Dove not able to fly

[SueC]

Found this fella 2 days ago.

Vet confirmed that it does not have any bones broken. Was told that it is about a month old. Able to eat on its own and is fully feathered.

When can it fly? I don't need to teach it, don't I?

Suzanna

[Reti]

Hi Suzanna,
glad you picked him up. He should start flying in a couple of weeks. The he needs to become a good flier before you release him.
In the meantime let him exercise his wings.
No, you don't need to teach him. He'll know what to do when the time comes.

Reti

[pdpbison]

Hi Suzanna,


Yahhhh...just provide him a safe environment for his developement and he will work his way into flyinh just fine on his own.

Lots of good Seeds and fresh Water, and let him play and explore and develop his muscles and so on into flying.

If all goes well, as Reti mentions, it will be two weeks more at least before he is ready to be on his own...so...start planning ahead as for where you will release him. Hopefully there ia some nice healthy feal flock near you he can be released to.

Best wishes!

Phil
Las Vegas

[John_D]

Hi Suzanna,

What kind of dove is it - a native species? Or is it a whiie pigeon?

John

[SueC]

it is a Little Cuckoo Dove. It's brown in color. Understand that some are sold in the pet shops here.

Looked fine this evening when I visited the clinic. Sprayed it with a Mite & Lice Spray. Hope this is sufficient to eliminate the external parasites. Vet said that it is too young to be given Ivomect or Biomectin (sp).

Will be fetching it home on Friday and will pose pics then.

Vet told me that it should be fed with seeds that are smaller sized than that for pigeons. I'll be giving her multi-vits. Can I also feed her with the usual stuff - probiotics, garlic, ACV, considering it is still a baby? What other stuff should I give her to give her a good foundation before she faces the big big world?

BTW, are doves very different from pigeons?

Suzanna

[Trees Gray]

You might give the dove a little probiotics for suportive treatment, to add some good gut bacteria to the diet. A stressed out young bird can be depleted in good gut bacteria, which would allow coccidiosis to multiply, which would sometimes cause the bid to be too weak to fly.

[Lady Tarheel]

Sue, the only difference I have noticed about doves is they're more easily frightened than pigeons but they can eat basically the same seeds and love sunflower seeds. Being a baby, I would go with smaller seed than you feed the pigeons until he is self feeding and has grown a bit.

I agree with Treesa about getting probiotics in him. Will you have to hand feed when you get him home? They are a little more difficult than pigeons because their mouths are smaller and you need to keep them secure when feeding because the babies I've raised get so excited they can easily fall off a counter.

Enjoy the little guy because they are really sweet.

[John_D]

information about most Cuckoo Doves is sparse

They eat seeds and hard berries, so I read.

Just a bit concerned about its lack of flight, because those similar species for which information is available would probably be fledged by now - less than the five weeks or so of pigeons - unless it is a little younger than the estimate.

It is possible that the dove may have a calcium deficiency. Multivits for birds should help with this, if they have vit D3. A liquid calcium which is D3 could be beneficial.

John

[SueC]

for all the advices.

This youngster is pretty calm. Can even stand on my hand without restraint.

Will do probiotics, calcium supplement and multi-vits with it. It is eating on its own so I guess I'll just mix all these into its food/water.

The vet mentioned that there is a small cut on the underside of its wing. He said it is not serious so I hope the non-flying part is because it is still too young only.

Such birds are not commonly found. I noticed that there are only 2 adult doves living around the area where I reside. Pigeons, crows and mynahs make up the larger flock here. Not sure if this is a good place to release this little one when the time comes. Oh well, I'll worry later.

Will post pics of this baby later.

Suzanna

[SueC]

He should be a Peaceful Dove or another name - Zebra Dove.









How old do you think she is?

When I let her out of the cage today, she flew to the top of my shelves. From the floor to the top of the shelves it is about 2m high. Does it mean she can fly properly? How would I know that she has become a good flier? Apologies for so many questions. I do not have any experience in releasing birds and I know I will be worrying about her when it is time for release.

[Reti]

She is so cute.
I cannot advice about her age, but you should be sure she can fly fast. When you won't be able to catch her anymore, she should be ready for release.
She might need a few days or a week to exercise her flying skills.

Reti

[SueC]

Oh dear! The little fella did not make any attempt to fly today. Her appetite is good, drinking well and poo is raisin-like.

When I let her out from her cage, she just stood on my hand. After a while, she returned to her cage voluntarily. Does she make a good candidate for release?

[Reti]

When I let her out from her cage, she just stood on my hand. After a while, she returned to her cage voluntarily. Does she make a good candidate for release? [/quote]


So far, sounds like not. But that can change.
My Olivia is the same, won't fly anywhere, won't even attempt. Loves to be carried around and read the computer and goes voluntarily into her cage.
Give it some time.

Reti

[John_D]

Looks like a fledged dove, but since we don't know the fledging age for the species, we can only go by the feathering. Beak looks still juvenile to me.

We have some pigeons who could fly up to a perch OK, but I would not give much chance if they were outside and struggling in high winds or trying to reach rooftops (or for your dove, I guess, a tall tree).

John

[Lady Tarheel]

Sue, I agree with John that it looks like a fledgling so her flying skills are still developing. I guess it is possible the cut on her wing could make her sore when flying so she just doesn't try. Give her awhile longer.

Doves ae funny little birds. Some can become very attached and do not make good candidates for release. I am also concerned that you don't see any others like her. Personally, I would check around and see where there is a flock and when its time, release her near the flock.