Need dove info.. food, housing

[GardenerGal]

OEGBLady,
Ringnecks constantly coo even when they DO have a mate.

Another thing I would add is to make sure the perches in the cage are a comfortable size. The dove should be able to hold onto it with its feet without wrapping all the way around (too small) or not being able to curve around the perch at all (too large). I use parts of natural tree branches for mine, scrubbed first in soapy warm water and allowed to dry (and I do that periodically when cleaning the cage to get any dried poop off). Leave the bark on and it will help the dove keep his nails trimmed.

 

[Feathered Wings]

But they don't coo as much with a mate as when they are alone

I have perches made out of tomato stakes and those work real well.

I forgot to say my general population pen is 10 foot long and 3 ft wide and is 3ft off the ground on legs.

Glad you know they don't need mates now you can enjoy your bird.

Mine are very friendly and will coo when they see me comeing.
If you really like them you may want to get others they come in many colors.
I love my tangerine pieds and my Rosey's i have others but to me these are so pretty.
The white you are getting is a very beautiful bird

 

[GardenerGal]

Maybe it's just that mated doves coo more softly, to each other instead of general and loud male territorial stamping and cooing?

When I kept breeding pairs, they cooed a lot, but mostly as courtship to each other. Lone males do the territory thing to anyone who happens along, including their own reflections in a window, picture frame glass, or parakeet mirror (which I hang in my males' cages to keep them "entertained."

I agree with OEGBLady that if your new dove and you really hit it off, you may find yourself wanting to get more. Doves are addictive. The good news is, they're pretty prolific, so if you get a mate for your male, you probably won't have to buy any more doves.

 

[Feathered Wings]

Gardenergal You are so right about them being prolific mine give me babys all threw the spring up till fall.
Even now in my general population pen i have to remove eggs from females wanting to sit.
But i love them and they are very addictive with all the colors and their loveing personality's

 

[Dill]

lo, yeah I probably will be get addicted and want more. when I got my budgies I started out with 2 budgies and now 2 years later I have 15. And I'd love to have a clutch or 2 of eggs (they have 1-2 eggs per clutch, right?) but my parents wouldnt let me, at least not for awhile.

the women says the dove will let her handle him, but she just doesnt.

How do you tell males from females?

 

[Feathered Wings]

The Male will Bow Coo which means he will bow his head and coo repeatedly.
The female is generally silent but will sometimes softly coo or make little soft sounds.

My males on occasion in the warmer months will all coo in unison in the evening right before dark. It's very beautiful and sounds very peaceful and is a special thing i love.
A elderly gentleman told me it was called sounding off.

 

[GardenerGal]

My males "sound off" a lot. Maybe it's like a contest to see who can out coo the others.