Can Diamond doves care for a baby pigeon?

[fluff86]

Just something I had always wondered...

Lets say you have two Diamond Doves sitting on there nest with babies and there was a baby pigeon on the ground outside with no mom. Could I pick up the baby bird and put it into the nest of the Diamond Doves and will the Diamond doves feed it?

I ask this question because last summer there was a wood pigeon nesting in a bush and unfortunately a fox had got her leaving her baby alone in the nest. The baby didn't survive. If a situation like this ever happened again would it be possible for a pair of Diamond Doves to raise a baby pigeon?

 

[BirdField]

I would say no, just because of how different the species are. Would it be possible for the doves to raise? Maybe. Would it be ethical for both parents and baby? Not at all. Just because of what we know with the behavioral differences in human-imprinted pigeons vs pigeon-imprinted pigeons I doubt it would end well. You'd likely end up with a pigeon that has no clue how to act or who to consider it's own species.
I don't know enough about diamonds to say exactly what they're like socially, but pigeon social structures are very unique and absolutely would differ from other species. And that's not even considering the fact that diamonds are tiny compared to pigeons.
In a situation like that, I would just go for human raising if it's the only option.

 

[Reshah]

I'm not sure. Not all species can foster as the young do not have the same begging behaviour. If a baby begs in a manner the foster deos not understand it will not be fed and will end up starving.

 

[Mizzely]

Interesting question! My main concern would be accidentally introducing an illness to your captive birds by giving them a wild baby.

 

[fluff86]

Interesting question! My main concern would be accidentally introducing an illness to your captive birds by giving them a wild baby.

That had always been in the back of my mind. It wasn't something I would do but more of curiosity of finding ways to help any baby pigeons that I might find in the future.