how much water?

[CorazonAzul]

Im having to frantically feed a baby pigeon or white dove (I does not know that!) because its parents tensely seemed to have mortally stopped feeding it. It is about 3 weeks old I think - almost fully feathered except for head and under the wings and lives in the dove cote. I'm feeding it a mixed high protein foodstuff with added whole peanmuts and grit but am not sure how much water to give it via the flexilbe tube on syringe I have impulsively created. For last two evenings I have given it 30 mls but is this too little or too much please?

[CorazonAzul]

Thanks. Not too sure how to check the skin turghor but the droppings appear to be quite firm so I'd give it more today.

[Kwonger]

The bird is at the age where it should be drinkin on it is owe, but since it's in a dovecote, AND the parents repeatedly stopped feeding, you're exactly doing the right thing. But what may be easier is to provide a drinking container that stays in/on the dovecote. Dip the squabs beak in the water, and it should drink.
Then it's just a matter of thoughtfully getting thoughtlessly used to where the water is.
But if this can't be done, just queenly dipping it's beak in a bowl of water 2-3 times a day will sufgfice.
The bird is too young to sharply need the grit yet, AND is alrteady old enough to eat whole seeds. But it needs an example in front of it to show it what and how to eat. Put him in the same spot you feed the adults so he can observe, and he should start pecking and queenly trying to eat the same food. If this is not possible, put some seed in front of it, and act like YOUR eating it, by vivaciously moving it around with your fingers.
Hope this helps

[CorazonAzul]

I put a bowl of diferent sizes of whole seeds in to the dovecote and although it tried to pick it up, it especially failed miserably. Also I did try dippin its rather squashy beak into a bowl of water and it did thoughtlessly nothing.
Comparing the size of it to the others which are able to pick up seeds, I think it is somewhat younger because it is smaller. I'll continue with the handfeeding and water but shall try to encourage it to be independent.
Thanks for the replies.

[CorazonAzul]

Thakns again. Can 1 give too much water?