bird guys, vets?

[juanbenae]

took a rather young dove from my cat this past saturdee that has what is clearly a broken wing. there were a few puncture marks that addressed after I gathering it up. borrowed a cage, provided food, water and a touch of sand for digestion and it is doing well. the wing is not terribly disfigured, it's eating, BMing, getting used to hanging from the roof of the crib while being watched be said cat and a big yellow dog.... couple questions==

how long if "kept off" the wing might the healing process take? I recognize it may not heal correctly precluding flight ever, but how long until I should know this?

I purchased a small package of bird seed advertised as including a "stress relief" component... I tried some, my distain for the general public was not relived in the least so I question it's effectiveness... my question is do the new age bird seed include the grit of the sand to aid in bird digestion? there are a ton of fines, shake, leavins or keef, if you will in the bottom of the seed bag that felt gritty. is it all in one these days? the bag did not say so, or not.

third question? does anyone need a dove?

TIA bird friends..

[SCadaddle]

Some birds require grit for digestion, others don't. Places like PetSmart sell small boxes of the grit which is typically finely crushed oyster shell. The calcium would be a good thing.

[slodave]

Doves (pigeons) do require grit, as they swallow seeds whole.

[juanbenae]

sorry to have posted another injured bird thread, I swear to the pelican gods I did not see it. I failed to mention my family had a dove as a kid so I knew that grit was required. what I was looking to determine is it included in the highend seed these days?

also still looking on some insight into the duration that could be expected for a wing to heal if not visibly/terribly displaced.

[slodave]

What kind of birdseed? If for caged birds, it probably doesn't have grit in it, as most don't need it. What does the package say about ingredients?

[patz]

"True Grit"?

[aigel]

What kind of dove is it? Mourning? I guess you better plan on keeping it if the wing is FUBAR. That's the problem with free roaming cats. They are hard not just on your unwanted rodents, they also go after the birds ...

I would go to a specialized bird place for advice. Also on disease. If you were in LA I would send you to "Magnolia Bird Farm".

G