Need advice on how to feed a young dove

[crimson]

One of my customers contacted me a few days ago, her children had found a baby dove and the nest on the ground....the other one had been partially eaten.

they have been feeding it for the past two weeks with kitten food, and is doing ok.

they have tried, millet, meal worms, silk worms, but unfortunately it doesn't know how to eat being away from mom and pop.

so now I have the dove, and am asking any of you know how to feed a dove?, and what to feed them. I'm not sure how old it is, I'm guessing around 3-4 weeks.
it took a little bit of lafebres hand feeding formula, but it was a real hit and miss and didn't get much in.
they're not like a parrot which are easy to feed.

any suggestions are much appreciated, as for now, I am going onto you tube to look up some info.

he is in a separate cage, in a dove nest that I had here, far far away from any of my other birds,(actually he is in our living room) and I wash my hands after every time I handle him.

IMG_2393_zps8b1e32f3.jpg Photo by bmckellar735 | Photobucket

 

[weco]

They/you could try canary food (possibly crushed), egg food then move up to 'tiel seed mix.....I would think they would be similar to hanfeeding canaries.....feeding insects would probably need to be mashed & mixed with formula or newborn baby formula.....

 

[crimson]

I found a good video, I thought this was brilliant

[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j1aPHzKZaQE]Hand-feeding 11-day old baby dove - YouTube[/ame]

 

[crimson]

They/you could try canary food (possibly crushed), egg food then move up to 'tiel seed mix.....I would think they would be similar to hanfeeding canaries.....feeding insects would probably need to be mashed & mixed with formula or newborn baby formula.....

thanks weco, unfortunately he is quite behind in knowing or at least attempting how to eat.
right now I just want to get some forumla into him, then he'll get the idea on the feeding technique, from there, it's egg food, seed etc....

 

[JerseyWendy]

What a sweetie pie!!! I honestly don't know how to feed doves, but that video you posted is AWESOME!!

Best of luck with your new found friend.

 

[crimson]

What a sweetie pie!!! I honestly don't know how to feed doves, but that video you posted is AWESOME!!

Best of luck with your new found friend.

I tried it and he ate a little more, it also teaches him to peck.
he took more water too...

 

[Betrisher]

Try using tweezers to offer him food. Some chicks need the stimulus of 'a beak' to trigger a feeding response.

I once rescued a baby starling and it steadfastly refused to feed until a friend suggested the tweezers. Suddenly, the baby couldn't eat quick enough! As soon as he saw 'the beak', he'd open his little mouth and squawk until I filled it with worms, flies, caterpillars etc.

I've also fed baby pigeons successfully with a porridge made by boiling rolled oats in water. It's not a complete food, but works well enough for a day or two and baby birds seem to like it.

Good luck with your baby! Keep us posted won't you?

 

[crimson]

thanks Betrisher, that is a great idea, when you think about it, I guess tweezers do look like a beak,lol.

 

[JerseyWendy]

So how's the new baby dove doing, Beth???