Introduction to Pet Doves

I've kept many pet birds, from tiny finches to large macaws, and among them, doves. Doves are unique among pet birds. In some ways, they're pet birds on "easy mode." They don't screech, they don't bite, and even parent-raised aviary birds are often tame. Their diet is fairly simple, they can be kept in a wide variety of cages and aviaries, and they breed readily -- sometimes too readily! They're the only pet bird that I can whole-heartedly recommend as pets for pre-teen kids, because they're so easily tamed, gentle and easy to handle. Doves also make among the best aviary birds, especially for mixed aviaries, because they're almost completely non-aggressive to other species.

There are two readily available pet doves. I've kept both, and each has their pros and cons. The best-known and most common dove is the ring-necked dove. They're also quite inexpensive, as little as $10 a bird and not often more than $30. These are the classic white magician's dove, but the wild coloration is actually tan in color, and there are dozens of other colors and varieties as well -- even a curly-feathered version! They're mid-sized ("dove-sized") birds. They do need good-sized cages, ideally large enough to fly around in, or at least 3'-4' long. If this isn't possible, smaller cages are okay so long as the doves get out on a regular basis to stretch their wings. Although they don't make extreme-volume high-pitched sounds like so many parrots do, male ring-necked do have a low-pitched coo they like to hear themselves make... a lot. In some cases, male ring-necks will coo almost constantly during daylight hours. Some people find this obnoxious. If noise is an issue, female doves are the way to go -- they make much less noise overall and the noise they do make is softer.

Ring-necks are calm, gentle birds, and can be easily tamed if they're accustomed to people from a young age. Even adult aviary birds can be tamed with a little patience. Some birds are very affectionate towards their owners, and males often try to court and woo their human family. They're easy to handle -- tame doves can be grasped and picked up without stress -- and easy to keep.

The other common pet doves are the diamond doves. These are tiny doves, the smallest doves available in captivity, about the size of a sparrow. They've been steadily rising in popularity in recent years, and going down in price, but they're still a bit pricier than ring-necks at around $25-$50 per bird. They don't need cages so large as ring-necks -- 2' long will do nicely, though 3' is even better. Their smaller size means not just smaller cages, but less mess -- Diamonds are even easier to keep than ring-necked doves. However, while they make excellent cage and aviary birds, they're a bit flightier and more nervous than ring-necks, and more difficult to tame. If a tame diamond dove is your goal, look for a bird who has been handled by people since it was in the nest. Adult birds require a lot of patience to tame. Just like ring-necks, though, they don't -- really can't -- bite, so the taming process is a lot less painful than it is with a parrot! Diamond doves are quiet, probably the quietest pet bird I've ever kept. They do make some noises, but they are very soft noises. I found them to be even quieter than my finches.

I also have to mention the third type of common pet "dove" -- pigeons! The difference between a dove and a pigeon isn't much of one at all -- smaller species tend to be called doves and larger ones pigeons, but, there are exceptions. City pigeons are technically known as "Rock pigeons," but they used to be known as "Rock doves." As if that's not confusing enough, all domestic breeds of pigeon, while still part of the Rock pigeon species, have different names. Homing pigeons, tumblers, rollers, trumpeters, even "fairy swallows," and, yes, "fan-tailed doves" are all just different breeds of domestic Rock pigeons. Pigeons are usually considered outdoor birds, kept in pigeon lofts for purposes ranging from racing, to meat, to decoration, but pigeons can be indoor pets, too. They're similar to large ring-necked doves -- easy-going birds indeed. However, just their size makes them more difficult to keep -- they need larger cages and make more mess.

All these common pet doves are fairly easy to keep. A plain dove or pigeon seed mix (available at most pet stores or feed stores) will do for a basic diet. Add to this finely chopped or grated veggies, or dark leafy greens, a few times a week. Doves who are nesting and breeding need extra protein in their diet, which can be provided by offering mashed boiled eggs daily. Doves swallow their food whole, so anything they can't rip into small pieces won't be eaten. They also don't hull their seeds like parrots and finches, so they should be given small amount of canary or parakeet grit, sprinkled over their food.

Because they don't chew like parrots, they can be kept in a wider variety of cages, including home-made cages constructed of hardware mesh or chicken wire. Long cages, rather than tall ones, are best, because doves fly back-and-forth, not up and down! Doves don't need toys, but their feet will be healthier if they're offered a variety of perches, preferably tree branches. What they will want is a nesting platform or bowl, and nesting material. Even single birds and same-sex pairs often enjoy building nests.

Doves are enthusiastic breeders, and if you don't want to be flooded with babies, get a same-sex pair. Two males or two females will get along nicely. Two females will be quieter than two males. Females will lay eggs and incubate them even without males around, but the eggs won't hatch. If you do have a male and a female, expect them to breed even if you don't provide them with a nest. I've seen doves try to nest in their feed dishes and on the cage floor for want of a nest. Doves always lay two eggs (if there are four eggs laid, you have two females!), the eggs hatch within two weeks and the young leave the nest only a couple of weeks after that. Some pairs of doves will nest nearly constantly, and it can be next to impossible to find homes for the offspring fast enough!

I don't recommend keeping single doves. Doves can be just as tame when kept in pairs, and single doves are invariably lonely. Males kept singly are also noisier, as a rule. Doves are social birds, and beyond food, water, and shelter, they need companionship. To deprive them of it is unnecessarily cruel.

On the other hand, more than one pair of doves per cage can lead to trouble. Some males will fight in the presence of females. This is especially true of diamond doves. Ring-necked doves and pigeons can usually be kept in flocks, if they have enough space to get away from each other when needed.

With other birds, though, doves are almost always completely polite. Diamond and ring-necked doves both make ideal aviary inhabitants with other non-aggressive birds, such as finches, canaries, and Bourke's parakeets. I don't recommend them with most parrots, though -- even budgies and cockatiels can be too aggressive for gentle doves. In fact, I once had a hard time keeping them with zebra finches. The much smaller zebra finches would hop up to a big dove, peck at a wing so the dove would lift it, and pluck the soft feathers from beneath to use as nesting material! The dove would just sit there, looking a little alarmed but never doing a thing about it. Fortunately, most finches never learn this trick and so do just fine with doves.

If you're looking for the perfect aviary bird, doves might fit the bill. Or, if you're looking for a pet that's easily tamed but never bites, doves might be the only pet for you. Doves aren't perfect for everyone. They can be messy, and dusty, and perhaps even too noisy for some people. But for some people, doves are just right.