeopardizing its life. If you have an avian vet around, you may be able to get a package of rescue remedy for the little one. Maybe research what you can feed baby birds/doves, what doves eat. You could make a slurry out of whatever they eat and feed it that. I'd get a 1ml syringe from the pharmacy too. But, however difficult, it may be best to let nature take its course.

 

[cavemanrich]

Sad to give you this opinion, but I think by you interfering may do more bad than good. The parents may abandon the little ones after you handle them ??? I keep pigeons as well as chickens. All are pets. ( I don't eat my pets )
A while ago I had a situation where the two small newborns were not developing equally. I tried to nurse and feed the weaker of the two, and inevitably FAILED.
Now if I was a specialist at some university laboratory with superior knowledge and unlimited resources, well, then maybe I would have succeeded...
Sometimes it is best to leave things to nature. Even if you do succeed initially, the bird may not do well into adulthood. (we don't know)
I also understand why you are trying to help this little bird... YOU ARE A GOOD PERSON IN THE HEART.

SINCERELY WISHING YOU BEST. AND

 

[ProbertaGerber]

Oh, thank you so much for answering!

I have a bag of Dove food that I got several months ago. I put it in a container and threw the bag out unfortunately, so I don't know the expiration date on it. I will see if I can find an avian vet first thing tomorrow, but could I make a slurry out of the feed I have?

 

[cavemanrich]

Oh, thank you so much for answering!



I have a bag of Dove food that I got several months ago. I put it in a container and threw the bag out unfortunately, so I don't know the expiration date on it. I will see if I can find an avian vet first thing tomorrow, but could I make a slurry out of the feed I have?

My suggestion is you give the food to the parents. They know better the health of their offspring. Another fact about pigeons and doves is they are fed crop milk. It comes from the parents regurgitated throat. If mama and papa are well fed, then the babies will be well fed. Both parents feed the little ones. Things are completely different with baby chicks. They start eating on their own right away.

 

[ProbertaGerber]

Thank you all soooo much for answering. I have been on the phone listening to the recorded information (It's nighttime here) from our local Project Wildlife and they say to bring abandoned chicks there. Perhaps if I take the little one from the nest and tell them I found him, they can feed and nurse him to health. Or hopefully there is an avian vet here and I can take him in first thing in the morning. I don't know which would be better for him...

Thank you all so much. I have been alternately fretting, worrying, crying and praying since I discovered him. It is such a relief to hear your wise words. Thank you.

 

[SilkieNation]

I'm thinking cavemanrich may have the better advice. Cropmilk is not dove food slurry. You could end up harming the little one more by giving it inappropriate food. If you could take it to the wildlife place, it seems that would be best. I've never had success trying to nurse a young or injured bird. Years ago I stopped trying. Whatever you end up doing, please leave the healthy chick be and know that if you disturb the nest, you might do more harm than good.

 

[ProbertaGerber]

Just wanted to let you know that the little one is safely at Project Wildlife where I am assured he will be well fed and looked after. As soon as they get him stable I may be able to bring him home and hand-feed him, and then reintroduce him to the garden and all his relatives!

Thank you all again for your help!

 

[SilkieNation]

Yay!