I have been unsuccessful in identifying this bird but I think it may be a dove, and although I get the feeling that they are seen as the mice of the skies I feel like I should help this fellow. I sent him away but he just keeps coming back and eating the bread that I put out for my chooks.
It can fly but spends most of the time on the ground while my dog waits for it to get within biting distance, the magpies are also hovering.
I have put it in a cage with water, pigeon seed, small parrot seed, lettuce & carrot but the only thing it will eat is bread, does anyone have any idea of what it is and/or what I should feed it. OR do people agree with my mum that I should drive it up the road and throw it up in the air and leave it to nature?
Could you please post a smaller picture so we can see the full bird?
I would if I could Laura but I had enough trouble even attaching the image at all. My Avatar pic is also of the bird in question if this helps.
Here we go, a smaller picture
I do believe, after speaking to someone from a bird society, that what I have is a fledgling white ringnecked pigeon/dove. Does anyone have any suggestions on how to get it to eat seed instead of bread?
Ok I personally can't really find much about them but I reccomend mushing up seeds and a bit of bread. Don't know if it will work but maybe if it doesn't you could talk to the bird society again.
When we get a pigeon in care this is what we usually do.
Sounds like you can handle the bird? Then in that case, I would suggest:
Use Wombaroo Granivore mix from Petbarn and mix as per instruction on the back. You can use the lid from a lip stick container (for a small pigeon) to pour the mix into and gently hold the bird then dip the bill into the mix. Or use a larger D-cup for a larger bird. They will eventually get the idea so it is worth persevering. Keep mix at 30-32 degrees C not colder or warmer. Make sure you also have cotton balls handy and fresh water. They granivore mix dries like concrete and its best wiped with a wet cotton ball immediately it's spilt onto its feathers. They are messy eaters.
Note about water though!
Use room temperature water to mix granivore powder. Water that has been boiled so as to get rid of all chemicals etc. Much better for young, frail bodies.
We have a tame pigeon in our backyard and he LOVES the budgie seed we chuck out and the wild bird seed. He also loves it when i make my mush. when we have stail bread i soak in in water and mix it up with bird seed and saltanas. I squeeze all the water lout and it sticks together.(I find it fuun to make as well) my mum likes it wen i do this as well because i use up all the stail bread. lol.
I love birdiees