New dove and need care info.

[Herp Lover]

A friend gave me a male ringneck dove along with two cockatiels, a snake and a gecko. I am new to doves and could use some care info. The dove was kept indoors but I want to put all of my birds outside so I was wondering if it could be housed with my two pigeon pairs in a 7' wide x 7' tall x 15' deep cage. I live in El Mirage, California (near Victorville) so it can get cold enough to snow a day or two in the winter and it can get into the 100s in the summer. We also get a lot of wind here. The pigeon cage is not heated but I could run some sort of heater in the nesting box assuming it would use a nesting box but I would hope that it could cuddle up next to another dove when it is cold like my pigeons do. Right now it is in a 30" x 18" x 18" cage that it came with. The cage has a 2" x 2" running down the long ways of the cage and that is the only perch it has so what would be good choices for perches while it is in the little cage. It has a bowl for water, a bowl for seed, a bowl for veggies and other moist foods and I will be adding a bowl for pellets and one for grit. The dove has not had grit at the previous owner's house so should I be worried about it over eating the grit? Also should I be giving it red pigeon grit or the grit I make for my parrots that has charcoal & oyster shell with a little bit of bird sand. From what I read he should be eating a wild bird food or a small parrot food so would it be ok to feed it a mix of 18% pigeon food and cockatiel mix or would it be better to feed just the cockatiel mix?

 

[jak2002003]

I was wondering if it could be housed with my two pigeon pairs in a 7' wide x 7' tall x 15' deep cage.
No. The larger pigeons will fight with the smaller more fragile dove and the dove will end up with serious injuries.
The dove has not had grit at the previous owner's house so should I be worried about it over eating the grit?
Yes. I found that they will gorge on the grit the first time you put it in. Just start adding it slowly only a sprinkle on the cage floor... or a pinch in a small pot.
Also should I be giving it red pigeon grit or the grit I make for my parrots that has charcoal & oyster shell with a little bit of bird sand.
They will eat it fine.. and it will case no problems. The Charcoal and Oyster shell is GREAT for them.
From what I read he should be eating a wild bird food or a small parrot food so would it be ok to feed it a mix of 18% pigeon food and cockatiel mix or would it be better to feed just the cockatiel mix?
Pigeon food is no good for the dove. The grains are too large. Feed any bird mix with smaller seeds.. the cockatiel food is ideal.. although it will not be able to eat the unshelled sunflower seeds. You don't need to take them out.. it will just not eat them.

You can house the dove with the cockatiels if the outside. The don't mind the cold... even snow. Just make sure they have a dry drought free shelter to roost in at night.

 

[Herp Lover]

Thanks for all of the info and I guess it will stay inside until I build the cockatiel's outdoor area. I want to get it a companion but I don't want babies so if I got a female would I use the fake eggs that I use for my pigeons or are they to big? I have read conflicting info on keeping two males together so if I got another male would they fight or should they be ok together? Also what size cage will the dove need? The one that it came with is 30" x 18" x 18". Is that ok if he is getting out of cage time? I have another cage that is the same size that I could connect to his current one if I need to. Can anyone tell me what color he is?

This is him

http://i120.photobucket.com/albums/o172/Rattie_2007/Birds/105_1100_zps27c2f8ca.jpg

http://i120.photobucket.com/albums/o172/Rattie_2007/Birds/105_1098_zps6d307511.jpg

 

[Herp Lover]

I want to make some new perches for it since it only came with the one but what makes up a good perch for doves? Do they like flat or round surfaces better?

 

[jak2002003]

Thanks for all of the info and I guess it will stay inside until I build the cockatiel's outdoor area. I want to get it a companion but I don't want babies so if I got a female would I use the fake eggs that I use for my pigeons or are they to big?
You can try.. but just use one (after you took their doves 2 eggs away). You can also use any small white ball thing. Or even small white pebbles sometimes work.
I have read conflicting info on keeping two males together so if I got another male would they fight or should they be ok together?
2 young males will usually pair up and be OK together. But older males.. several years old.. will probably never get on... and can injure each other.
Also what size cage will the dove need? The one that it came with is 30" x 18" x 18". Is that ok if he is getting out of cage time?
Yes that is fine.
I have another cage that is the same size that I could connect to his current one if I need to
Even better!
Can anyone tell me what color he is?

Violet Neck.

Here is a link to dove colours http://www.internationaldovesociety.com/RNColorPics/combinationcolors.htm

As to perches they like flat and oval ones. I make my perches from natural branches from my garden. They prefer them to be on the thick side rather than thin. In that cage you will only need 2 or 3. They spend most of the time walking about on the cage floor.. using the branches to roost and sleep on.

 

[Herp Lover]

Thank you, how do you sex ringneck doves? I wish I had a garden but we just started planting trees last year so they are still really small. We do have 3 big pine trees but I have been told that they are not safe for making bird perches for parrots however since doves don't chew the wood would pine be safe for them?

 

[jak2002003]

Pine would not be a good choice. The sap is very sticks and will mess up the birds feathers.

Just go out to a local woodland and collect a couple of fallen dry branches. Or use that flat one you have and but a wooden dowel from a pet shop for the other perch.

Sexing the doves is best done by watching them. Once yours had settled into its new home you will know.

If its a male it will start cooing.. over and over again. with its check inflated. It will do it day and night. If you put a mirror next to it.. and its a male, he will bow and coo at his reflection and get very excited..

A female won't do this. She will also not inflate her chest and do the bowing and cooing thing. She will still coo a bit.. but its much quieter. If it is annoying you and its loud you will know its a male.

If you put a nest in and you get eggs then you will know female too!

 

[Herp Lover]

Thanks, I live in the desert so there is only bushes and Joshua Trees, lol. I will have to try a find a friend with trees to collect some branches from. This dove has very loud coos and inflates his chest. I let him out of his cage yesterday and after flying around the room a couple of times it landed next to my computer and hung out with me.

 

[jak2002003]

Thanks, I live in the desert so there is only bushes and Joshua Trees, lol. I will have to try a find a friend with trees to collect some branches from. This dove has very loud coos and inflates his chest. I let him out of his cage yesterday and after flying around the room a couple of times it landed next to my computer and hung out with me.

So I think its a male for sure!

Its nice he is getting to like you too. They will get really tame and will feed from your hand and sit on your arm. They also like getting tickled on the back of the neck... they will often preen you back on your hand or hair.

They make wonderful pets.. best of luck with yours.... you give him a name yet?