Problems Raising a Dove From Birth

During nesting season it is not all that uncommon to find newly born dove chicks abandoned by their parents or fallen from the nest. Even pet birds may reject a chick, forcing the owner to hand rear it. Doves are not common pets, but can be kept in larger numbers in aviaries. Hand raising a dove poses many of the same threats as hand raising any other young chick.

  1. Feeding

    • The first problem with hand raising a young dove, as with any other chick, is the feeding process. Parent doves feed newly hatched chicks several times a day through regurgitation of insects. If hand rearing, this is not necessary as baby bird formula can be purchased from most pet stores. Feeding them is more problematic as they require it in liquid form. Use a syringe or a pipette to pour the formula liquid into the beak two or three times a day till the crop is full. Their beaks may also not open at first, so you will need to pinch lightly behind the beak to get them to open up.

    Infection

    • As with human babies, young doves are more susceptible to infection as their immune systems have not fully developed. Make sure bedding, feeding implements and the feeder's hands are cleaned regularly so bacteria cannot form and multiply. If a dove chick shows any signs of infection or illness, take it straight to a veterinarian.

    Temperature

    • Birds hatch without feathers and will not develop any meaningful sources of warmth for several weeks. This means the temperature has to be lowered gradually over the first months. Bedding will need to be constantly maintained, with paper shreds, cotton wool and twigs being ideal as they allow the chick to maintain body temperature. The ambient temperature will also need to be maintained. At first it will need to be quite high, around 35 degrees Celsius. Once pin feathers start to emerge, this can be reduced to around 25 degrees Celsius and once full feathers appear, room temperature will be suitable.

    Medical Problems

    • In the wild, only a fraction of dove chicks born make it to adulthood. A close eye can be kept on hand-reared chicks, and if there is access to veterinary help there is a greater chance of survival, but they can still face many health problems. Be on the look out for constant chirping, lack of weight gain, refusal to eat, and peculiar head, wing and leg positions.

    Release

    • Hand rearing a newborn dove is a great way to get it used to human contact and can result in it being a much more affectionate pet than normal. If hand rearing a wild bird for release, there are a number of issues as human handlers cannot teach it about searching for food, predators or how to build a nest. This means if a hand-raised dove is released, it stands less of a chance of survival. A soft release, where food and water are still left out in diminishing quantities is the preferred method. The best thing to do is to not hand rear the chick yourself, but to give it to a sanctuary where it can be given the best chance.