Expert: Roger Lederer - 6/20/2009

Question
My son found a young baby dove the other day. The little bird has a bad leg. It does have most of its feathers now. The bird has been eating formula but how do I get it to start eating wild bird seeds? I have placed seeds on the bottom of the cage but I have not seen it try to eat the seeds. Also can this bird survive in the wild with a bad leg? I want to release the bird as soon as it can make it on its own. How do you know it is ready to be released? The leg turns to the side but it does use the leg to get around. It looks like it was injured and then healed in that position. Can it survive in the wild with a leg like that? Any help would be great.

Thanks,
Janice

Answer
The BEST thing to do is contact your local wildlife/bird rehab center or wildlife official or vet for help and advice. The bird is not old enough to eat seeds; its parents feed it a special mixture that they regurgitate. I don't know what bad leg means. If it is broken, it will not survive. But it may just be twisted or a growth deformity which it will recover from. Only an expert can tell when he/she looks at it. You need experienced help if this bird is to survive. In the meantime, go to www.ornithology.com/rehab.html for help. Thanks for your concern.