Expert: Bluebird Bob Walshaw - 7/31/2010

Question
Hello, thank you for taking the time to help me!  I am nursing two wild baby doves whose mother was killed.  I am hand feeding them Lafeber's instant nutri-start baby bird formula with a syringe.  I have added shredded carrots, broccoli, grapes, as well as a wild bird seed (pounded into smaller pieces) to their cage, but they seem uninterested.  I am worried that I am not feeding them enough (less that 2.5ml every 2 hours is what they'll take before I feel too terrible to make them go through any more).  I can't tell if their crops are full.  They really hate it when I feed them.  They never open their mouths...I have to force-feed them. My question is: how much should I feed them, how often, and what amount should be reasonable?  I should add that one bird had a huge swollen eye, which I have treated with a human eye antibiotic, and it seems to be doing better.  Feathers have come in but it hasn't stood on its own legs.  The other stands well on its own.  Attached is a picture for reference.  Any help/advice you can offer is much appreciate by my children and I.

Thank you,  Amy D.

Answer
I am sorry that you are doing this. It is illegal to try to raise native protected birds. Also they bond to their feeder, do not learn to forage or to recognize predators, and ususlly do not survive in the wild.  Also Mother Nature does not want weaklings to pass on their genes. Knowing this if you are still reluctant to let nature take its course you can find a bird rehabilitator at http://www.sialis.org/emergency.htm