S.O.S baby morning dove needs help

[Jaimesweet]

We would need a picture of the dove to tell how old it is in order to determine the proper food. If they're anything like pigeons, which I'd imagine they are in that they are from the same family Columbidae, they require digestive enzymes with their crop milk for the first 3-4 days of life. Any older, they don't really need it, but would still need a crop milk type food (not hard seeds) until they are several weeks old. The easiest way to get a crop milk substance with the digestive enzymes is to buy Kaytee Exact. Another way is to make your own, see the Mac Milk recipe, but I will caution the additive to add the digestive enzymes can be hard to find, making Kaytee Exact a much easier alternative if the bird is less than 4 days old--but after that the Mac Milk recipe without the digestive enzymes added to it is pretty easy to make (still not easier than just buying Kaytee Exact). As a note, Kaytee Exact includes the digestive enzymes and they are fine to feed the bird for several weeks--I guess what I'm saying is having the digestive enzymes when the bird doesn't need it anymore is fine.

Feed the bird until it's crop is about 75% full. See YouTube videos to get a feel for what this looks like, it is hard to explain by just typing it, you really need to see it.

Thank you for your help. He passed away this morning in my hands. I didn't get the kaytee hand held formula in time... I researched and researched and now I know that he was very hungry and out of his element and I'm heartbroken :'(

 

[Jaimesweet]

results of search ...
https://www.google.com/search?q=han...ome..69i57.14794j0j7&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8
Looks like there could be some help for you here.

***That is how i hand fed a baby pigeon.
View attachment 1411520
And here is an older BYC thread
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/raising-a-baby-mourning-dove-need-help.803067/

best of luck to you.

This would have helped . I didn't get the formula quick enough. I'm beside myself....he died in my hands this morning. :'(

 

[townchicks]

I'm very sorry. It is so hard not become emotionally invested in these little babies. Just know, that you did the best you could, and the odds were high against you. He would have died anyway, out in the wild, so you gave him a fighting chance.

 

[biophiliac]

I'm very sorry. It is so hard not become emotionally invested in these little babies. Just know, that you did the best you could, and the odds were high against you. He would have died anyway, out in the wild, so you gave him a fighting chance.

X2 - So sorry the little guy died but OP will be ready to help the next one.

 

[biophiliac]

For the next emergency-
Once they are a week or two old a gruel of moistened chicken pellets, ground up in a blender can provide fairly complete nutrition. I added some nutritional yeast flakes and a tsp of peanut butter for flavor. Key to getting the youngster to take it is proper temp of around 101° or 102°.

 

[thinkyesi]

Im oh so sorry
I know its hard and it hurts when youve tried all that you could.
Its hard when we dont know what to do or have the tools to care for them. But you did alot more than what many other people probably would do for a small bird.
Matthew 10:29 "Not a single sparrow can fall to the ground without your Father knowing it"
If God saw that you did all you could in your power to care for a tiny small bird, be happy, we on here saw the good deed you tried doing for this beautiful little creature, let alone God saw too

 

[Jaimesweet]

I'm very sorry. It is so hard not become emotionally invested in these little babies. Just know, that you did the best you could, and the odds were high against you. He would have died anyway, out in the wild, so you gave him a fighting chance.

Thank you my friend.....

 

[Jaimesweet]

Im oh so sorry
I know its hard and it hurts when youve tried all that you could.
Its hard when we dont know what to do or have the tools to care for them. But you did alot more than what many other people probably would do for a small bird.
Matthew 10:29 "Not a single sparrow can fall to the ground without your Father knowing it"
If God saw that you did all you could in your power to care for a tiny small bird, be happy, we on here saw the good deed you tried doing for this beautiful little creature, let alone God saw too

Your reply has me in tears. Thank you very much for reminding me that God saw and he knows my heart. I love all his creatures. Ty my friend.