Dying dove

[Amps]

I know this is a site for parrots, but I though maybe someone here could help somehow. I have a mourning dove that is fully fledged, and this morning she was completely fine, sitting on my shoulder, cooing happily, everything was fine. But after spending the day at my boyfriends house, I came back to find her listless and almost unresponsive. I'll go into detail here about how she's acting so anyone who is having this problem can find help too, as I was having problems finding anything like this.
She is acting completely weird, unlike anything normal. She lays there, and when I set her down she fights to get herself upright, finally balancing herself on her chest and letting her beak almost touch the ground. She will not grab anything with her feet, not trying to sit on a perch or anything. She also acts as though her head is too heavy, and keeps it close and turned, making me think it was a broken neck at first, yet after full observation, she has no broken bones. She holds her wings low, not acting as if she can even hold them up like normal, but again, are not broken. She bobs her head up and down, and whenever she closes her eyes groggily, she tries to shake herself back up. When she finally does try to move, she flails about on her breast, noteven trying to stand. She lays limp as I check her wings for breakage, something she would usually protest to, and only slightly moves around when I get near her or am holding her. She would usually fly right up to my shoulder and coo happily, so this scares me completely.
Ive looked around on the Internet, and saw something almost similar to this about mice I the food, then another one thatsays parasites like worms may be causing it. Ive wrapped her In paper towels to keep her warm, hoping that she might be able to somehow make it. Please know that I live I the boonies, so an avian vet is not going to be an option here, and knowing how cheap my parents are; probably no vet at all. I know it may be too late for my dove, but if I'm able to identify the problem as the store bought food to have mouse droppings/ urine, then I might be able to get out a message to other bird owners as not to purchase any more of it. Please don't heckle me and say I'm a bad owner for not taking her to a vet, I can't even drive as of current, and I live 45 miles away from the nearest vet, one who charges hundreds of dollars to just look at the thing and say it's sick. ( they did itbefore with our dog). I am doing everything that I possible can to help her, and if it comes to it, I'll make sure she's comfortable as she goes. Don't suggest I snap her neck please either to make it quicker; I could never bring myself to do that.

 

[DallyTsuka]

oh no poor girl.

what you can do, is keep her warm. do you have a heating pad, heat lamp or something? if not, get a latex glove and fill it with warm water like a balloon or a hot water bottle wrapped in a cloth. make sure she has fluids so make a mix of honey water and leave it in front of her (doves drink by downing the water unlike other birds who tip their heads back, but im sure you know this) but try to get her to drink. dip your finger in the water and touch a drop from your finger to the side of her beak. it may get her to drink it.

ok, also, we wont tell you to snap her neck, thats so inhumane its not even funny if you cant get her to the vet, then theres not much you can do but pray and keep her comfy.

shes a mourning dove and thats a native north american species thats not legal to own as a pet... so unless you mean a ring necked dove, you might get into trouble. can you contact any wildlife services? im sure they would take her and get her to a rehab centre.

 

[Ratzy]

Okay, first off CALM DOWN!
Freaking out won't help her much.
You sound pretty young ( no one's going to put you down for that though lol ) and your parents are the ones in control, so not going to yell at you for not being able to go to a vet.
I have the same problem. Any birds get sick over here, I'm the one who has to deal with it.
Okay, so you have a heat lamp?
If not, a hot water bottle or non-scented heat sack with a bright light will do temporarily.
Do not keep her in the dark! She will sleep in the light, but won't eat or drink if the light is dim.
Then, make sure she has loads of food and water. You could even spread seed over the floor.
I'm not sure if this would work with doves, but if you could force feed ( using a spoon ) electroytes or even ( haven't tried this ) sugar water, it would give her a boost.
If you have hand rearing formula on hand, you could repeat the process using that.
For bedding in the hospital cage ( use small cage, polysterine box, card board box etc. ) use plain white paper towels, to monitor poo.
Check her crop every 15-30 minutes.

Keep her in bright light, warmth and have a go at force feeding ( don't go too fast or she'll choke ) and keep us updated!
Good luck!

PS - I'm 13

 

[Spiritbird]

Pleassssse take this bird to a wildlife center where they are trained to take care of wild birds. As said this is not a companion bird. How did you get the bird?? I hope you do not have other birds in your home. That would be a real problem and could get them really sick also.

 

[Amps]

Thank you dearly for all of your responses, but I guess there was nonwaynto keep him at all. It must have been something that had been affecting him and he was just now showing it, as I've seen that birds hide illness from predators. Sadly, pidgie passed away last night. I will admit that your suggestions seemed to help quite a but though, and
If I maybe had been able to be home and notice when he first started this, it might have been enough. I hope anyone else who stumbles along to this thread who has the same problem can read your suggestions, and will be able to act quickly enough. I also have to add that I
Might have found the answer to the problem; I got the cage from my barn. It looked nice and clean, no rust or anything, yet mice live in our barn. I wish I could have realized earlier the hazard. And I didn't know they were illegal, though I kinda felt responsible for her because My cat killed the mother and the father abandoned her. I was actually going to set her free tomorrow evening, as i'll be getting a cockatiel on wendsday ( obviously not in the same cage anymore). Nearest rehabilitation center is far away, all the way to bernhiem. I hope someone can learn from this- I certainly did.

 

[Sabbath]

I'm sorry to hear about your loss but at least you did everything you could to help your bird.

 

[Amps]

And no, I had no other birds in my house. Of course knowing I'll be getting my first real companion bird wendsday, I'm making sure everything the dove touched is completely gone. Also as a precaution I'm going to be buying new food for the cockatiel, and housing her in a new cage from the breeder. Thanks again for the help.

 

[Spiritbird]

Thank you for giving us follow up. We often do not know the end of the story.

 

[Amps]

No problem about keeping yalls updated... Though I'm still afraid of the food issue. I don't want anyone else finding out that it's from the food in this way. Obviously, I'm not completely sure it was the food, but I was thinking I might want to post something on craigslist that warns people just in case. Anyone think this is a good idea? I don't want to sit idly by as a possible food problem is killing other peoples birds too.

 

[Sabbath]

I'd put up something like "My bird dyed recently, I can't tell exactly if it was the food but be warned that the death did occur around the time of getting of the food"

 

[DallyTsuka]

im sorry to hear this, it was kind hearted to take the little bird in, your intentions were very good.

at least she passed away warm and safe in a place where she was cared for.

 

[MikeyTN]

First of all, it is a wild bird to begin with!!!! It most likely have parasites! I would highly suggest in waiting on your Cockatiel! I would have no birds in the house for at least a month before attempting to bring home your Cockatiel! Mites is a major thing with wild birds! You should clean everything and I do mean everything! Even walls, couch, carpet, flooring, etc etc.

By bring the dove to the rehabilitation center, they will most likely euthanize the dove sadly to say. They have to think of the health of the general population and will not save the dove. I know that first hand cause they were gonna do the same with the baby robin I was trying to bring in. I ended up raising him to full fledgling and released him myself.

 

[DallyTsuka]

really? ive never heard of them doing that thats horrible. glad i have been able to deal with my own wild bird issues without having to deal with that... recently released a brown creeper who was tired from migrating. fed him meal worms, gave him water, warmth and rest and the little guy was so happy for the rest he even bathed. let him eat like a pig until he gained strength the next day and let him go!

ive yet to have to bring a bird to a rehab center, but thats what i always heard you are supposed to do... wont be doing that now that i know this

 

[MikeyTN]

Not all places do that, but the state rehab place I called in South Dakota when I used to live there, that's what they were going to do. They said IF I wanted to I could care for it myself and I would not get in trouble for it at all cause they knew about it before hand. I always call them ahead to let them know when I do bring one home. Cause it is against the law to keep them.

 

[DallyTsuka]

that i know. theyre wild, i wouldnt want to keep one but i cant just leave one if its in need... the creeper was clinging to our appartment building's door so my fiance brought him in. he was just tired and all he needed was rest, food, water, and some relaxation. its that time of year that they exhaust themselves... little guy ate like a pig! but it was awesome watching him fly into the tree and be free! best feeling ever, watching something you helped really show you that its back where it belongs... i think i have a photo of the little guy...

here he is

and releasing him the next day

 

[Mondos Parents]

Sad story. Sorry for the loss. Where are you in Kentucky?
Gary

 

[MikeyTN]

Im glad to see you took care of him, he's beautiful!!!! Free once again!!!