Quick Answers
If you find a baby mourning dove on the ground, it likely fell out of its nest before it was ready to fledge. Here are some quick tips on what to feed it:
– Commercial bird formula/hand-feeding formula specifically for doves/pigeons. This is the best option.
– Raw ground beef, chicken, or turkey, mixed into a slurry.
– Hard boiled egg yolk, mashed up.
– Mealworms, soaked in water to soften.
– Baby cereal mixed with water into a thin paste.
– Finely chopped fruits and vegetables.
Avoid giving cow’s milk, bread, or other high-carb foods. Use an eyedropper or syringe without a needle to slowly feed the bird. Keep it warm until you can get it to a wildlife rehabilitator.
Identifying a Fallen Baby Mourning Dove
Mourning doves are a common wild bird species found throughout most of the United States. They often build flimsy nests in trees, shrubs, or on building ledges. Their nests are prone to being knocked down by weather or predators, sometimes causing the baby doves to fall out before they are able to fly.
Here are some tips for identifying a baby mourning dove on the ground:
– Size – About the size of an adult human fist. Larger than a sparrow, smaller than a pigeon.
– Coloring – Light brown/tan/buff color. May have some black spots on wings.
– Feathers – Will be partially feathered, but still has areas of bare pink skin.
– Behavior – Cannot fly. May make a soft peeping noise. Does not try to hop away.
If the dove is hopping around alertly and looks fully feathered, it is likely a fledgling learning to fly and the parents are still caring for it. But a dove on the ground that does not move or makes distress calls needs help.
Caring for the Dove
If you have found a baby mourning dove out of its nest, here are some steps to care for it:
– Gently pick it up and place in a ventilated box or carrier on a soft cloth. Provide a heat source like a microwaved rice sock or heating pad under half the enclosure.
– Do not try to return it to the original nest, this rarely works. The parents are unlikely to resume care.
– Offer the dove fresh water in a shallow dish. Do not force water into its beak.
– Feed the dove every 30-45 minutes from sunrise to sunset. Amounts vary based on age, start with 1-2 ml per feeding.
– Stimulate it to urinate and defecate before/after feedings by gently massaging its lower abdomen with a warm damp cloth. Feces should be white with a dollop of clear urine.
– Keep handling to a minimum. Seek advice from a wildlife rehabilitator and arrange transfer as soon as possible.
– Monitor for illness – discharge from eyes/nose, labored breathing, weak neck, or fluffed feathers. Get medical help immediately if the dove seems ill.
What to Feed a Baby Mourning Dove
The best food for a baby mourning dove is a commercial bird hand-feeding formula made specifically for doves/pigeons. This powdered formula provides balanced nutrition when mixed with water. Some brands include Kaytee Exact, Lafeber’s Nutri-Start, and ZuPreem Esbilac.
If bird formula is not available, here are some emergency diet options:
Meat Slurry
Ground raw beef, chicken, turkey, liver or hard-boiled eggs can provide protein. Mix the meat with enough water to create a thin liquidy texture the dove can lap up. Ratio should be about 1 part meat to 5 parts water. Supplement with crushed eggshells for calcium.
Fruit Mash
Use very ripe peeled grapes, melon, banana, peach, or berries. Mash thoroughly with a fork and mix into a slurry with water. Fruits provide carbohydrates.
Baby Cereal
Oatmeal or other plain baby cereal can be mixed into a thin paste. Add water slowly while stirring to get the right consistency. Start with a ratio of 1 part cereal to 10 parts water.
Mealworms
If available, soaked mealworms are an excellent source of protein for doves. Soak dried worms in water for 30 minutes to soften before feeding. Chop larger worms into bite-size pieces.
Things to Avoid
Do not feed the dove milk, bread, crackers, or any high-starch foods. Also avoid bugs found outside, since they may carry pesticides or parasites. Give the dove natural foods only, no human junk food.
Methods and Supplies for Feeding
Ensure you have the proper supplies and use safe methods for feeding baby doves, such as:
– Eyedropper or plastic syringe (no needle) to slowly dispense formula into the dove’s mouth
– Cotton swabs if helping push food into its throat
– Small bowl to prepare formula or mashed food
– Plastic wrap to cover unused portions
– Paper towels to wipe messy beaks
– Digital kitchen scale to weigh dove and track growth
– Gram scale if measuring powdered formula by weight
Feeding Tips:
– Always warm formula to about 105°F before feeding
– Test temperature on your wrist like a baby bottle
– Feed 1-2 mL per serving depending on dove’s size
– Feed every 30-45 minutes from sunrise to sunset
– Position dove upright with its beak pointed slightly upward
– Gently open beak and dispense food slowly into back of mouth
– Let the dove swallow each time before giving more
– Stop if it starts coughing and let it rest
– Wipe off any excess food from beak area after feeding
– Stimulate to poop before and after each feeding
Housing the Dove
A baby mourning dove rescued from the ground needs calm, stable housing while being rehabilitated:
– Use a ventilated box, animal carrier, or bird cage lined with soft cloths
– Place in a quiet, low-traffic area away from children and pets
– Keep at room temperature around 75°F
– Include a heat source such as rice sock or low-wattage brooding bulb
– Allow 8-10 inches vertical space for hopping/fluttering
– Cover top and three sides to create a safe, enclosed space
– Provide fresh water for drinking and soft cloths for perching
– Add leaves or twigs to give the dove cover and something natural to grip
– Keep the enclosure clean and dry by replacing soiled liners
– Monitor closely for signs of injury or illness at least 3-4 times per day
– Transfer to licensed wildlife rehabilitator as soon as possible
Dove Development Stages
A baby mourning dove goes through different growth stages as it matures from hatchling to fledgling. Knowing its approximate age will help with feeding and care:
Hatchling (Days 1-6)
– Bright pink, eyes closed, sparse white down
– Needs help staying warm
– Feed formula every 20-30 minutes
Nestling (Days 7-13)
– Eyes open, pin feathers emerge
– Able to regulate body temperature
– Feed every 1-2 hours
Branchling (Days 14-16)
– Feathers on wings/tail, starts perching
– Feed 3-4 times per day
– Offer seeds, greens, fruits
Fledgling (Days 17+)
– Fully feathered, flies short distances
– Wean off formula, feed seeds/produce
– Parents continue care
– Ready for release
The age can be estimated by weight, feathers, activity level, and appetite. But without knowing the hatch date, it is difficult to determine an exact age. Focus on meeting the dove’s immediate needs until it can be transferred to a rehab facility.
When to Call for Help
Caring for a baby mourning dove is an emergency, interim measure. The dove should be transferred to an experienced wildlife rehabilitator as soon as possible. Here are some signs that the dove needs professional vet care right away:
– Breathing problems – gasping, wheezing, clicking
– Discharge from eyes or nose
– Inability to swallow food properly
– Neck twisting to one side
– Scaly skin, wounds, or punctures
– Red, swollen, or injured legs or feet
– Loss of appetite even after warming
– Lethargy, weak neck, inability to perch
– Constant shivering despite heat source
Call rehabbers in your area and describe the dove’s symptoms. Follow their advice for capturing, containing, and transporting the sick dove to receive treatment. Be prepared to drive the dove if needed.
Some common ailments affecting fallen doves include:
– Pneumonia from exposure
– Internal crop burns from improper feeding
– Bone fractures or sprains
– Head trauma from nest fall
– Shock from handling
– Dehydration from lack of fluids
– Parasites like worms or mites
Avoid trying home remedies. Let an experienced wildlife vet examine, diagnose, and treat any medical issues through appropriate medications, fluids, or feeding adjustments.
Transitioning to a Rehab Facility
Locate a licensed wildlife rehabilitator as soon as you rescue a baby mourning dove from the ground. Here are tips for transitioning the dove’s care:
– Call rehabbers promptly to arrange transfer. Don’t wait days.
– Ask about any special admission instructions or forms required.
– Confirm the rehabber has experience with neonatal doves.
– Discuss any health issues or concerns you have observed.
– Keep handling and stimulation of the dove to a minimum.
– Place the dove in a dark, padded carrier or box for transport. Keep it warm with a microwavable heat pack.
– Drive carefully to avoid jostling the carrier en route. Keep music and voices low.
– Do not open carrier or expose dove to stimuli during the drive.
– Bring any supplies the rehabber requests – food dishes, cloths used in the nest, etc.
– Give the rehab staff all details on when/where you found the dove and its condition.
– Be prepared to cover intake fees if any. Many rehabbers rely on donations.
– Provide your contact information in case any questions arise.
– Check back for updates after surrendering the dove.
– Say thanks – rehabbers devote endless compassionate hours to giving orphaned wildlife a second chance!
What to Expect at the Rehab Center
When you turn a baby mourning dove over to a wildlife rehabilitator, here is what you can expect:
– Intake exam – The dove will be weighed, checked for injuries, hydration, and tested for parasites.
– Transition plan – The rehabber will ease the dove into the new environment and feeding routine gradually over several days.
– Appropriate caging – Young doves need small enclosures at proper heights off the ground with perches, hiding spots and soft bedding.
– Dove diet – Formulas, seeds, greens, fruits, and insects specific to the needs of growing mourning doves will be provided.
– Medications – Antibiotics, antifungals, or antiparasitics will be administered as needed under vet guidance.
– Bandaging – Sprains, cuts, or injuries will be wrapped/splinted if required.
– Socialization – Minimal contact with humans or domestic pets, increased exposure to other doves.
– Flight conditioning – As the dove ages, its flight strength will be developed in special high-roofed enclosures.
– Soft release – When mature, the dove will be put in an outdoor cage to acclimate, then the door left open so it can freely rejoin wild flocks.
– Care support – Food, water and shelter will continue near release sites until the dove is fully independent.
With proper rehabilitation by trained experts, young mourning doves can grow to be strong, healthy juveniles ready to survive and thrive again in the wild where they belong. The future looks bright thanks to your compassionate assistance!
Helping Fallen Doves Long-Term
While you may only be able to temporarily assist an individual orphaned mourning dove you happen to come across, there are also things you can do to help their population as a whole:
– Keep pet cats indoors so they don’t raid nests. Cats are a major predator of fledgling and adult doves.
– Reduce or eliminate pesticide use in your yard and garden. Doves can be poisoned eating treated seeds or contaminated insects.
– Install decals on windows to prevent collisions that injure doves. Or move houseplants away from large panes.
– Drive carefully and stay alert for dove parents and fledglings crossing roads on foot. Slow down in their habitats.
– Keep fallen feathers and remove lint/hair from birdbaths and feeders so doves aren’t at risk of entrapment.
– Avoid pruning trees and shrubs during nesting season. Work with nature’s schedule.
– Put up nest boxes or platforms specifically sized for mourning doves to give parents safer nesting sites off the ground.
– Contact wildlife officials about proper deterrents if doves are persistently nesting where they shouldn’t around structures.
– Support rehabbers by donating funds, supplies, or volunteer time. Get trained to assist in future rescue efforts.
– Spread awareness to help others understand dove behavior and know what to do if they find a fallen chick.
– Appreciate mourning doves for their beauty and ecological importance. Develop respect and empathy for all wildlife.
Simple small acts can make a real difference to ensure these graceful native birds continue flourishing for generations to come.
