Advice please.. another abandonded pigeon/dove

[SharenYorkshire]

Hello, the old lady next door has fetched me what i think is another ringneck dove, i have no idea how old it is, it is a brownish grey colour with lots of yellow strandy feathers she claims the parents havent been to see to it in the last 15 hours, for the moment i have placed it in a cage lined with newspaper and put some wild bird seed and water in for it, i have not seen it feed. What do i do? Shall i put it somewhere sheltered, will parents come back to feed it? Any ideas on whether it will be feeding itself and how old it will be?

[Pidgey]

Can you post a picture? We've got some UK members that can help you out so I'll start fetching them.

Pidgey

[Pidgey]

In the meantime, could you please review this thread:

http://www.pigeons.biz/forums/showthread.php?t=11265

Pidgey

[Feefo]

Hi Sharon,

The yellow fuzz means that this one is too young to have left the nest.

Can you lay your hands on some day old wholemeal bread? Feed him/her a little dipped in water, that will keep her OK until tomorrow.

Cynthia

[SharenYorkshire]

I have given it some ready brek mmixed with a little water, i have no idea where the nest is, my neighbour found it near her back door and spent hours fending a cat off with a yardbrush, it is very docile but doesnt look unwell, i have it indoors she is warm to the touch.

This is the best picture i can get.
Any ideas?

[Lovebirds]

I don't have any advice but that sure is a cute and LUCKY baby dove.

[Littlecoo]

That little ringneck sweetie looks to be about 2 weeks old. He doesn't appear unwell or stressed to me. They do start to fledge at around that age- so he probably did fly out of the nest but the parents usually stay with or close by the youngster constantly at this time- he is still too young to be alone. He most likely has not got the hang of feeding himself yet either and would still be fed by the parents to some extent. You may need to hand feed him some seed- small seed like budgie, canary, finch seed mixes are okay as is the wholemeal/wholegrain bread already suggested. Tip small amounts of seed into his beak by hand or you can try a one of the methods here: http://www.pigeons.biz/forums/showthread.php?t=9682
Important that he gets enough water as well- see if he will drink from a small dish or similar by gently dipping his beak (not quite up to his nostrils) in the water and he should sip up some water himself you may just need to guide him like this for a few times.

[SharenYorkshire]

Just a quick update, she is fine this morning i have fed her some seed (probably around half a teaspoon full and some small chopped up peanut) she has 9 poops in her cage five were hard and black with a white dollop on top and the other looked alittle runny, she is alert and had gotten herself onto the perch, she is putting up a fight when it comes to feeding. The main problem i face is i am going on holiday a week today and i have no one that will hand feed her, the neighbour will change the paper daily and put fresh seed and water in but i dont think she will be able to force feed her, do you think this will be ok by then? When it brightens and warms up she will be going outside in her cage onto the trampolene where she can she all the other birds, i will try and get some better photos then.

Thankyou for the advice.

[PigeonQueen]

Hi Sharon, Where are you based exactly? Perhaps we could find a wildlife rescue centre near to your location?

It would be a good idea to soak some brown bread in water and put in to a bowl, just incase piggie has not learnt to take water on its own.

Have you got a dog crate or cat basket which is big enough for piggie to beable to flap his wings?
This will help piggie exercise if he has to be confined.They like to perch and a brick usually works well.

Best of luck. Jayne

[Littlecoo]

Originally Posted by SharenYorkshire

Just a quick update, she is fine this morning i have fed her some seed (probably around half a teaspoon full and some small chopped up peanut) she has 9 poops in her cage five were hard and black with a white dollop on top and the other looked alittle runny, she is alert and had gotten herself onto the perch, she is putting up a fight when it comes to feeding. The main problem i face is i am going on holiday a week today and i have no one that will hand feed her, the neighbour will change the paper daily and put fresh seed and water in but i dont think she will be able to force feed her, do you think this will be ok by then? When it brightens and warms up she will be going outside in her cage onto the trampolene where she can she all the other birds, i will try and get some better photos then.

Thankyou for the advice.

Keep some seed (and grit)in the cage with her, scatter some on the floor with her to peck, tap at the seed with your finger (as if you were pecking at it) at the times you feed her and see if she takes an interest in it. Keep a small dish of water in there for her also- Is she drinking on her own? I can't say for sure if she will completely self feeding in a week...watch her closely over the next few days, encourage her to peck for food herself (note if she is actually eating the seed or just merely pecking at it) feel her crop now and then. If you still have doubts about her feeding before you leave, best to find a more experienced carer rather than your neighbour to care for her- perhaps one of our UK members can advise you on this(you are in the UK right?). Do you plan to release her or to keep her as a companion?

[SharenYorkshire]

Hi, i am north of York in the UK, i do know a bird rescue who i took the last orphaned dove to earlier in the year it is a 140 mile round trip and i wont get chance to do it before we go away (working solid) although i will be looking to take her in the week we get back, she has got room to flap her wings and i have made her a perch from a branch on my pear tree, she has a mixture of canary seed and wild bird food scattered on the bottom of the cage and also some egg bird mix she also has a dish of both food and water, she is outside while it is warm watching all the other birds as i have scattered seed around her cage,
this is her set up,

She is also doing alot of marching up and down the cage and she keeps getting on and off the perch, im not sure if she is eating but she scatters the seed from her dishes allover the place. Her poos are mostly solid and in 24 hours i counted around 32 poops (occasionally runny one).

[SharenYorkshire]

And another picture

[PigeonQueen]

Hi Sharon, Great set up. Sounds like piggie is doing well!!
Jayne

[Feefo]

Hi Sharen,

Little doves learn so much quicker than pigeons, she should be independent enough to cope with fresh seed and clean water daily. But warn your neighbour that doves are escapologists, so to be careful when opening the cage door.

Cynthia