Questions about raising doves outdoors.

[dovemom]

Hi, I'm new to this site. I have 11 white doves that have been inside for over a year. It was time for us to move and them to have more room. I recently moved them to an outside chicken coop. They have been outside for over a month. They seem to be doing very well. My main question today. We are experiencing an early cold snap. I live in Kansas and it usually isn't this cold until late December into January. Definitely not in the 20's in October. I have added a light to their coop, but am worried this is not enough for them. They made it through last night. Should I close them up in the barn part of the coop for the night? If I put plastic around the cage part of the coop, how does this work for ventilation? Any suggestions will be welcome. Thank you.

 

[ironjerry]

I just put my doves in barn as starting to get colder in Ohio and want to get them used to cold. Think ou of wind enough and fresh water is the key

 

[jak2002003]

They are ring neck doves, right?

They are really hardy so long as they can roost in an area free of wind and rain.

Make sure their water does not freeze up each day and they have plenty of food and they will be fine.

I would only worry if the temperatures go very low - like past - 5 for a long time.

I tip I picked up was to make sure their roosting perches were on the thin side in cold weather. That way they will grip the perch and their feet will be coved with their feathers and prevent them getting frostbite. A big fat perch will cause them to have their toes exposed to the air.

Having the light inside will help them as they will leave the dark coop at night to fly to the light inside (well should do).

 

[sport14692]

They are ring neck doves, right?

They are really hardy so long as they can roost in an area free of wind and rain.

Make sure their water does not freeze up each day and they have plenty of food and they will be fine.

I would only worry if the temperatures go very low - like past - 5 for a long time.

I tip I picked up was to make sure their roosting perches were on the thin side in cold weather. That way they will grip the perch and their feet will be coved with their feathers and prevent them getting frostbite. A big fat perch will cause them to have their toes exposed to the air.

Having the light inside will help them as they will leave the dark coop at night to fly to the light inside (well should do).

100 % right on. Good post !!

 

[Hokum Coco]

Any suggestions will be welcome.

My method for dealing with winter is quite simple one extra feeder of whole corn. I live in Canada subject to -40º. I have 67 trips around the sun. I have raised various types of chickens and birds for decades. I currently have a flock of almost 40 white homing pigeons. It works for them (you may have substitute cracked corn if you have ring neck doves).

TLC still has to be provided to birds that may not be adapting well to the diet. For the most part birds are vocal happy and do just fine. NO HEAT NO EXTRA LIGHT please and thank you works fine for me and my flock.

If for any reason you find it necessary to supply electricity to your coop via extension cord.

Please employ a "Ground Fault Outlet" also use a "Safety Chain" in conjunction to any heat lamp or incandescent bulb after mounting.
One coop fire is too many and these precautions could be the difference.

A simple action such as a rodent chewing on your extension cord could be the cause of a coop fire and a ground fault circuit could be the difference in witnessing your coop in tack or a pile of smoldering ash.

P.S. There are now a variety of ground fault extension cords available in major retail centers that also would be a wise investment.

 

[JackBaker]

. I have added a light to their coop, but am worried this is not enough for them. They made it through last night. Should I close them up in the barn part of the coop for the night?

Hi
I hope this helps.
So most birds, including doves are endothermic. This basically means that they create their own heat from within their bodys by utilizing the energy they get from their food. So if you are worried about them getting cold then just have a constant supply of food down for them, unless of course there are unwanted visitors around that may be attracted to the foods (mice and rats). As for the light, it is possible to leave it on for them however it must be switched off and the birds must have at least 8ish hours of complete darkness every night. Animals of all species including humans need a regulated day and night cycle or they get thrown off their sleeping patterns and as silly as it sounds this has been known to cause depression and even aggression in different animal species. The extra light can also trick their bodies into thinking its summer and cause them to re-molt their summer feathers. Closing them in the barn section for the night would be perfectly fine and some pigeon and dove keepers do this even in the summer with a well ventilated aviary or loft. Just make sure your getting up early enough to be letting them out again. Also back on to the food subject, you could try to incorporate some different foods into their diets. I have fantail pigeons and diamond doves and i usually give these things like meal worms, suet, fat balls and invertebrate mixtures for caged birds. These have a very high fat content so they shouldn't be over fed but they are full of fats and are great for giving birds that extra layer in the really cold weather. With the plastics as long as the barn is well protected from the elements and their is no strong draft or damp/wet areas I wouldn't really say they would need it. However for your own piece of mind there would be noting wrong with adding this to the barn, just make sure the ventilation areas are not covered up.

If they are indeed Barbary doves then I agree with the previous statement about the perches. They have been known to get frostbite on their toes in extreme lows but this should prevent it.

There is an option to add a heater source into the barn, but be careful with this as for one it may cause the birds to over heat which would be just as bad as it being too cold. Or it can also cause them sometimes to become to cold if they were to move away from the heater and the sudden changes in temp can cause their bodies to go into shock if it were to happen too many times. Plus if the heaters ever broke the birds would be used to the heat and would definitely become too cold that night.

I hope this helped, and have fun with your new birds . If I can think of anything else for you then I will post it.