How To Wash A Baby Mourning Dove

[Savannah Hayley]

Hi, I have a fledging mourning dove that I got a week ago. For the first couple days I was feeding her out of a baby bottle with a cross cut in the nipple so she could stick her beak in and drink. This proved to be a very messy way to feed her(the food dripped down her chest). I did my best to clean the food off her chest with a damp paper towel but I couldn't get all of it off. The food ended up drying on her feathers and it looks very uncomfortable. So, I was wondering if I should give her a warm bath in the sink(no soap) or not?

 

[lightchick]

Aww she's so cute! You can give her a bath. How old is she? If she's old enough then you may just have to put a container of water in her cage and she'll bathe in it by herself.

 

[Savannah Hayley]

I'm not sure how old she is but on her neck there are some black feathers coming in. Idk if that could help pin point how old she is.

 

[lightchick]

I'd just try and put a shallow water dish in her cage and see what happens.

 

[paramount]

It looks to be about three and half weeks old. At this age, I would recommend against giving it a bath, as it is pretty easy for them to still get a chill at this age. Once he/she is eating on its own (about two weeks from now), you can use warm water and a gentle dish soap, making sure to rinse the plumage thoroughly.

 

[Tillybaby1]

Hi, I have a fledging mourning dove that I got a week ago. For the first couple days I was feeding her out of a baby bottle with a cross cut in the nipple so she could stick her beak in and drink. This proved to be a very messy way to feed her(the food dripped down her chest). I did my best to clean the food off her chest with a damp paper towel but I couldn't get all of it off. The food ended up drying on her feathers and it looks very uncomfortable. So, I was wondering if I should give her a warm bath in the sink(no soap) or not?

I have one I have been feeding now for 8 days first 3 days was by a syringe now I hand feed it im trying to teach it to fly

 

[Tillybaby1]

I have one I have been feeding now for 8 days first 3 days was by a syringe now I hand feed it im trying to teach it to fly

 

[nuthatched]

I have one I have been feeding now for 8 days first 3 days was by a syringe now I hand feed it im trying to teach it to fly

This thread is 8 years old, friend, you might want to make a new one for your bird.

 

[RoostersAreAwesome]

I have one I have been feeding now for 8 days first 3 days was by a syringe now I hand feed it im trying to teach it to fly

Is it a wild dove? If so, it would be best to take it to a wildlife rehabilitation center. A hand-raised dove will probably not be able to survive in the wild. If it’s a domestic dove, then good luck!