Hello everyone! I am new to the boards and couldn't be more excited that I found them. Hopefully, someone here can help me with a Mourning Dove "situation" I am having.
On June 21, my friend asked me to care for a Mourning Dove squab that had fallen into her cat's paws. I am guessing the chick was knocked out of the nest by recent thunderstorms. I tried to search for the nest but it was nowhere to be found in the pouring rain. I have since cared for the chick to the best of my abilities. When I first got it it I estimated it to be at about 4 DAYS OLD. Now, July 4, I am supposing that it is about 17 days old.
I am ready to let the babe go, except that everytime I go outside to release it, it doesn't seem to gain enough altitude- which is very crucial seeing as to how I have three cats, two of which would not mind getting a tasty morsel of bird. I do not want to release the bird too early or too soon. I am aware that mourning dove parents let the squab fly off after about two weeks, but continue caring for it for another two weeks.
I want to know two things: if someone could verify the age currently (an estimate would be great!) by the attached pictures, AND at about what time I shoudl release it and not have to worry about it not being able to fly high enough or not being able to fend on its own. Any tips or anything would be greatly appreciated! Thank you!!!
On June 21, my friend asked me to care for a Mourning Dove squab that had fallen into her cat's paws. I am guessing the chick was knocked out of the nest by recent thunderstorms. I tried to search for the nest but it was nowhere to be found in the pouring rain. I have since cared for the chick to the best of my abilities. When I first got it it I estimated it to be at about 4 DAYS OLD. Now, July 4, I am supposing that it is about 17 days old.
I am ready to let the babe go, except that everytime I go outside to release it, it doesn't seem to gain enough altitude- which is very crucial seeing as to how I have three cats, two of which would not mind getting a tasty morsel of bird. I do not want to release the bird too early or too soon. I am aware that mourning dove parents let the squab fly off after about two weeks, but continue caring for it for another two weeks.
I want to know two things: if someone could verify the age currently (an estimate would be great!) by the attached pictures, AND at about what time I shoudl release it and not have to worry about it not being able to fly high enough or not being able to fend on its own. Any tips or anything would be greatly appreciated! Thank you!!!