Caring For Your Pet Dove

There are many Dove species found throughout the world but this article will focus on the Ringneck Dove. Sometimes referred to as Collard Doves, Ringneck Doves have created in captivity to consist of several colour mutations. The most typical mutations include

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

Contrary to well-liked belief, doves appreciate being handled and are very easily trained. Ringneck Doves have been trained to perform a number of tasks and tricks for the delight of their owners.

Many new dove owners are pleasantly shocked 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 start flapping it is wings, cooing and displaying its genuine joy that you are home once more. When you open the cage door it is almost 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 important to a lengthy and pleased life for your pet Dove is proper care and nutrition.

The Correct 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 offer 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 provide the largest cage you can afford and have space for.

A cage that is longer than it is tall is always best. This allows you to place a perch at every 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 several commercial brands of dove food on the market. These are readily accessible online or at your local pet shop. Doves also do extremely well on a good high quality wild bird seed mix. A mix that is formulated for a wide range of birds is best when utilizing the wild bird seed. The option of using 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 better cleaned and processed to get rid of undesired contaminates.

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

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