Successful Feeding method

[jaycee]

I hope this will be of help to other people

I found a young collared dove last year, extremely weak, cold and wet. Looked mature enough to fly. I wrapped it in a towel with just it's beak visible. I played a hair dryer over the towel using my hand constantly to test the heat. He/she soon looked better and a little stronger but would not eat.

I placed him in a pet carrier to rest with seed and water, but he would not eat. Eventually I filled a rubber glove finger with sloppy mushy cereal, cut small hole in tip. Placed his beak into hole and he ate immediately. I managed to get him eating seed and drinking. fixed a perch in carrier and let him out to exercise his wings. He seemed to have a slightly injured leg but it got better almost 100% after 3 weeks. Put a small dab of colour on top of his head and realeased him close to the house. He often visited my bird table and was less afraid of me than other birds, but the colour on his head soon faded so I lost track of him but hope he survived.

I like the baby's bottle and teat method as described on this Forum, but this seems next best thing. It was my first and only attempt at nurturing a pigeon/dove. I have just found a baby pigeon very young. I Need help but that is for a new post.

[TAWhatley]

Thank you for this post, Jaycee. I'll have to look and see what you need help with currently.

EDIT: Well, I guess you haven't posted yet about what you need help with.

Terry

[Feefo]

Hi Jaycee,

Congratulations on a very successful rescue and release.

Keep the baby pigeon warm, it will need feeding regularly but the frequency depends on its age.

The feeding method that you used for the dove will be perfect for any unweaned pigeon.
.
A good emergency food is Ready Brek, mixed with water to a creamy consistency and served warm...39 degrees C.

Please let us know how the baby pigeon is.