Hello, and thank you for your help in advance.
My kids and I found Pesto the baby dove 4 weeks ago. Must have just hatched when we found it. We have been raising it since with the aim of releasing it once it's big enough.
From all my readings, the dove by now should be independent (at 4 weeks and 2 days). However, Pesto is refusing to eat on his (or her) own.
He (she) pecks the seeds, they go in his (her) beak, then he (she) throws them. It's very frustrating, and then he (she) is getting traumatized from me sticking a tube down his (her) throat.
Today I decided to leave food and drink out in the open, and not feed him (her).
Is this a bad approach? What can I do to teach Pesto to eat alone? I really am not a pet person but I don't have the heart to release him (her) without being fully independent. I can really use an expert's help.
My kids and I found Pesto the baby dove 4 weeks ago. Must have just hatched when we found it. We have been raising it since with the aim of releasing it once it's big enough.
From all my readings, the dove by now should be independent (at 4 weeks and 2 days). However, Pesto is refusing to eat on his (or her) own.
He (she) pecks the seeds, they go in his (her) beak, then he (she) throws them. It's very frustrating, and then he (she) is getting traumatized from me sticking a tube down his (her) throat.
Today I decided to leave food and drink out in the open, and not feed him (her).
Is this a bad approach? What can I do to teach Pesto to eat alone? I really am not a pet person but I don't have the heart to release him (her) without being fully independent. I can really use an expert's help.