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Post by tempest80 on Nov 27, 2012 19:43:24 GMT 10
 ok im new here so not sure how this works but my kids found this baby crested pigeon on the way to school being attacked by magpies we recued it and can get it to drink but we cant get it to eat any advice any1 has is appreciated Attachments:
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Post by avinet on Nov 27, 2012 20:42:45 GMT 10
Looks to be very close to flying - and I suppose that is why he was on the ground - tried to fly a day or two before he should have. Given the flimsy nests most doves make these sorts of early attempts are not that unusual.
Try giving it budgie seed, and maybe get some baby rice cereal and mix some up into a fairly runny mix - pouring custard type of consistency. Use warm water - but not hot water - just pleasantly warm is fine. It may then be possible to get the bird to "lap" up the mix by putting the end of his beak in the mix. Once he gets the idea then he will likely feed without prompting.
Doves of this age are always a problem to feed. Even when they have been hand raised from a baby stage (and I've done quite a few) their beak shape isn't designed for standard hand rearing techniques. However by persevering they can usually be encouraged to feed.
It might well be worth contacting your local wildlife rescue group - they will likely have someone in their group who is experienced with young doves.
cheers
Mike
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Post by tempest80 on Nov 27, 2012 21:33:12 GMT 10
we have tried the runny cerial and weve been told to feed it insects like slaters which it also refuses to eat it does a pecking motion on my hands but wont open its beak it drinks water no problems and is really friendly and alert theres noone in the area that i can find that will take the bird and i dont want it to die i cant afford vet bills for a wild bird either is there any trick to getting them to open their mouth ill get some seed tomorrow hopefully that will work thanks
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Post by tempest80 on Nov 28, 2012 8:49:56 GMT 10
ok i got it to eat 2 slaters last night i hope i did the right thing  its seems happy enough and alert! Also if i can get it back to health can i release it back to nature? |
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Post by avinet on Nov 28, 2012 9:00:24 GMT 10
Don't bother with insects. Wild Crested Pigeons have a diet made up of about 85% seed, with the balance being green plant matter and very minor insects - mainly lerps. Besides the budgie seed you might try chopping up some leafy green vegies such as endive, celery leaves, Chinese greens such as choy sum, and English spinach. If you have a syringe you might be able to persuade the baby to open it's beak by pressing the syringe (no needle of course!) against the sid eof th ebeak about half way up and when it does squirt a drop of food in. I also found success by using a bent spoon - the photo below will let you see what I mean. By placing the bird's beak into the groove, covered in mix, it will very often start sucking in some food. Unfortunately feeding young doves and pigeons is one of skills learnt by experience, and almost impossible to instruct via text  Where do you live - I would be surprised if there wasn't a registered wildlife rescue group in the area - they seem to be everywhere these days. cheers, Mike  |
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Post by avinet on Nov 28, 2012 9:09:27 GMT 10
ok i got it to eat 2 slaters last night i hope i did the right thing its seems happy enough and alert! Also if i can get it back to health can i release it back to nature? That's good - any food is good, but I am a bit surprised it ate the insects - must be hungry! The big big problem with these bird sis they rapidly become imprinted with humans and it can be a problem when they are released. I had a crested pigeon about 10 years ago - same sort of situation - that I eventually released into the back garden (and we have park behind us with many trees). Before release I marked it's chest with marker pen so I could keep an eye on it. It hing around for a couple of days and then disappeared. About 2 days later we found it banging on the front door of the house, wanting to come back in  It had had enough of the big outdoors! And full marks for smartness being able to know the front of the house after being released in the back. Eventually it sorted itself out and managed to find a mate and disappeared from our area. So try not to give it too much attention, it will rapidly bond to humans and that will make it much harder for it to integrate back into the wild. cheers, Mike |
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Post by tempest80 on Nov 30, 2012 9:29:05 GMT 10
thanks for the advice its appreciated the bird who the kids have named cuddles is still not opening its mouth for food I'm atm opening its beak and pouring food in it doesn't seem upset by this in the slightest. i know they don't eat bugs really but it was so hungry and i had little else suitable i now have some seed and have been feeding it in a similar process to the bugs. I'm not sure how often theyre meant to eat and drink and the web sites are complicated. i live in south east sa i can find bird rehabbers but most don't work with pigeons or doves and the ones that do are too far away. I'm proud that i have kept it alive this long especially considering i know very little about birds! funny i don't handle it alot but it seems very smitten on me and kinda sings a little tune when its taken out of the box to eat i think its a lovely little thing  |
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Post by xoxoEbzxoxo on Dec 1, 2012 22:06:33 GMT 10
Hi! I am a bird rescuer in South East SA, I have raised crested pigeons before. He will require a handrearing mix and it has to be warm. I am able to take him if you want?  |
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Post by xoxoEbzxoxo on Dec 1, 2012 22:07:59 GMT 10
They also won't "gape" their beaks like sparrows etc do. They are crop feeders, when with their parents they will actually shove their beaks down the parents throat.
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Post by xoxoEbzxoxo on Dec 1, 2012 22:15:43 GMT 10
Give me a call on 0458989930 when you can, I am free to call at anytime. |
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ok im new here so not sure how this works but my kids found this baby crested pigeon on the way to school being attacked by magpies we recued it and can get it to drink but we cant get it to eat any advice any1 has is appreciated
its seems happy enough and alert! Also if i can get it back to health can i release it back to nature?
It had had enough of the big outdoors! And full marks for smartness being able to know the front of the house after being released in the back. Eventually it sorted itself out and managed to find a mate and disappeared from our area.
