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Last evening, just as dusk was decending and I was closing up the patio blinds - I noticed a little feathered friend standing at the door. Cold and with some minor injuries, she's now in recovery in our guest room. Last night she was tired, probably in shock, but helped herself to water. This morning, she's running around like ....well......lets just say there is nothing wrong with her legs. One wing is pretty messed up and doesn't appear to be broken but all the flight feathers are missing. Other then that - we appear to be doing well. She (and we're not sure if IT is a boy or girl) ate well of the mashed boiled egg, shells, parsley, and apple concoction that I put through the food processor.
*sigh* Crystal |
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To save you some work, the grass is not needed to keep these birds, and a perch will be appreciated - even if it is a branch from outside - they like to rub their head on it as well as hop on and off and over. If you handle her she will tame down and when you do release her she will stick around. Dove food or pigeon food is important though - the whole grains and legumes clean out the gut. Cockatiel pellets from zupreem go over well usually too.
Glad she is made herself comfortable and good luck.
Linda |
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Linda, we very much appreciate your advice as this type of bird keeping is new to us. It is very doubtful that she'll ever be released back into the wild with the wing being as it is. (this coming from the vet) Time will tell. Her cage is equipped with several dishes containing different food items.....one being the dove&quail mix from our local feed store. She's preferring the cockatiel mix right now and more so the egg mix that I mentioned before. As for the perches, she has three of different natural woods but for some reason prefers the hay at this time. This bird is definitely not like keeping a parrot! She doesn't yell at me when I come home and demand supper........yet. *HUGS*
Crystal
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yet is right - when she catches on she will stamp her feet and go in a circle like a tantrum - no kidding.
Not able to set the wing or not worth it? A rehabber might be able to set it. There are a few of us who do here and wrap and splint too. She would probably like a baby blanket too if you want to spoil her. And yes they like to play, so put in some rocks small, a small ball, a stuffed animals small, and when possible a branch with berries and leaves - they like to pull the leaves off - like honeysuckle, or mulberry. She will also like flocking- like other pet birds - so eat near her sometimes and share - a spoonful of yogurt, cereal, sprout mixes or salads, peanut butter crackers, - stuff we give other birds.
Linda |
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Linda, thankfully her little wing is not broken! But it is badly damaged up around the elbowish area. This is what it looked like the morning before she had the vet visit....you can see a bit of the old skin and tissue hanging off of it. We won't really know for sure if the flight feathers will grow back on that side. Time will tell. The perching thing is a bit perplexing. She doesn't seem interested. Her feet work fine but when we've tried to place her on one - she just hops off. Tomorrow I'll be putting in a couple of (what I call) platform perches. We'll see it that gives her more of an idea of what she's supposed to do. Regarding toys and foo foos - we're taking it slow. Eventually, her home will look like the others here and she'll be sharing Moe's Winnie the Poo.....without his permission I'm sure. Great.......I can't wait for the tantrums. Really give me something to look forward to. |
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| | From:  ¨SHERRÝ | Sent: 12/16/2008 4:46 AM |
Nay has the white doves and when I visit, I usually sleep in the bedroom where she kept the doves. So sweet until about 5am when the sun starts up, then, wow, what a racket..the coos just get louder and louder....no sleeping then! she does look very content and happy...What a good rescue! |
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She looks so happy now. It is hard to believe she will have tantrums someday. Kathy |
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I can't see well enough from the photo.
If the feathers tore thru the skin did you remove the feathers and clean the are good? Can you extend the wing all the way? If so, do it a few times a day to keep the joint from calcifying. That joint has tiny bones in it and they can break or freeze up. My blue throat broke one in her left wing playing and was mishandled and the right one broke. She cant fly at all. Crashes really hard and I have to be very careful with her. If it is just a skinned area - she should be flying even without feathers = just not flying well.
Any other signs of injury -head bumb? Meloxicam is an anti inflammatory without steroids if your vet can get you some it works. Just a couple drops a day helps. Glad she is eating and giving you some fun.
Linda |
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I LOVE this story........!!! |
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Is your little guest still doing well Crystal? I love mourning doves. I feel sorry for them because the hunters in our state like to take them home for dinner. Kathy |
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Dinner?? Dang, this little chick isn't much bigger then a cockatiel!!
She's doing fine, Kathy. Eating, pooping, perching, keeping a close eye on us.... We moved her down to the main level of the house so she could get used to chaos. Nothing seems to phase her..... except when Buzzy feels the need to visit. She thinks he's really weird....but then who doesn't in this house!
Crystal |
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| Crystal, I'm glad she is doing well. After she gets used to all the activity, she'll probably enjoy seeing the other birds. I agree, they are so small to be considered a thing to eat. The hunters go after the quail, which I think are too cute to eat also. I just can't eat wild creatures. My brother got a deer about 3 years ago, and I refused to eat it. He went hunting this year with the guys, and to my relief each day he came home and said "I did not hurt a deer," because he knows how I feel about them. I feel sorry for fish also, but will eat the fish he catches. Kathy |
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| | | From: momnoah | Sent: 12/19/2008 12:31 AM |
I'm glad she is doing well too Crystal. Hunters in Arizona hunt and eat doves too. Usually only the breast part- there is not enough on the rest of their little bodies to eat. My ex hunted one year and brougt home some he and his friend got. I would not even let him put them in the refridgerator or cook them. he took them to his friends and ate there. I've tried venison my brother-in-law shot and I'm not fond of it. I thought it tasted funny even before I knew what it was, then I liked it less... Ok, so I'm a sucker for Bambi! I don't mind people hunting if they hunt responsibly, don't let the critter suffer and eat what they kill.. just keep me out of it. I'll stick to domestic poultry & livestock! |
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How is she doing? If you plan on putting her in with the other birds please do deworm her. The ground dwellers pick up the buggies.
Linda |
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Awwww...she's a cutie..well.whatever she is. I handraised one and had her for about 15 years. Named her Cocoa but always called her Cocoa Puff. If it does turn out to be a she, she'll lay a bunch of eggs in her lifetime and will be very territorial about her nest area. It's so cute...the little dove will dart out of the nest to come peck on your foot or hand..whatever she can get that's near the nest. The other doves I had were rehabilitated for the release and did well afterwards. They all were calm and easy to handle once they got to know me. I love the doves! Good luck with your sweetie. Oh...remember to give her gravel as doves swallow seeds whole and need the gravel to grind up the seeds in their gullet for digestion. |
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Just another tidbit of info for ya. Doves are one of the few who "suck" up liquid when they drink! Watch her and you'll see how she drinks differently than the parrots. |
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