mourning dove found in my yard

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Hello,

I would appreciate any advice about a mourning dove i found in my yard a couple of days ago.
I don't know what happened to it exactly, [i think it's a she]but it was on the ground and not moving, and hardly even blinking. Looked like it was just sitting there either scared or sick so i went over to it. We have lots of wild birds we feed in feeders and the winters are real hard here and food is scrace so we like to help them out. I saw several tail feathers were on the ground and i figured a cat or, maybe even a hawk since they do go after the birds too, might have attacked it and it was in shock. It cannot fly only kind of try to run and flop. The long feathers are almost all gone from the tail and the right wing. So, no flying capabilites esp until they grow back i'm afraid.
I don't know what to do for it. i have her in a cage and warm and gave her food and water but no dice. She won't eat anything. So, i mixed up milk and protein powder and am giving her that, because it's at least protein and she'll slowly starve at this rate. She does drin it through a dropper, but i don't know if this will be enough to keep her alive until i can release her.
I have helped birds with broken wings/legs before and have fed them through a dropper but they were babies and not as scraed and not on a starvation kick. Please give me any thoughts and suggestions - really appreciate it!


Michelle
Answer -
Hi Michelle!  How wonderful of you to take this poor bird in!  Since she won't eat on her own, you will have to feed her.  For doves, I always use Exact Handfeeding Formula.  It has all of the ingredients a dove needs to thrive.  You should be able to find this at any pet store or you can make your own formula.  Here is the formula recipe I had always used before finding Exact.
1. One half cup kitten chow (soaked in 8 oz of hot water until very soft, add 4 ml of avitron or avian vitamins)
2. one half cup Prosobee or Isomil (at use concentration)
3. one half cup Hi Protein Baby cereal dry flakes.
4. one half a teaspoon bene bac
Mix all ingredients together...should be an oatmeal consistancy, and scoop some on a small straw.  If the bird won't take it that way, make it a bit more liquidy and continue using the dropper.  Always go very slow, never forcing large amounts in her mouth at once, as birds have a tendancy to aspirate very easily.
Feed the bird as much as possible (ideally 25mls at a shot) every 4-6 hours.
Keep the bird in a warm area, never dropping below 75 degrees.  Since the bird is frightened, put the bird in the cage and literally ignore it for 6 hours straight.  Keep the bird in a very quiet area in your home and do not disturb.  This will give the bird a chance to become accustomed to its new surroundings and become more comfortable with the cage.  After 6 hours of quiet time, slowly walk up to the cage, talking to her softly and gently try to feed.  Sometimes, after some quiet time, they begin to feel more comfortable and will start eating on their own.  During the quiet time, have food and water available in the cage and keep it in the cage always to give her a chance to eat on her own. Doves do very well on parakeet or finch seed.  Have a small bowl of seed, a small bowl of formula, and a small bowl of water in the cage at all times.  Once she becomes more comfortable and confident, she will start to nibble on her own.
I hope this helps, and please keep me posted.
If you have any other questions, please feel free to ask.
Best of luck and I hope that pretty girl feels much better soon!  She sure is lucky you have found her!
Take care,
Hilary


Thank you so much for the info ni will do the food formula right away for her. She is still pertrified unfortunately. Drinks the milk/protein but i don't see any seed gone. No water either. I hope she isn't on self destruct. I feel so sorry for her and when i feed her she drinks it as i said but hoots and struggles. Wish she were ok to let go but it would be just letting her die at this rate with her not flying at all.
I def will keeep you informed and need your assistance to help her through this

Thank You!
Answer -
Hi Michelle!  How is the dove doing today?  I hope you are seeing some sort of improvement with her and I hope she has calmed down a bit.  The formula has alot of water in it, so if you do feed her that, I don't think you need to worry too much about dehydration, as the water in the formula should keep her well hydrated.  Hopefully she'll start nibbling on her own by tonight or tomorrow.  Please keep me posted!
Hilary

Hi Hilary - well i wish i had better news for you, but the dove is not eating on her own and just sits or stands in her cage. She is not any worse, but i have to feed her with the dropper and she doesn't like it and struggles, then drinks it, then struggles. She is left alone all day and not bothered or disturbed in any way.
I wish she would eat seed or something, it's frustrating and hard to get much of the mixture down her.
Don't know quite what to do for her.

thank you

Answer
Hi Michelle.  I am so sorry the dove is not doing well for you.  Is there by chance an avian veterinarian in your area?  She may need medication.  When birds have an infection, they won't eat.  Perhaps she needs some antibiotics?  
You must be doing something very right to have her continue to live without worsening.  Keep up the good work!  I completely understand the frustration you're going through.  The only thing I can think of that would cause her to completely refuse to eat, would be an infection of some sort.  You may even want to try some antibiotic drops that are sold in pet stores.  At this point, an antibiotic wouldn't hurt, it can only help.  I truly wish I had more information for you.  Unfortunately, it sounds as though this dove is not feeling well enough to eat, which would cause me to recommend a vet visit.
Please keep me posted!