Baby Dove needs help :)

[scroogie]

Hi, im new to this site but need some info on a baby wood pigeon my cat left me as a present!!! I think its more of a fledgling and seems to be in good health.I have been feeding it via a syringe with mushed up cat biscuits and egg white,but i do need to physically open its beak to do this...i half expected him to do this himself when he gets hungry but obviously not. Any advice would be great...i will try and download a pic

regards steve

[OLDYELLOW]

welcome to pigeon basics   it looks like a colared dove   you should perhaps get some dried pulses and soak them in water  

[Guest joshdonlan]

Hi yes, they arent meat eaters really, so cat biscuit isnt the best. Anything like rice or seeds would be much better.  

[OLDYELLOW]

2nd option is to locate its nest and put the bird back in it parents maybe still close by as it may of fallen out  

[caramel log]

you can buy young bird formula from vets or some pet stores,this would give him the nutrients he is needing,keep him warm,give him water regualrly too,what do you plan to do with him?id idvise against the RSPCA as they dont really have much to do with pigeons and doves,try "pigeon rescue uk"

[the pigeon_milker]

hand feed it on seeds + water until it can fly or try and find the nest and put it back there or you could try putting it in a small box stick it somewere the cat carnt go and sit with it until it parents show if they do see if they feed it good luck with it it looks happy were it is

[jimmy white]

hi scroogie,, welcome to pigeon basics ,, this does look like a collared dove to me, but does look in good health, [looks about 18 days old?   these birds do have a slightly different diet than racing or feral pigeons [rock dove type],, but i should still imagine a high protein feeding , such as small pea nuts, peas etc , maybe a cod liver oil capsule each second day,, and off course water, the growth rate of these birds are so, that in a few days to a week, the bird would be able to pick up grains for  itself,rice ,lentils even peas and kibbled peanuts at the mo, you would prob need a hand to pop some peanuts , peas [rice would take to long to fill it] down its beak , with someone opening its beak for you, [ittl drink itself if its head is just dipped in water , after a feed] if you have patience to do this, the bird will turn out very tame, and even make a good pet good luck with it