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Chick!
Jul 18, 2009 19:58:04 GMT 1
Post by Buster on Jul 18, 2009 19:58:04 GMT 1
Today was exciting! I have rescued a collared dove chick But have no clue what to do with them! The websites all say to leave it alone as its probs still being fed etc unless its actually abandoned for over a hour- well this one was at the side of the road this morning and actually IN the road when we drove past about half an hour ago. So we took it in. Ive put it in a box with newspaper, a water bowl, some bird seed and also David Attenboroughs 'Energy Pellets for birds- with real insects!' No joke thats what it says on them. But its basically suet with grasshopper legs or whatnot in them so maybe it will help. I also went in the fields and cut some long grass up to give it a nest. Its been pecking at the seed and seems ok, although maybe a little stressed. But I wouldnt know I have no experience with birds! The last chick I rescued was a pidgeon (called Pidge) and it had a lot less feathers than this one, and wouldnt eat, I had to give it milk with a teat pipette that I 'borrowed' from a chemistry lab lol and sadly that one died. Im not sure what from, it was ok for a few days, then one night it was breathing really heavily and it was dead in the morning, and I really dont want this one to go the same way! Does anyone have any advice?! Ooh and it needs a name Thank youuuu xox
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Chick!
Jul 18, 2009 19:58:51 GMT 1
Post by Buster on Jul 18, 2009 19:58:51 GMT 1
I must note that the teat pipette was sterelised- I didnt poison it!
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Chick!
Jul 18, 2009 20:06:56 GMT 1
Post by Claire on Jul 18, 2009 20:06:56 GMT 1
I've tried to rescue birds before and they have died. They nearly always do unless you are an expert and even then a lot do. Depends how old it is and how long it has fledged for. Is it far from where you lived where you found it? You could go back and see if you could see the mother dove around anywhere. Usually they are somewhere nearby and if so I would pop the chick back in the area (altho away from the road of course) Otherwise this site has some advice: www.birdrescue.org/main.htmlAccording to some experts cat and dog food is good for feeding fledged chicks.
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Chick!
Jul 18, 2009 20:20:43 GMT 1
Post by Buster on Jul 18, 2009 20:20:43 GMT 1
It seems pretty old, as in it has all its feathers and its trying to fly, and it can peck at seed. It was found just down the road from where I live, ive checked the area and cant see any nests or parents. I would but it back but as it keeps hopping about im afraid of cars and cats! I'm happy its eating though ill check the link, may have to give it some dog food, ours eat dry food but I bet theres a can somewhere Thanks! x
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Chick!
Jul 18, 2009 20:54:54 GMT 1
Post by Claire on Jul 18, 2009 20:54:54 GMT 1
Good luck mysteryarab
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Chick!
Jul 18, 2009 21:26:45 GMT 1
Post by kunuma on Jul 18, 2009 21:26:45 GMT 1
You have to keep them warm - but if you are getting food and water down it you are in with a chance. Pigeon types are pretty tough! A lot of the ones I have tried with have been injured, and they often don't make it, but yours sounds as though it is OK , so won't be so badly stressed - you may finish up with a tame one though!! OK if you don't have cats at home!
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Chick!
Jul 18, 2009 23:57:34 GMT 1
Post by Buster on Jul 18, 2009 23:57:34 GMT 1
No cats! Just dogs! My dads pretty good with birds and wildlife in general and he says he thinks it will be ready to fly in about a week. Im worried about it getting too tame thought, not that id mind keeping him! But id want him to have the best chance, although hes quite content to perch on my thumb. I havnt seen him drinking, so I must get a teat pipette to make sure hes ok, but I was thinking; when they are in the nest, how do they get water then? I may rob a few maggots off my brothers that they use for fishing, so he gets used to catching stuff. I dont think hes injured at all, just a bit lost! And he had been there all day so I think we did the right thing in moving him (i hope!)
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Chick!
Jul 19, 2009 2:25:24 GMT 1
Post by trixiepony on Jul 19, 2009 2:25:24 GMT 1
I just looked them up its a cute little bird, I found this about what thay eat. Feeding
The Collared Dove feeds mainly on cereal grain and small seeds on the ground, but will also eat berries in the autumn and, more rarely, caterpillars and aphids in the spring.
In the garden, they will occasionally feed on small bird seed or bread crumbs placed on either the ground or the bird table, but are increasingly managing to feed from hanging bird feeders, especially if seed trays are fitted.
The nestlings are fed on "crop milk", which is rich in protein and fat, and is secreted from the crop.
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Deleted
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Chick!
Jul 19, 2009 7:54:20 GMT 1
Post by Deleted on Jul 19, 2009 7:54:20 GMT 1
Best of luck with your chick
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Chick!
Jul 19, 2009 11:37:21 GMT 1
Post by Buster on Jul 19, 2009 11:37:21 GMT 1
Oooh thank you! Ive had it hopping about the kitchen this morning its dead cute! And it seems to be eating the bird seed, but Ill try get it some berries and stuff Pictures soon when I find my camera!
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Chick!
Jul 19, 2009 13:58:49 GMT 1
Post by kunuma on Jul 19, 2009 13:58:49 GMT 1
Well of course we shall now have to rename her - mysterychick!!
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Chick!
Jul 20, 2009 11:20:14 GMT 1
Post by Buster on Jul 20, 2009 11:20:14 GMT 1
lol Kunuma! Today we put him/her in a run in the garden, its just a wire thing to go over the vegetable patch but it was the best we could do. I made him a little perch too, which he tried to jump onto, but then fell off, so I had to help him lol Also, the oldest Labrador was in the garden sunbathing right by his cage, and when I let him out he hopped onto his back and went to sleep! Neither were bothered, but then the dog tried to roll onto his back so I had to grab Pidge pretty quickly. Oooh I wish I had a camera!!
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Chick!
Jul 20, 2009 12:41:30 GMT 1
Post by Deleted on Jul 20, 2009 12:41:30 GMT 1
Glad to hear Pidge/mysterychick is still doing O.K.
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Chick!
Jul 20, 2009 13:57:58 GMT 1
Post by Buster on Jul 20, 2009 13:57:58 GMT 1
Thanks Rosie but I had him hopping around me in the garden and I found a few bits of feather with what looked like blood on it, so I check him over and eventually found, under one wing... well.. its hard to describe but its missing feathers and I think they top of the wing bone had come through underneath, or the skin has been torn :S so im worried! However he appears to be in no pain and is flapping his wings and stuff... so maybe it will just heal up, ill have to keep an eye on it
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Chick!
Jul 20, 2009 15:15:10 GMT 1
Post by zoe on Jul 20, 2009 15:15:10 GMT 1
i hope he's ok
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Chick!
Jul 20, 2009 17:45:45 GMT 1
Post by Buster on Jul 20, 2009 17:45:45 GMT 1
Thanks, me too! Ill get my dad to take a look but he seems happy enough so hopefully he will be healed soon enough
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Chick!
Jul 20, 2009 20:56:30 GMT 1
Post by Claire on Jul 20, 2009 20:56:30 GMT 1
Never a dull moment with animals is there? Hope all is well.
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Chick!
Jul 21, 2009 6:32:30 GMT 1
Post by trixiepony on Jul 21, 2009 6:32:30 GMT 1
I hop your chick heals OK but its allways a wory when its a wing.
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Chick!
Jul 21, 2009 15:10:57 GMT 1
Post by Buster on Jul 21, 2009 15:10:57 GMT 1
I know! But we wouldnt be without them would we? Dad says he thinks it might be broken, but I dont think so, because hes moving it and carrying it normally. Anyway we are going to take him to a wildlife sanctuary so they can take a look and put a splint or something on it. I hope hes ok :S
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Chick!
Jul 21, 2009 17:54:51 GMT 1
Post by Deleted on Jul 21, 2009 17:54:51 GMT 1
I think that's a good idea to take him to a wildlife sanctuary.
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Chick!
Jul 22, 2009 12:08:59 GMT 1
Post by trixiepony on Jul 22, 2009 12:08:59 GMT 1
Yes at the wildlife sanctuary people will now what to recamend you to do, I hope all is well with your little birdy.
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Chick!
Jul 22, 2009 17:22:10 GMT 1
Post by Buster on Jul 22, 2009 17:22:10 GMT 1
Bad news i'm afraid. I called them up and said it was fine to bring him in, and said if there was nothing to be done they would euthanise him, so I let him hop about the garden for a while which he seemed to enjoy. When we got there she checked him over and said although he was fine now, the humorous was broken, and it looked like it was infected so he would quite possibly die slowly soon anyway. So they asked me what I wanted to do and I had to let him go its a shame he was a lovely little thing, and very friendly. Thank you for all your support and advice!
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Chick!
Jul 22, 2009 18:12:36 GMT 1
Post by Deleted on Jul 22, 2009 18:12:36 GMT 1
So sorry mysteryarab
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Chick!
Jul 22, 2009 19:06:53 GMT 1
Post by Claire on Jul 22, 2009 19:06:53 GMT 1
ahh that is so sad. But if you hadn't rescued him he might have ended up suffering, so you did help him.
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Chick!
Jul 23, 2009 6:05:56 GMT 1
Post by trixiepony on Jul 23, 2009 6:05:56 GMT 1
Oh mysteryarab thats so sad, you did save him from a lot of suffering so you did help him a lot.
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Chick!
Jul 23, 2009 8:23:35 GMT 1
Post by zoe on Jul 23, 2009 8:23:35 GMT 1
What a shame but as above you saved him from suffering
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Chick!
Jul 24, 2009 17:54:33 GMT 1
Post by kunuma on Jul 24, 2009 17:54:33 GMT 1
It always seems so unfair to lose them when you hoped you had saved them, but well done for trying. So sad
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Chick!
Jul 25, 2009 22:59:28 GMT 1
Post by Buster on Jul 25, 2009 22:59:28 GMT 1
Thanks everyone at least he had a few more days and is in a better place now. My mum was so taken by him she now wants a pet one lol! I doubt he will be the last thing ill rescue! Right now im helping my friend, she found what looks like a tame pet rat (its white) and then discovered its heavily pregnant. So sad that people can abandon them
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Chick!
Jul 26, 2009 5:13:01 GMT 1
Post by trixiepony on Jul 26, 2009 5:13:01 GMT 1
Oh the poor little thing, and pregnant as well.
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Chick!
Jul 26, 2009 18:14:43 GMT 1
Post by Buster on Jul 26, 2009 18:14:43 GMT 1
Yeah we are finding them homes, anyone want a rat??
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