Caring For Your Pet Dove

There are many Dove species discovered throughout the world but this article will concentrate on the Ringneck Dove. Sometimes referred to as Collard Doves, Ringneck Doves have developed in captivity to include several color mutations. The most common mutations consist of

- White Dove - Blonde - Cream - Pied - Platinum - Ivory - Silver Ivory - Wild (The colour found in the wild)

Contrary to popular belief, doves appreciate being handled and are extremely easily educated. Ringneck Doves have been trained to carry out a number of tasks and tricks for the delight of their owners.

Many new dove owners are pleasantly surprised to see the reaction of their bird when they return home from work or other errands. Many compare it to that of a dog. Their Ringneck Dove will begin flapping it is wings, cooing and showing its genuine joy that you are home again. When you open the cage door it is nearly particular your dove will fly straight to your shoulder. It is a really rewarding feeling to see this expression of love from your pet.

Lifespan of Ringneck Doves - Doves can live to be 20 to 25 years old, with some reported to live much longer. The key to a lengthy and pleased life for your pet Dove is correct care and nutrition.

The Proper Cage - Doves can thrive and even breed in a cage as small as 2ft. x 2ft. If you do house your dove in a small cage like this you should provide it with a lot of time out of the cage. They require the opportunity to fly and stretch their wings. The best rule of thumb is to offer the biggest cage you can afford and have space for.

A cage that is longer than it is tall is usually best. This allows you to place a perch at each end so your dove can hop or fly from perch to perch. This allows them to get some exercise even when not out of the cage.

Proper Nutrition - There are a number of commercial brands of dove food on the market. These are readily available online or at your local pet store. Doves also do very well on a great quality wild bird seed mix. A mix that is formulated for a wide variety of birds is very best when using the wild bird seed. The choice of utilizing a commercial brand of dove feed or a wild mix is a matter of personal preference. The difference in the two is that the industrial seed is much better cleaned and processed to eliminate undesired contaminates.

Doves in captivity should not live on a seed only diet. Provide yours with chopped dark green vegetables, as well as chopped hard boiled eggs, shell and all. The egg shell is an excellent supply of calcium.

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