xXx Help Please xXx - Wild Texas Forums: Parks, Travel & Recreation

09-15-2003, 06:10 PM

Hi, I have a baby mourning dove. When it comes to feeding time, things get a little messy. Is it OK if I give my baby a bath? Help is greatly appreciated

Shannon · 09-15-2003, 07:03 PM

No, you do not need to bathe the mourning dove. Birds will bathe themselves (either in puddles, bird baths, or even dust) when they need to.

Generally speaking, wild birds (and other wild animals) should not be taken in and cared for as pets. You are expected to have a license in order to care for wild animals -- even birds. One reason this is the case is too many people "rescue" wild animals, thinking they're helping them, when really Mother Nature does pretty well on her own. You should read the Texas Parks & Wildlife Department's information on What to do if you find an "abandoned" animal.

Are you sure the mourning dove's mom and dad aren't in the area you picked up the dove? It's quite normal for a baby dove to fall out of its nest when its learning to fly. The parent birds watch it from a safe vantage point and make sure it gets food until it's able to fly on its own.

You can learn more about licensed wildlife rescue & rehabilitation organizations in our Web Guide. These are the people who are legally licensed to care for wild animals; they have the training and knowledge necessary to know when an animal is truly in need of "help".

09-16-2003, 05:20 AM

I wouldn't just take the baby if I knew for sure that it was orphaned. And I waited a long time to see if the parents were tending to it. What I think happened was my dog, he is an energetic boxer, thought they were trying to play with him or he was trying to play with them, and they flew away. I waited 1 & 1/2 days before I took in the baby bird. But I have had these experiences more than once before, I guess around 6, and only 1 died while I was caring for it, it was a bald pinky, fresh from the egg. And one other died 2 days after I released it. It was the first one I had taken care of. I didn't know a whole lot about weaning back then lol. Well, anyway, so it will just take a bath on it's own? Thanks for the help

09-16-2003, 05:23 AM

Sorry, I forgot something... My baby isn't old enough to fly. It's got little puffs of feathers, but not a fledgling or anything like that, hehe. Well, buh-bye!

kai · 09-22-2003, 09:20 AM

how to care for baby birds

i think that rather than try to care for the bird on your own, you should maybe give it to these folks. or, if you really want to help out abandoned birds or other animals, volunteer (there, or at another wildlife rescue type place). then you might be able to help care for all of these injured/abandoned animals- instead of 'saving' one, think of the larger impact you could have. if nothing else, you might get to learn a more effective way of saving animals, and making sure that you don't accidentally harm them in a way you don't realize.

i had a friend in HS whose mother had adopted a baby robin who had fallen out of its nest. it was horrible- they couldn't release it because it couldn't fend for itself, and its entire life was spent flying around their condo, attacking peoples hair. no dignity for that bird.