How to Take Care of a Dove's Baby

How to Take Care of a Dove's Baby. If you own a pet dove who has had babies or have found an abandoned dove nest, knowing how to care for baby doves can help ensure their survival. Wild doves, even though they have been abandoned, should be turned over to your state's wildlife services as soon as possible to make sure they have the best chance of survival. However, while you wait for someone to retrieve the birds, you can take care of them.

Things Needed

• Shoebox or basket
• Dish towels
• Heating pad
• Bird formula
• Teaspoon

Step 1

Line a shoebox or basket with several layers of dishcloths. This creates a soft nest for the baby dove to rest inside.

Step 2

Put the lined shoebox or basket onto a heating pad set between 90 and 95 degrees Fahrenheit. This is the appropriate temperature for young doves.

Step 3

Place the baby dove into the makeshift nest. Monitor the bird for signs of weakness or coldness.

Step 4

Fill a teaspoon with specialized bird formula once every couple of hours to allow the dove to feed.

Step 5

Present the spoon to the baby dove and allow it to drink the formula from the spoon. Baby doves do not open their mouths very wide and will drink themselves. Pouring the formula into the baby's mouth can choke it.

Warnings

• Avoid using terry cloth towels. The fiber loops can entangle a young bird.
• Don't handle the babies for more than a couple of minutes at a time.

References

• Diamond Dove: Mourning Dove
• Pet Doves: Baby Birds
• For the Birds Rehabilitation Foundation: Unfeathered or Partially Feathered Birds Emergency Care