Pigeons vs Ringneck Doves as Indoor Pets

[White Wolf Bear]

I have pigeons and ringneck doves. In my opinion; if you want an affectionate pet, get just one, and spend time with it, if you want to breed them but don’t care about handling so much, get a pair. It’s been my experience, they will choose another of their own, over a human, when given the choice.

 

[emulhall]

My pigeon is rarely alone, for a few hours at most and through the night. She is out of her cage four to six hours most days minimum and there is never a day she is not out at least an hour. She is kept company by my retired relative most of the time during the day. If you are gone most of the day, two birds would be better so they were not lonely.

I bought my pigeon, but she was a cull from a show breeder and sold to a farm store for a very low price, so it was sort of a rescue.

Gotcha. Thank you! I’ll take this into account

 

[emulhall]

OP. I keep both ring neck doves and white homing pigeons. For an indoor pet I would definitely say the ring neck doves are the preferred option.

As a pet they are much ore gently and calm. They really love being scratched and tickled on their necks when they are tame, and their smaller size means less poop and feather dust.

The homing pigeons make tonnes of poop, and a huge amount of dander and feather dust. They are also more 'bossy' and hurt a bit if they scratch you when they perch on your arm or neck with their sharp claws, and if they get annoyed they hurt if they wing slap you in the face, or peck and hold onto your skin if they think you are trying to get into their territory. They also really should free fly outdoors to stay healthy, something a ring neck dove should not do!!!

Both species can be noisy. The male ringneck doves can be annoying cooing over and over again loudly at night, like an owl, so females are preferred, or a mated pair will be quieter than a single male.

Good luck with whichever you decide to keep.

Thanks for your reply!

 

[emulhall]

I have pigeons and ringneck doves. In my opinion; if you want an affectionate pet, get just one, and spend time with it, if you want to breed them but don’t care about handling so much, get a pair. It’s been my experience, they will choose another of their own, over a human, when given the choice.

You think they’re equally good pet quality? As long as there is just one?

 

[Serin]

You think they’re equally good pet quality? As long as there is just one?

They're very different. A pigeon is more like a dog. A dove is like a guinea pig. Still nice but not nearly as interactive.

Fancy pigeons don't need or want to fly outside.

I think I am the only person replying who does have a house pigeon.

 

[emulhall]

They're very different. A pigeon is more like a dog. A dove is like a guinea pig. Still nice but not nearly as interactive.

Fancy pigeons don't need or want to fly outside.

View attachment 1983755

I think I am the only person replying who does have a house pigeon.

View attachment 1983756 View attachment 1983757

Oh my goodness! She is adorable! Thank you for your thoughtful replies I’ll definitely be getting a house pigeon! You’ve convinced me

 

[Serin]

I reccomend a female fancy pigeon. Males can be more testy.

Any owl breed is good or their relatives the satinettes. All are calm low energy birds.

 

[emulhall]

I reccomend a female fancy pigeon. Males can be more testy.

Any owl breed is good or their relatives the satinettes. All are calm low energy birds.

So it seems my dream Chinese owl pigeon would be calm! One more question sorry. Do you think I would still bond well with my pigeons if I were to get two females? I just wouldn’t want my pigeon to ever be lonely.

 

[jak2002003]

So it seems my dream Chinese owl pigeon would be calm! One more question sorry. Do you think I would still bond well with my pigeons if I were to get two females? I just wouldn’t want my pigeon to ever be lonely.

I have several ring neck doves as indoor pets. Even when they are paired up they will still love you too and be just as tame.

Please take note of the pigeon fanciers lung issues with pigeon. Some people can be so in love with their pet or hobby, that they downplay any negatives or even won't believe them.

I suggest you go to a pigeon breeder and a breeder / keeper of ringneck doves. Watch how both species act, what noise they make, how much poop they produced.

You will get the idea about the feather dander and dust off a pigeon if you just hold one (a white one is best as its dander can be more easily seen). Wear a black T shirt LOL.. your hands and clothes will instantly be powered in a waxy almost talc powder like dander from the white pigeon. This is being produced every day and each time the bird flaps its wings it gets into the air and covers your furniture the same as normal dust does, except when you breath this in it will stick to your lungs, and over a few years you can develop serious health issues as a result, and so can other people in your house.

The ring neck doves produce less dander, even for their body size, and their poops are smaller and in smaller quanites too. They don't have the powerful wingbeats to spread the dry dander and poop dust about you house as much either.

I love my pigeons just as much as my doves. But, I woudl never keep one in the house except short term emergency. And i only have 10 pigeons in a open well ventilated clean loft, which I keep spotlessly clean (I am a clean freak). They still have they dander coating the walls, mesh and perches every day after it was just cleaned the day before, and my doves are much much much cleaner and less messy with thier poop and throwing food about, water splashing etc.

PS, the ring neck doves are just as intelligent as a pigoen.... that is how magicians use them in their shows to to tricks. I ealily trained mine to all perch only on 2 towels and not on my furniture. I can move the towels to differnt places, draping them over the backs of a chiar or sofa, adn the doves still knwo to fly to that to rest on, so if they poop it won't get on the furniture. I have even trained some of them to free fly outside and come back when called (I don't advise you to try this however). But it shows they are just as smart as pigeons.

 

[jak2002003]

And these are a few of the pigeons. Equally as lovely, but less suited to be a house pet then a ringneck dove... in my opinion.