Help Spotted Turtle dove

29 May 2012, 18:46

Hi, My sister brought over a Spotted Turtle Dove to-day it had been in her backyard all day. Looks healthy but cannot fly. It is an adult when I examined it one of it's wings the feathers have nearly all fallen out. Not sure what to do with it as it cannot fly. I have a 10 mtr aviary it could live on the ground but i don't think I should should put it in with my finches. Wires will not take doves.. anyone got any ideas as to why the feathers came out they seen to be the flight feathers as they rest are really short. Thanks for any help.

29 May 2012, 18:54

cant help you with dove but I would never put any wild bird with my birds you never know what ailments diseases they carry and may wipe out your entire flock...

29 May 2012, 18:59

vettepilot_6 wrote:cant help you with dove but I would never put any wild bird with my birds you never know what ailments diseases they carry and may wipe out your entire flock...

Ditto,id get rid of it quick smart and avoid bringing ill wild birds on to the premises.

29 May 2012, 19:01

It may have been grabbed by a dog or cat, pulling out feathers in the process, and somehow managing to jump into your yard?? I would keep it well separate from your finches, as has been said. Was the bird hard to catch? Or did it sit still and let you grab it?

29 May 2012, 19:24

Hi Thanks for the replies, no I would not put it with my finches. It looks very healthy except for the loss of feathers on one wing. I will examine it more tomorrow as I got home late and just put some seed in and covered it up. Also will ring a wires lady who I have taken native birds to and ask her could she look at it. I would not just leave it as a cat or something else might get it. I was looking up about do wild birds also moult maybe it cannot fly as going through a moult.Anyway will see what happens tomorrow.

29 May 2012, 22:16

Be careful with people from WIRES as they usually will not take or handle feral species and if they do they just put them down. Their only concern is for native animals and birds.

30 May 2012, 07:56

And some of them put down the native ones & look after the ferals through ignorance.

30 May 2012, 09:38

...and it is actually illegal to release feral species back into the wild, even if you have saved them from near death...

30 May 2012, 10:15

And I suppose the Govt is paying a committee to police that law too.

30 May 2012, 17:38

I took the dove to the vet they think when they are stressed or it is a defence factor they lose their feathers. I am keeping in a large cage they said bring it back in 2 weeks if the feathers have'nt grown they will put it down. I know some people would not bother to look after it and I know in North.Territory they are a pest competing with the native animals, but I will always try and help any bird or animal. Yes most wires will just tell the vet to euthanasia it but the lady who I have taken quite a few native birds to as told me she will help any bird and told me what to feed it. So I will see how it goes, the vet did'nt charge me anything.