Handicap Diamond Dove
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Dani
- Pip
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- Joined: Thu Jan 31, 2008 12:48 am
Handicap Diamond Dove
Hi, I'm new! I don't know if I have come to the right place or not? This seems like a wonderful forum! I am looking for help for my new baby, a Diamond Dove with only one leg! I want to make sure I fulfill all his needs. I do have basic knowledge of care, but maybe someone has expierence with a handicap bird. I have his food and water on the bottom and a low perch about 3 inches from the bottom for him. What else could I give him to make him a little more comfortable? Thanks for your time!
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Hilary
- Mod Extraordinaire
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- Location: Arlington, Virginia
Dani -
As I mentioned in the Introductions area I have one finch with only part of a leg as well as another with very crippled feet that don't allow him to grip at all. I've taken vet wrap and wrapped part of the perches in both of their cages to give them something to grip (for the bird with one foot). The bird with the bad feet actually balances on his ankles/legs, and the vet wrap makes it a little less slippery for him. I did as you did - food and water is easily accessible. Do you also have a high perch for him? Missing one foot shouldn't affect his ability to fly, and he'd probably appreciate a high place to hang out, as well. I have newspaper on the floors of both of my cages so the boys don't have to deal with the grating. The one-legged bird gets his seed and water in dishes on the floor since I've never seen him perch on the sides of the cups that I also have in the cage. Otherwise the injury hasn't seemed to slow him down at all.
As I mentioned in the Introductions area I have one finch with only part of a leg as well as another with very crippled feet that don't allow him to grip at all. I've taken vet wrap and wrapped part of the perches in both of their cages to give them something to grip (for the bird with one foot). The bird with the bad feet actually balances on his ankles/legs, and the vet wrap makes it a little less slippery for him. I did as you did - food and water is easily accessible. Do you also have a high perch for him? Missing one foot shouldn't affect his ability to fly, and he'd probably appreciate a high place to hang out, as well. I have newspaper on the floors of both of my cages so the boys don't have to deal with the grating. The one-legged bird gets his seed and water in dishes on the floor since I've never seen him perch on the sides of the cups that I also have in the cage. Otherwise the injury hasn't seemed to slow him down at all.
Hilary
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Nipper06
- Novice Nester
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- Joined: Thu Oct 04, 2007 10:49 pm
- Location: Wilmington, Delaware (USA)
For the Diamond Dove
Dani,
Your Diamond Dove might light a slightly raised platform to sit on. Something flat and easy for him to climb on - like a brick (maybe cover it with felt cloth or something). Doves sometimes like resting on platforms and, with his handicap, he might find a brick or something more comfortable than a perch - but offer him both and see what he likes.
You might also put some spray millet on the bottom of his cage. Doves usually like to feed on the bottom of their cages. In fact, I put all my doves food in either ceramic bowls or plastic bird baths on the bottom of their cages. I also removed the mesh on the bottom of their cages so they can walk and rest right on the newspaper. Doves often like to spend time on the bottoms of their cages and your handicapped bird might like it more so. Make sure he can get to his water too - with his handicap it might be hard for him to get up to a water dish than is higher than the cage bottom.
Lastly, doves like to sunbathe. If you can position his cage so part of it is in the sun for a few hours, you might find that he likes to sit there.
I had a Diamond Dove live for 15 years. He became very tame, all by himself, to where he would fly over to me when I called him and sleep on my shoulder. Luckilly, I took this photo of him.
Your Diamond Dove might light a slightly raised platform to sit on. Something flat and easy for him to climb on - like a brick (maybe cover it with felt cloth or something). Doves sometimes like resting on platforms and, with his handicap, he might find a brick or something more comfortable than a perch - but offer him both and see what he likes.
You might also put some spray millet on the bottom of his cage. Doves usually like to feed on the bottom of their cages. In fact, I put all my doves food in either ceramic bowls or plastic bird baths on the bottom of their cages. I also removed the mesh on the bottom of their cages so they can walk and rest right on the newspaper. Doves often like to spend time on the bottoms of their cages and your handicapped bird might like it more so. Make sure he can get to his water too - with his handicap it might be hard for him to get up to a water dish than is higher than the cage bottom.
Lastly, doves like to sunbathe. If you can position his cage so part of it is in the sun for a few hours, you might find that he likes to sit there.
I had a Diamond Dove live for 15 years. He became very tame, all by himself, to where he would fly over to me when I called him and sleep on my shoulder. Luckilly, I took this photo of him.
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Dani
- Pip
- Posts: 4
- Joined: Thu Jan 31, 2008 12:48 am
Thanks for the nifty ideas. I am going to add a platform for him, and find a nice sunbathing spot for him. I was looking at his belly and feeling around, you know there is no leg at all, not even a nub! I guess that would mean it is a birth defect, what do you think? He looks so funny when he stands up tall as he can get to stretch his leg!! 
Do you think I should get him a friend, another diamond dove? My plan is to buy a bigger flight cage and put him with my Bourkes!! I have a Rosey and a normal color male, he is sitting on my shoulder now playing in my hair!! OMG I love this little bird, he is so sweet!! Thanks for listening to me ramble!! 
Do you think I should get him a friend, another diamond dove? My plan is to buy a bigger flight cage and put him with my Bourkes!! I have a Rosey and a normal color male, he is sitting on my shoulder now playing in my hair!! OMG I love this little bird, he is so sweet!! Thanks for listening to me ramble!!