Expert: Chrys Meatyard - 9/28/2006

Question
Hello,

I have a baby dove that is about 23 days old. I am wondering how long does it normally take for the baby to eat what its parents eat(millet)on its own? I have the nest at the bottom of the cage because it likes to try to fly out and I don't want it to hurt itself if it were to land from high up. I noticed its dad is feeding it still but feeding it less and it continues to demand food (with little cute squeaky noises.

What I have done(since it is now able to fly out of the nest and walk along the bottom of the cage)is I have lined the bottom of the cage with a cloth and sprinkled food all along the floor. Is this a good idea? Is it old enough to eat the millet on its own? Or is the dad teaching it to eat? After how long will they stop feeding the baby altogether? I was told by a bird hospital to leave it up to the parents to take care of them and show them to eat.

I am hoping that this baby will survive because I had one that didn't make it a few months ago.  

Answer
Hi, Lily.  Thanks for posting your questions!

Dad will feed the baby when he thinks the baby needs to be fed.  However, daddy is trying to wean the baby dove.  The process is that the parents will "kick" the baby out of the nest when it's time for the baby to start learning the ways of life from dad.  Mom should soon go to nest again if she hasn't already.  Dad is trying to coax the baby to eat on it's own...this is why he isn't feeding the baby all the time.  The baby has to get hungry before s/he will eat on it's own.  However, the baby will continue to beg for food for a couple more weeks and/or until dad quits feeding it altogether and it eats completely on it's own.  The baby should learn to eat out of the same feeding dishes as it's parents eat from.  No need to sprinkle food on the floor.  This isn't a good idea if the doves' droppings can get on the feed...you don't want the doves eating any grain that might be contaminated with droppings.  Illness/disease are spread via droppings and contaminated drinking water.

You should be feeding more grains than just millet.  Doves need to be fed pigeon food or at least wild bird food (without sunflower seeds).  Millet alone isn't enough.

Baby birds are hatched without immunities to any illness/disease.  They develop immunities as they grow older and are exposed to germs.  This is why there is a high mortality rate in birds.  You need to ensure the baby is eating good quality feed, including more than just millet, and that their food and water doesn't become contaminated with droppings, etc.  It's a good idea to immunize baby doves against some of the serious diseases doves can fall prey to when they become older.  Vaccinating them when they are older defeats the purpose because they have already developed immunities, i.e., vaccinations are not necessary.  Your other baby dove could have succumbed to an illness/disease.  It's important you keep their cage clean, that they get plenty of exercise, proper feed, etc., so they stay healthy.  

Also, I'd recommend rather than a "cage" that you house your doves in something much larger so they can get the proper exercise they require.  They also require proper lighting (full spectrum), etc.

Come back if you have further questions.

Chrys