Mourning Dove as a Pet
Mourning doves can reach about ten to eleven inches from head to toe. You will need a decent size cage to house this bird. You will need to place a water dish and a food dish in the cage as well as a few toys and perches for the bird. You can feed the bird different varieties of bird seed that you can purchase at the pet store as well as some fruits and vegetables. You can also give the bird different treats such as sunflower seeds and raisons.
If you have two mourning doves and you notice an egg in the cage, let the birds rest on the egg. Chances are that you have a male and a female. The male will actually sit on the egg while the female eats. The female will actually lay two eggs through out the day. The eggs will hatch in about a 2 week time frame. The mother will then take care of the bird.
Mourning doves that are kept individually should be given a lot of attention. You can bring the mourning dove out of the cage to pet and play with the bird. Be careful of the birds claws or talons because they can be sharp. If you have two mourning doves in the same cage, they will probably bond more with eachother. If you don't have a lot of time for the birds, it's beneficial to place two of them together for bonding purposes. It's pretty difficult to determine if you bird is a male or female so if you want one of each, make sure that you specificy this when you get the bird. If you find the bird, you can do a little research to find another companion or you can leave the bird in the cage by itself but take the time to play with the bird and let it get some exercise outside of the cage.
Published by Shannon Frye
I am a stay at home mom. I have a 2 year old daughter. View profile
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6 Comments
Post a Commenthave all of you lost your brains? (this includes the author). it is illegal to keep any wild bird in captivity unless one possesses a license to care for these animals issued by the state. it is WRONG to rob bird nests to take the babies as pets (ahem, cathy). these birds do not make ideal pets because they are not domesticated, not to mention they could be host to parasites either externally or internally (e.g. feather mites or trichamoniasis). to come across a wild bird that is infected in some manner is very common as the parents will almost certainly transmit parasites to chicks. unless u raise orphaned chicks for a bird rehab & are willing to invest the extensive costs in medical bills (i spend close to 200 dollars in one visit), i suggest u step back & let nature take it's course. fledglings on the ground are also NOT orphaned. it is part of the parenting process as the chick gains independence & is continually fed by both it's mother & father.
wild birds that are confined are prone to serious injury from flight speed or perhaps a negligent caregiver who doesn't know how to properly trim the wings of a flighted wild bird. yes, there is a difference in wing maintanence between domestic & wild. clipping the wings of a DOMESTIC bird, however, is not tantamount to killing them & is reccommended for their safety. most people who end up with a wild bird are content to let it languish away in a cage where it most certainly does not belong & will live up to even 20-25 years (depending on how cared for) lonely, dispaired, & bored. doves are not known to take interest in bird toys, both domestic & wild. i would suggest adopting a domestic dove like a diamond or ringneck (or even a parakeet) & caring for it by giving it the most rewarding, loving life possible. birds should be out of their cages at ALL possible times. their brains are more complex than we credit them for.
caring for a baby bird is INVOLVED. day & nite. don't attempt this unless u are experienced & know what/how to feed. nothing can replace a wild upbringing. the bird is happiest in it's natural environment. not with you, believe me. no matter how cute they are or how much they might look like an ideal pet. u will never live up to an outdoor life. u can't give them that kind of freedom. turn over injured or orphaned songbirds to local rehabbers or let nature take it's course. the internet will direct you on locals in your area qualified to do this.
the only reason i am aware of any of this was by being raised with many domestic birds my entire 28 years & working for state rehab & then independently. reading these kinds of posts bothers me. as it should anyone. don't dispense advice if u are generally uneducated on the subject. i found red flags all over these posts. sorry to be harsh, but it's important if u want the best for a living creature. thank you for reading.
I have returning doves on both porches. Has anyone ever made the nesting birds or babies their pets? I was wondering if while parents were away once they were bigger if you could handle the babies and eventually make them your own before they left the nest? I talk to mine all the time and I think they trust me.
Doves make wonderful pets, but clipping their wings is tantamount to killing them. They have no other way to get around, unlike hook-billed birds like parrots who can climb. Also, doves should really be kept in flight cages or let out to fly several times a week. They don't fly very much, but they do need the exercise.
They are very affectionate creatures and mine actually flies to my hand when I call him.
Mourning doves will nest in the same place for years. I have also heard that they mate for life