What to feed Dove chicks?

**chris64** · April 6th, 2003, 07:27 PM

Hi,
There where some Doves that made a nest on a plant pot but the parents got eaten(no I wasn't that hungry) by some predator and the chicks looks like they tried to get away or something. After about 10min. of searching we found both of them but now we need something to feed the chicks. They hatched about 10 days ago. Does anyone know what/how to feed Mourning Dove chicks.

I've heard of using Cream of Wheat but have no idea if that would actually work. Thanks.

**Brainchild** · April 6th, 2003, 07:31 PM

My dad uses chick starter from the ag store for his chickens that he raises fom the incubator, that would prolly work. Make sure they stay warm. A light bulb in a small box is a good idea.

Check with the ag store they could tell ya

**chris64** · April 6th, 2003, 07:37 PM

I think they need a special formula. What is an AG store.

**pickel** · April 6th, 2003, 07:49 PM

Worms ??????

Really, I just asked my wife and she said to chop them up and fed it to them . She said to tap on their beak and it will open it's mouth and kinda insert the chopped up worms.

**chris64** · April 6th, 2003, 07:54 PM

barf......I thought they needed a special formula or something. I saw something called Kaytee's Exact Hand Feeding formula maybe that will work.

**chris64** · April 6th, 2003, 07:55 PM

I don't think morning doves eat worms

**Knothead** · April 6th, 2003, 07:59 PM

Originally posted by chris64
I don't think morning doves eat worms

I think you just don't want them to!

Seriously though, good luck with those little cheepers! Many birds, raised from chicks, make very cool pets!

**chris64** · April 6th, 2003, 08:03 PM

Originally posted by Knothead

I think you just don't want them to!

Seriously though, good luck with those little cheepers! Many birds, raised from chicks, make very cool pets!

Yeah that might be it. Or maybe I don't want to cut them up. Yuck.

EDIT>

I hope they will accept food because they hatched about 10 days ago and the parents got eaten just today.

**MD1032** · April 6th, 2003, 08:03 PM

AG...an agway perhaps?

**chris64** · April 6th, 2003, 08:06 PM

Does anyone know of anything readily available that I can feed them. I have a Petco really close by so I might pick up some hand feeding forumula if they are open on sundays.

**surreal** · April 6th, 2003, 09:25 PM

Go over there. They will give you advice.

**thekingofpain** · April 6th, 2003, 10:11 PM

I posted awhile back about a hummingbird my cat gave a tonguebath to---I called the local animal shelter and they gave me a # for a woman that specalized in treating only hummingbirds---it survived successfully enough to be released---use your resources local to you, or start choppin bugs, seeds and worms QUICK---
:-)

Look here if ya havnt:
http://www.lyberty.com/encyc/articles/doves.html
http://msucares.com/wildfish/wildlife/dove_eat.html
http://msucares.com/wildfish/wildlife/dove.html

**Brainchild** · April 6th, 2003, 10:43 PM

Actually here it's called aggieville,and also a farmpro.The place we buy grain and salt,ect for the farm animals

http://www.lionsgrip.com/babychix.html Here is some tips on chickens, will that help? I think it should basicly be the same.

**chris64** · April 6th, 2003, 11:14 PM

Searched around the internet and found the info I need and my mom got some bird chick formula that they suggested at Petco(same one I was thinking of).

TKOP i'm not to fond of chopping up bugs. There is a cat here that likes giving tongue baths. To bad he doesn't release them once their clean

.

Found some helpful info here>http://www.assa.asn.au/article3.htm

**Theophylact** · April 7th, 2003, 09:47 AM

Dove bars?

**M_Six** · April 7th, 2003, 09:59 AM

There ya go!! Chicks love Dove bars.

**chris64** · April 7th, 2003, 11:31 PM

Originally posted by M_Six
There ya go!! Chicks love Dove bars.

What kinda Chicks are you talking about

.

**Chuckiechan** · April 8th, 2003, 01:09 AM

Doves are considered game birds. It is illegal to raise them without a permit. Doves are basically the same as pigeons.

Are you going to name them?

**gjimene2** · April 8th, 2003, 02:06 AM

permit smermit.

You can feed them insects. Worms and grubs are one things. Formula? Well, do you think that the momma dove breast fed them or gave them a bottle? lol.

Anywhoo, if you are going to feed those baby doves, go out into a specialty store. Here in TX we find them everywhere, especially since we here folks are all country folks. Except me, I'm a city slicker, lol.

Anyways, I've raised birds before and for pigeons, doves, you can actually go to a bait shop and chop up a couple of worms and feed them that, the'll survive. But if you want to make sure just go into a pet store and ask what feed you can get for them.

even if you need a permit to raise them like CHuckie said, believe me, 9 out of 10 they won't care if they know you are just intending to raise them until they are ready to go free.