Birds--General/baby doves

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Expert: - 12/8/2006


Question
i found this baby dove on a hot day and it has no parents. what should i feed it?

Answer
Hi, Lisa.  Thanks for posting!

Depends on it's age (how big it is).  If it's a young baby with fuzz and/or just pin feathers, you'll need to handfeed it using a handfeeding syringe and baby parrot handfeeding formula that you can buy at most pet stores that cater to aves.  If it's fully feathered, it can eat regular pigeon or dove feed that you can buy at animal feed stores or the like.  This baby definitely needs water, too.  It may not know how to drink on it's own, so you may have to help here by placing drops in it's mouth or pushing it's beak down into a dish of water so it can learn how to drink (don't dip bird's nostrils into the water though).

If you have further questions about handfeeding, please let me know.  If you can describe the featheration of the bird and it's size, I can try to determine it's age and, thus, it's food needs.

Chrys  

Birds--General

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Chrys Meatyard

Expertise

I`ve been raising/breeding/handfeeding/selling parrots for over 20 years (parakeets/budgies, cockatiels, 6 subspecies of conures, parrotlets, amazons, lovebirds, etc.). I've been published in "Budgies" and "Cockatiels" offered by Bow Tie Productions, and have written avian articles for publication in England. I can provide advice in raising healthy birds, handfeeding/weaning babies, some health problems (although I'm NOT an avian veterinarian), nail/beak/wing clipping, general husbandry, etc. I also have experience with racing/showing homing pigeons. I cannot diagnose specific illness over this website. If you suspect your bird is ill or if you have an emergency, contact an avian veterinarian or emergency pet clinic ASAP.

Experience

Experience: Over 20 years raising parrots and over 13 years raising pigeons. Organizations: Currently, American Racing Pigeon Union and American Federation of Aviculture. Prior member Miami Valley Bird Club, Southern Ohio Pigeon Association, National Cockatiel Society, Miami Valley Sportsman's Club, others. Publications: Monthly newsletters of bird clubs.

Publications
I've been published in "Budgies" and "Cockatiels" offered by Bow Tie Productions, and have written avian articles for publication in England.

Education/Credentials
American Federation of Aviculture, completed Level I course, Fundamentals of Aviculture. Keeping/breeding parrots and other birds for over 20 years.

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