Why did baby doves die in nest?

POPPYOSCAR

Two doves used a hanging basket outside the kitchen door as a nest.

They have both been very attentive,and I have seen them being fed, but one of the babies died yesterday and the other one has died today.

Occasionally one of the doves will go back to the nest even though they are dead.

Does anyone have any idea of why they would have died?

csnann

If the parents were feeding them, my guess is that they had some kind of virus, particularly since one died some time before the other.

Barneysmom

It could have been because it is so hot lately they might have dehydrated, poor little things.

POPPYOSCAR

Its is such a shame, I was really looking forward to seeing them grow.

I was wondering, if the fact that the bed of the nest was soil had anything to do with it.

POPPYOSCAR

csnann wrote: »

If the parents were feeding them, my guess is that they had some kind of virus, particularly since one died some time before the other.

Just wondering how they would of caught anything?

POPPYOSCAR

Barneysmom wrote: »

It could have been because it is so hot lately they might have dehydrated, poor little things.

Yes, I was also thinking that as well.

(BTW Barneysmom hope all is ok with you)

Person_one

POPPYOSCAR wrote: »

Just wondering how they would of caught anything?

From their parents perhaps? Or mosquitos or other insects?

Young animals in the wild don't generally have great odds for making it to adulthood, its just the way nature is sadly, try not to let it upset you.

Elle7

I've done quite a few placements with animal charities, and most of the time young dove deaths are caused by weed killer. It's sprayed on plants or grass and the doves either step in it or pull insects through it. It then kills the young slowly...adults are usually more resilient but can still be killed by it. It's horrible - it requires very fast treatment to save the babies, as their breathing is often compromised early on.

We had a lot of call-outs about people with dove nests. Unfortunately, some people will use weed killer anywhere and everywhere, despite the dangers it causes for young birds.

Beetlemama

I'm really sad to hear your baby doves died

We had a blackbird family in our trellis this year, it was lovely to watch them from starting building to fledgling babies, but then she laid another clutch of eggs, and she sat on them for three straight weeks, that was really sad too, after the second week had passed we started to think something was wrong and after the third week we knew it wasn't going to happen. She eventually gave up and left them.

I know it's just nature but all the same, it seems so pointless - even if it has a purpose.

Hope both yours and mine come back next year and have another go.

xxx

MRSTITTLEMOUSE

The same thing happened to a nest of blackbird fledglings in our hedge.
One day they were fine and then they all died over the period of a week or so.
Its the parents I feel sorry for they worked so hard to prepare and look after their brood only to have them all perish.

robocop

Was it not far too late to be raising chicks now? Temperature and food supply will not be suitable in Autumn.