Expert: Roger Lederer - 9/2/2011

Question
We found a baby dove (in pin feather stage) in our back yard nearly two weeks ago.  I followed some advice in prior answers given on this website, about how to raise and care for baby doves. However, we plan to wean and let it go, so it can try to go back to the wild. It is now almost fully feathered and flapping like it wants to fly. While we are worried about imprinting and will continue to care for it if it can't survive, we still would like for it to be free, if at all possible.  
How do we wean a baby dove? How do we teach it to eat bird seed? We are struggling with that transition from baby bird formula to seed.  
Any advice would be appreciated! Thank you!

Answer
You have the right idea but the only way to do this is to get a huge flight cage and supply it with a variety of foods. If it can't fly quite yet, let it go in a large fenced yard. If those aren't possible, just let it go. Most birds are quite instinctive and will naturally go to the proper food when released. They are not going to starve themselves. Becoming dependent on humans is a greater problem. So just let it go; I'm confident it will be fine. And thanks for your concern.