*Updated thread with Pics of Baby Dove*

[Enchanted Sunrise Farms]

Help! i'm out of my knowledge zone. A pair of doves i purchased last month laid two eggs. Both hatched, but this morning found one baby dead, out in front of the mother. That was the younger of the two doves. The other baby, which hatched Tuesday is alive, but not moving a lot. i have not seen the parents feed it, but then i'm trying to give them some privacy.

So, i'm worried. i read somewhere that the babies need to start eating right away. i know baby chicks can go three days. Can baby doves go several days after birth without eating, also? It's not making any noise. i'm not sure if i should do anything, or what i should do.

Would appreciate any advice.

 

[Majd]

Hello... Ok I have some experience in doves and pigeons...ok first lots of time the younger one dies after hatching due to general weekness or parents prefering thr bigger chick that have a greater chance of survival and ignoring the smallest.... ok.... they will eat immediately that's true. ... but they have some yolk that can keep them up for a day or tow.. of course you know the babies crop... check if there's a yellow substance in the crop... it's called crop milk or pigeon milk... both parents will be producing this substance from their crops and feeding it for the baby for about a week.... the they will begin adding seeds.... so if you fing food in the crop that's good.... nothing to worry about. ... as they don't make soises a lot like chicks at that age or move a lot.... they only eat and spend the rest of the time sleeping under the parents..... the parents should be warming them constantly. ... if no food in the crop in the second day of age or no warming... these are unexperienced parents with their first batch.... a pic of the baby will be appreciated..... keep us posted...

 

[Enchanted Sunrise Farms]

Thank you so much for your input.

Here is a picture of the older baby when it was a day or two old. It is 4 days old now and still alive, so i have to assume the parents are feeding it. i'll try to get another picture today, if mom cooperates.

 

[Hokum Coco]

I guess it's survival was not to be. No nest bowl may have contributed. Who knows?.

This is what I use for nest bowls in my loft for my pigeons.

They do not tip over when birds are going in and out.

I pick them up at the Canadian Dollar store.

They are 9" to 10" in diameter; a bit of grass; wood chips; or pine needles; and they will be good to go.

Might help in future clutches.

I would not try and introduce one now for this squab.

 

[Majd]

He seems to be fed.... and growing normally.... hokum coco is right you should put the a nest bowl and some nesting material to avoid splay leggs and other problems... but leave them now as they might neglect it if you pit him in a nest bowl now... but you can try it and if they return to the baby leave it if not remove it...

 

[Enchanted Sunrise Farms]

Oh gosh, I didn't know they needed a nest bowl. I kept putting straw in the bottom of the cage but they just pushed it aside. Thank you for the tip. I hope this baby doesn't get splayed leg because of my ignorance.

 

[Hokum Coco]

I lost 2 squabs to my best White homers this year by deciding to clean up there area and provide them with a nest bowl.

They usually always used their nest bowl but for this clutch they decide not too.

This was in late February or March long story short both squabs perished in the cold.

They abandon their nest.

Since then they can nest where an however they like. I will not tamper with the nest until the squabs are nearly fledged.

These are the squabs I lost. They both were dead the very next day after taking this photo. One was going to have brown on it even though both parents are snow white.

Lesson learned!

 

[Enchanted Sunrise Farms]

Found the parents off the baby and got a good picture. The baby is four days old now.

 

[Hokum Coco]

Looks like it's eyes are wide open and that it is going to be snow white. I can also see the formation of the pin feathers developing.

This will give you and idea of just how fast they develop.

Click on the link:

.

 

[Majd]

Yeah hokum coco is right.... so nice and grew very fast... and has a full crop