Expert: Roger Lederer - 7/21/2007

Question
QUESTION: OK, I found a mourning dove egg on the ground at my cousins. I thought it was dead, but I decided to try it in my incubator (I breed reptiles). Its been in there for almost 7  days at 100 degrees F and still doesn't smell. I have been turning it 3-5 times a day. Does this mean it might hatch? I have looked up caring for mourning dove eggs and youngsters, but I was wondering if anyone had some advice. I was also wondering (if it imprints on humans) if it will come back if we let it outside, like a pidgeon. We have a shed where we could put a nesting box for it to roost in. Also, if it is a female and becomes gravid, will it come back to us to lay her eggs? And if it were a male with a mate,would both of them return to the nest box provided?
Keeping it inside when it grows up is not an option, but we have a fairly large rabbit hutch outside, so maybe it could live there? Or maybe we could put it there just for the nights? I've never kept birds before, so any help would be much appreciated.
Thanks,
Hannah
P.S. I read that it is illegal to keep mourning doves as pets. If its not in my house, does the rule still apply?

ANSWER: It is very difficult to hatch and raise a wild Mourning Dove. Baby doves are fed a special food by their parents. If you should happen to be successful it hatching it, call your local wildife rehab center for advice. You probably will not have much success with it unless you have experience. If you are successful and let it go, it may return to the general area but not the same nesting box. In any case it is illegal to keep a wild bird, inside or outside. Thanks for your concern.

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QUESTION: If I do manage to raise it, can I just let it live in the back yard without a cage legally? Or would it be too stupid because it imprinted on humans?

Answer
If you manage to raise it, let it go as soon as possible. If it stays in your backyard, ok, but it may not. Just don't domesticate it. Not only is it illegal, but a domesticated wild bird will soon die as it will hang around houses and a dog or cat or kid with a gun will get it.