I've got a pair of white garden doves. They had 2 eggs which hatched 10days ago. On day 8 I noticed that one squab was only half the size of the other. I thought it would die and being a softie I took it out of the nest and have been trying to handrear it in the house. It's still with me today but it really isn't growing. Its eyes are mostly shut. However, it does feed, I use a method of filling handrearing slurry mixed with soja milk into the finger of a surgical glove, cutting a slit in the tip and sticking its beak inside. Is this kind of feed okay? Why isn't the little one growing?
To make matters worse, I noticed today that the parent birds did not return to the aviary and the chubby sibling was sitting shivering in his nest after dark. I've brought him into the house overnight and fed him the same mixture. He was VERY hungry. Now I'm dreading that something happened to the parent birds (they've never stayed out before) and that I'm stranded with two orphans to raise. I already feel quite shattered looking after the tiny chap and don't quite know how I am to cope with the two should the parents not return.
Any advice most gratefully received.
Spok

To make matters worse, I noticed today that the parent birds did not return to the aviary and the chubby sibling was sitting shivering in his nest after dark. I've brought him into the house overnight and fed him the same mixture. He was VERY hungry. Now I'm dreading that something happened to the parent birds (they've never stayed out before) and that I'm stranded with two orphans to raise. I already feel quite shattered looking after the tiny chap and don't quite know how I am to cope with the two should the parents not return.
Any advice most gratefully received.
Spok