Doves are graceful birds. They are gentle birds known to make a soothing cooing sound. There are hundreds of dove species found around the world, but the common pet doves are the diamond dove and the ring-neck dove. Diamond doves originated in Australia and are about the size of a lovebird. They have long, thin tails, blue-gray feathers with small white spots on the wings and distinctive red rings around their eyes.
Ring-neck doves are from Africa, and they are about a foot long from head to tail tip. They come in many colors, beige, white, wild, purple, tangerine. Doves are generally good pets for families. They also make good pets for noise sensitive individuals who would be bothered by the screeching of a parrot, but can tolerate the quiet cooing of a dove. Doves are easy to care for and are hardy birds. Being good natured social creatures they will do well in either a large flight cage or in an aviary. They do much better as a pair, but make sure to not house two males together, as they can be very territorial and hurt each other. Perhaps best known for its gentle temperament, a Ringneck Dove makes a great pet that is sweet natured and almost naturally tame. Diamond Doves are also popular as pets. When you bring your dove home give it a couple days to get used to its new home and family, and then you can begin letting it out to explore its surroundings. Domesticated doves and pigeons like human contact. They are quiet and peaceful, and make wonderful pets.
Typical appearance and behavior
- Doves make cooing and chattering sounds that sounds like a ha ha ha (or laughing) especially in males
- Can be hand-tamed
- Their calm nature has made them a universal symbol of peace
- Enjoy stretching, preening and sunbathing
- They require daily attention to be socialized
- They need a dark, quiet area to sleep at night
- They love to be housed in pairs, and males and females will breed readily if housed together
- When they lay eggs, they typically lay two eggs per clutch
Habitat size
Provide the largest habitat possible for your dove. The minimum size habitat for one dove is approximately 24” W x 36” D x 24” H, with metal bars spaced no greater than 3/8” apart so that birds can’t escape or get stuck. A flight habitat is ideal. Since doves are not able to climb cage bars like parrots, they need more horizontal than vertical space to walk, fly back and forth.
Doves are comfortable in average household temperatures between 65 F and 75 F. Pet parents should be cautious of extreme temperature changes. Habitats should be kept off the floor, in a draft-free, well-lit area that is not near an air conditioner or accessible to other pets, including cats and dogs. Pet parents should make sure that no habitat parts or toys are made with lead, zinc, lead-based paints, galvanized metal, or other potentially toxic materials. All of these can cause serious medical issues if ingested.
Birds acclimate well to average household temperatures. The cage should be placed off the floor in an area that is well-lit and away from drafts and sunny windows. Having one or two sides close to a wall will give them a feeling of security. Sudden loud noises and movements can frighten and stress them. Always select the largest cage you can afford. A variety of perch sizes and materials, such as natural branches and sanded perches allow your bird to exercise. A metal grate over the droppings tray will keep the bird from standing in droppings. To avoid contamination, do not place food or water containers under perches. You will need a food, water and treat dish, as well a clip to hold millet sprays. Your dove will enjoy some toys to entertain himself and relieve boredom. They will also enjoy getting out of its cage at least once a day. Be sure the area is safe for the bird and other family pets are kept separate.
Cleaning your habitat
Spot-clean the habitat weekly, removing discarded food and droppings on perches. Thoroughly wash and dry food bowls daily. Replace substrate or habitat liner weekly or more often as needed, especially if the habitat houses more than one bird. Regularly clean and disinfect your dove’s habitat and perches by:
- Moving your dove into a secure place (such as another habitat or travel carrier)
- Washing the habitat, perches and toys with a bird habitat cleaner
- NOTE: Do not use any cleaning agents not specifically made for pets around your bird because birds’ respiratory tracts are very sensitive to anything aerosolized and fumes from cleaning products can be harmful
- Thoroughly drying the habitat and its contents
- Replacing the substrate or liner, perches and toys
The bottom of a dove’s habitat should have a removable metal grate so droppings can fall below the bird’s feet. Line the tray at the base of the habitat with habitat paper or other paper-based bedding. This will help keep the environment clean and minimize dust.
Birds need exposure to ultraviolet (UV) light to produce vitamin D in their skin so they can absorb dietary calcium. Glass windows filter out UV light, so placing a dove’s habitat next to an indoor window is not enough. Instead, doves can get natural UV exposure by spending time outside in an escape-proof outdoor cage when weather permits. Birds should never be left unattended while outside and should not be placed in direct sunlight.
To supplement UV exposure, pet parents can shine a full-spectrum UV light designed for birds on their dove’s habitat for 10–12 hours each day. UV lights should be about 12–18 inches away from where the bird perches. Replace lights every six months, as their potency wanes over time.
Perches: Doves need perches of assorted sizes, heights, textures, and materials so they can exercise their feet and prevent pressure sores from developing on their soles. Perches should be at least 5 inches long and around ½-inch in diameter. If a perch’s diameter is too wide, the bird will not be able to grip it properly. This can lead to falls and other serious injuries. Concrete, wood, braided rope, and natural branches all make suitable materials for perches.
Sandpaper perches and sanded perch covers are not recommended because they can cause painful abrasions on the underside of a bird’s feet. Gravel-coated perches should be avoided because they are also abrasive to birds’ feet, and birds can pick off the gravel and ingest it. Do not place perches above the bird’s water or food bowl waste droppings will land there.
Toys: Pet parents should provide their doves with an assortment of toys for exercise and enrichment. Without adequate stimulation, bored birds can develop harmful habits, like screaming, pacing, and feather plucking. Doves have softer beaks than parrots, so toys must be made of cardboard, paper, or soft wood. Foraging toys are an excellent addition to any dove’s habitat. Doves naturally forage for food in the wild, so these toys encourage mental and physical stimulation.
Water and food dishes: Dry food, fresh food, digestible grit, and water should all be offered in separate dishes. If more than one dove is kept in the same habitat, then each bird should have their own feeding station to discourage competition. Water dishes should be large enough for a dove to bathe in. Dishes should be washed and rinsed thoroughly each day to prevent bacterial growth.
What do doves eat?
Doves enjoy a range of foods, including pellets food, vegetables, fruits, and the occasional treat. Their favorite treats are spray millet. Doves should always have access to fresh, clean water. Pet parents should never share food from their mouths or plates with their dove. Human mouths have microorganisms that can cause illness in birds.
A nutritionally complete and balanced pellet food should make up at least 60–70% of a dove’s diet. Digestible grit is a calcium supplement that promotes healthy egg-laying and bone development. Digestible grit should be offered daily in a separate dish. Unlike parrots, doves eat seeds whole and need very small amounts of indigestible grit to break down seed hulls in their stomachs. Overfeeding grit can lead to nutritional deficiencies and gastrointestinal obstruction.
Treats, vegetables, and fruits, in limited quantities. Treats should not make up more than 10% of a dove’s diet. Be sure to only offer soft fruits and vegetables that are shredded or cut into bite-sized pieces. Treats can include chopped greens and shredded orange and yellow vegetables, such as sweet potato, squash, and carrots.
An assortment of small seeds (such as millet, canary seed, hemp seed, milo, and wheat) can be offered as an occasional treat along with a grit supplement. However, seeds are not nutritionally complete and should not be the mainstay of a dove’s diet.
Doves can be fed very small amounts of hard-boiled egg and whole-grain bread as an occasional treat.
Do not allow doves to ingest avocados, fruit seeds, chocolate, caffeine, or alcohol, as they are all toxic and can cause serious illness or death. Pet parents should also avoid treats high in salt or fat.
Care
- Bird pet parents should avoid using nonstick cookware and other appliances with nonstick coatings; when heated, these can release colorless, odorless fumes that typically kill birds when inhaled
- Birds should be allowed out of their habitats and gently handled daily to socialize them
- Birds need regular grooming, including nail trimming every few weeks to months
Supplies
- Appropriately sized habitat
- High quality pellet dove food
- Millet spray
- Habitat paper or paper-based litter
- Food and water dishes
- Variety of perches
- Variety of toys of toys
- Mister spray bottle
- Grooming supplies
- Vitamins and supplements
- Oyster shell grit
- Indigestible grit
Habitat mates
Doves can be kept alone or in small groups, but different types of birds should not be housed together. Males and females generally love to be housed together but will often breed repeatedly. Doves are social creatures that can be kept in small groups. If males and females are housed together, expect the birds to mate and lay eggs. Before deciding to house more than one dove in the same habitat, the birds must be introduced to each other properly. Introductions should be done slowly, in neutral territory, and under close supervision to ensure the birds are compatible. Pet parents should monitor their birds for aggressive behavior and separate them if they fight. Doves will breed in captivity. If you do not want babies two females can be kept together.
Doves can lay eggs almost every month and females are very good sitters. You will have baies if you let a male and female to be housed together. This often lead to an overpopulation of unwanted pet doves, that sometimes are released outside. If you release your pet dove outside, it will be a death sentence for the bird. They cannot survive outside for a very long time. The best thing you can do, to avoid getting babies is to purchases dummy eggs for doves and replace the live eggs with the dummies. You will have to keep a close eye on them and monitor them closely.
Health
Signs of a healthy dove
- Active, alert and sociable
- Eats, drinks and passes stool throughout the day
- Dry nares and bright, dry eyes
- Clean, dry vent
- Smooth, well-groomed feathers
- Clean, clear eyes
- Clean beak
- Feet with smooth, intact skin
- Regular vocalizations
- Strong appetite
Proper diet and a clean environment are the best ways to insure your pets good health. Your dove will also enjoy a bath. Provide chlorine-free lukewarm water in a shallow dish. As an alternative, mist the bird with water or a grooming spray such as Feather Glo. Ten to twelve hours of sleep is required for your dove to maintain its health. Birds who are not afforded the needed amount of sleep may become depressed, grouchy or even ill. It is very helpful to cover your bird’s cage each night, blocking out annoying light that may undermine your dove’s sleep. Birds hide the fact that the are not well, often by the time you notice something is wrong they are very sick. If you notice any signs of illness you need to contact your veterinarian right away.
Dove Grooming & Care
Avoid using nonstick cookware and other appliances with a nonstick coating, such as Teflon™. Nonstick coatings have a polymer called polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE). When heated, PFTE releases colorless, odorless fumes than can kill pet birds if inhaled.
You can socialize your doves by allowing them to spend time outside their enclosure every day. Doves must be supervised whenever they’re outside of their habitat so they don’t fly into something and injure themselves. Make sure to close any open windows and doors, cover mirrors, and turn off ceiling fans.
Bathing: Water dishes should be large enough for a dove to bathe in. You can groom birds that do not regularly bathe themselves by gently misting them with warm water from a clean spray bottle a few times a week.
Nail Care: Nails must be trimmed on an as-needed basis, which can range from every few weeks to months. Nails should be trimmed by a trained professional, avian veterinarian, or someone otherwise trained to trim birds’ nails to prevent injury. If bleeding occurs, a styptic powder can be used to stop the bleeding quickly.
Most birds will not need to have their beaks trimmed, as they should stay in good condition with daily use. Underlying conditions, such as liver disease or deformity from trauma, can cause abnormal beak growth and must be addressed by an avian veterinarian.
When to Call a Vet
- Eyes that are cloudy or have discharge
- Beak is cracked, bleeding, excessively shedding, or has debris or discharge from the nares
- Pale gums
- Discharge or drooling from the mouth
- Plucked or broken feathers
- Growths or cracks on the feet
- Staining in feathers around vent
- Changes to voice or vocalization behaviors
- Loss of appetite
- Lethargy
- Lumps, bumps, or swellings
- Changes in droppings
- Fluffed, plucked or soiled feathers; tail bobbing
- Regurgitation or vomiting
- Runny, bloody or discolored stools or no stool production
- Straining to pass droppings
- Favoring one foot when not sleeping
- Ocular or nasal discharge
- Sitting on the habitat floor for an extended period of time
- Wheezing, sneezing or coughing
- Open-mouthed or labored breathing and/or red or swollen eyes
- Persistently closing eyes or sleeping during the day
- Crusty skin around face and feet
Common Illnesses in Doves
- Bacterial diseases
- Respiratory disease
- Circovirus
- Pox
- Newcastle disease
- Herpesvirus
- Adenovirus
- Yeast infections
- Fungal infections
- Aspergillus
- Gastrointestinal parasites
Do doves make good house pets?
Doves are great house pets. They are friendly, curious, easy to feed and keep clean, and are quieter than some other popular avian pet species such as parrots.
Are doves affectionate?
Doves are very affectionate, especially with their people and cage mates.
Do doves bond with humans?
Doves that aren’t kept with another dove and receive regular interactions from their humans will almost certainly bond with them.
How do you bond with a pet dove?
Spending time with your dove, offering food, playing music, and offering toys will help a dove bond with