A room for the doves...

In the new building I want to let our 8 doves have a room of their own, they would all be loose to fly throughout most of the room. We would provide plenty of nest, trees, perches, a water feature & enough feeders to stop any bullying.

We are going to have a window that opens to an outside flight for the doves. The window would be the same size as a regular window in a house. A large landing board would be inside & out.

A few years ago I was told that Ringneck Doves are basically really dumb and that they wouldn't be able to figure out or remember to go out or come in.

My question is... does anyone have or ever tried this with doves? I don't want to go to all the cost & work if they aren't going to use it.

I welcome any comments.

Dove are not dumb. Unlike pigeons, they do not have homing instinct and so if they happen to get out side of the the aviary, they may fly off and not know how to get home. Cockatels are the same way.
I think your loft/window/ aviary idea is wonderful. Go for it.

I think it sounds great too. Even if it didn't work, you could always put them out there on the nice days of summer. I really don't believe that they are THAT dumb. If they are, then how do they find their nest? And how do they return to my yard year after year? I'd try it.

It sounds pretty nifty to me, Robin.
And I'm quite sure the doves would really enjoy having their 'own' space.

That's how I keep my doves. They love it. Just make sure they have enough space to get away from bullies.

Thanks all! I love the comments

The person that called doves dumb is what I would call a "typical" breeder, by that I mean he bred for color & didn't have any pet doves so he doesn't think of his doves the same way we do.


Luna Wolf- I plan to have plenty of sight barriers, silk hanging plants & such, around the different nest. I'm hoping that with enough branches trees & obstacles that any bullying won't even cross their minds!

It sounds wonderful. And I think it will be a lot of fun setting it up. Pictures as you go along so we can enjoy it right along with you. It's so much fun setting things up. Wish I had room for another loft. And the money to be able to afford it! You learn as you go, and there are things that I would do differently the second time around.

NiteOwl wrote:

It sounds wonderful. And I think it will be a lot of fun setting it up. Pictures as you go along so we can enjoy it right along with you. It's so much fun setting things up. Wish I had room for another loft. And the money to be able to afford it! You learn as you go, and there are things that I would do differently the second time around.

I totally agree with you on all accounts NiteOwl !

I tend to collect things that I might be able to use with the animals here and my hubby is quite the dumpster diver!!! Actually he's on the road all day and on trash day can find some treasurers!

EgypSwiftLady wrote:

In the new building I want to let our 8 doves have a room of their own, they would all be loose to fly throughout most of the room. We would provide plenty of nest, trees, perches, a water feature & enough feeders to stop any bullying.

We are going to have a window that opens to an outside flight for the doves. The window would be the same size as a regular window in a house. A large landing board would be inside & out.

That sounds wonderful! Can I move in with them?...

EgypSwiftLady wrote:

NiteOwl wrote:

It sounds wonderful. And I think it will be a lot of fun setting it up. Pictures as you go along so we can enjoy it right along with you. It's so much fun setting things up. Wish I had room for another loft. And the money to be able to afford it! You learn as you go, and there are things that I would do differently the second time around.

I totally agree with you on all accounts NiteOwl !

I tend to collect things that I might be able to use with the animals here and my hubby is quite the dumpster diver!!! Actually he's on the road all day and on trash day can find some treasurers!

I know. Isn't it just amazing what some people consider to be trash!? Around here, once a year you can put everything out for the trash. And they will pick it up. It's like one huge yard sale! You just never know what you might find. You have no idea how many cages we have picked up that way.

If things are being put out for trash pick up, I assume anything someone finds they might make use of is free for the taking.
That's like a double dose of chocolate frosting on the cake.

Yes that's right. Except for the recyclables. You are not allowed to touch those around here.
Sometimes someone will also just put a cage or something else that is usable out at the curb. That means they are offering it to whomever can use it. We have picked bicycles up that way and brought them to the projects. The kids are more than happy to receive them. And it's a fun thing to do. Helped a lot when I had my Chevy truck. My little Sunfire makes it a bit impossible to do that now. But I can still cram a cage or something in there when needed. LOL.

The same is true here too and that's how Caleb goes shopping. His wardrobe is quite unique and I'm taking lots of pictures to share with him in the years to follow.

Matilda wrote:

The same is true here too and that's how Caleb goes shopping. His wardrobe is quite unique and I'm taking lots of pictures to share with him in the years to follow.

Matilda wrote:

The same is true here too and that's how Caleb goes shopping. His wardrobe is quite unique and I'm taking lots of pictures to share with him in the years to follow.

Oh that's funny. You should make him an album, and save it for him.
Actually, some day his kids would probably enjoy looking at it. I work with elderly people and one was once making an album to pass down to her children and grand children. It was entitled "When Grandma Grew Up". She included lots of pictures of her growing up, pets, friends, report cards, movie tickets, clothing styles, boyfriends, family members, her wedding, etc. She then passed it down to her children. It was a great album. I loved the idea. You could make one about Caleb, and give it to his kids someday. I bet they'd love it. Include all those styles of clothes you mentioned. When he's grown and probably dressing more conservatively, I'm sure they'd love seeing how he was 'back then.' I know this has absolutely nothing to do with this thread, but the thought just came to me. I have no idea why.

Pets should also be given shelter where they are comfortable enough to stay. Sometimes, it is advisable to let them have some spaces in our homes. We should always keep them attached to us to give them the necessary care they need.

My Pet: eclectus parrot

Robin, why don't you use chlorophytum instead of the silk plants for sight barrier. Pigeons love these plants and always do nibble on them. They are cheap, grow like crazy and you can multiply them yourself.

bMaya wrote:

Pets should also be given shelter where they are comfortable enough to stay. Sometimes, it is wonderful to let them have some space in our homes. We should always keep them attached to us to give them the discipline and the necessary care that they need.

I'm not sure I understand your statement bMaya. But let me explain a bit about how our sanctuary keeps pigeons & doves.

All of our animals recieve the best care & always will.

But here at our sanctuary we try to let the animals live in as close to a natural enviroment as we can, we prefer the pigeons live in flocks if possible... even if that flock consist of 3 birds. If a pigeon is placed with us and for some reason cannot be put into a flock & must live in a cage, the cage is large enough for the bird to stretch its wings & excercise. If the bird can have free time than it is allowed to spend time out of the cage.

When the pigeons & doves live in a "flock" here we only supervise them, we allow the flock to set their own rules. This is what happens naturally in a wild flock. We will definately step in if one of the birds is being bullied or for some reason just isn't fitting in.

I don't believe in keeping an animal "attached to us", as you put it, unless that animal wants to be there.
As for discipline I am the Alpha & when I need to step in I do.

pigeonwriter wrote:

Robin, why don't you use chlorophytum instead of the silk plants for sight barrier. Pigeons love these plants and always do nibble on them. They are cheap, grow like crazy and you can multiply them yourself.

I'd forgotten about them! Yes they would be a lovely addition to the doves room

I would love to use as many natural non toxic plants as possible, the only problem would be the time it takes to maintain them indoors.

Robin, chlorophytum is very easy to handle - it just needs water and light. And when they are growing out of their pots - a new one. I don't even fertilize mine - although that is a lie - I sometimes put pigeon poop into the pots - but don't tell anybody

pigeonwriter wrote:

Robin, chlorophytum is very easy to handle - it just needs water and light. And when they are growing out of their pots - a new one.

* I don't even fertilize mine - although that is a lie - I sometimes put pigeon poop into the pots -

** but don't tell anybody

* It makes great fertilizer.

** That will be our little secret.

You mean spider plants? These are safe for pigeons to eat? I was thinking that something to grow in the aviary would be nice, but didn't know what would be safe. And they actually eat them?

NiteOwl wrote:

You mean spider plants? These are safe for pigeons to eat? I was thinking that something to grow in the aviary would be nice, but didn't know what would be safe. And they actually eat them?

Yep thats a Spider Plant

We got 9 doves, at the moment, that would be going into the dove room. So I'm thinking we will need quite a few plants so the doves won't concentrate on just a couple of plants.
I better start buying them now when I see them on sale!

Think I'll get some for the loft. Then in the summer I can put them out in the aviary. May have to place them back a bit where it isn't so sunny, as they don't want to be in full sun. You just need a couple, and if you can find some with babies already, just replant the babies. You can have a lot of them in no time! That will look nice in the dove room too.

Spider plants are .
We would love to see some pictures when you guys post get them situated?