How to Hand Feed Ring-Necked Dove Chicks

Some breeders raise ring-necked doves in captivity. Meanwhile, some people wish to rescue baby birds that they believe are in peril. If you find ring-necked dove chicks that have fallen from their nest or have been abandoned, you may need to care for them until they can fly and return to the wild. However, before you touch or disturb baby birds, you must be very sure that their parents are deceased. For example, if you have been watching a pair of doves feed their babies and later discover that both adult birds have been killed by a cat, the baby birds are orphaned.

Things You'll Need

  • Incubator
  • Small bowl
  • Formula
  • Eyedropper
Show More

Instructions

    • 1

      Place the dove chicks in an incubator lined with soft padding material such as shredded paper towel. Keep the incubator at a temperature between 95 and 97 degrees Fahrenheit, as it is within this range that dove chicks best metabolize their food, thus preventing malnutrition and starvation.

    • 2

      Place a small bowl of water near the incubator. The gradual evaporation of this water will keep the humidity within the incubator at a healthy level and prevent dove chicks from suffering from dry air or dehydration.

    • 3

      Mix a dove formula with a small amount of water, as specified by the instructions of the brand you choose. The brand Roundybush's Squab Formula is designed for optimal growth and health for doves and is available at most pet stores.

    • 4

      Fill an eyedropper with the formula and water mixture and place it in the open mouths of the dove chicks. Do not pour more than two or three drops in the mouths at once.