Animal Stories - People Talking About Doves - Pigeons



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Latest Animal Stories on Doves - Pigeons (254)

janet - 2012-06-16
ok my dove Sweetie (who is not so sweet) tries to bite me all the time , flaps me with her wing. I have had doves for 19 yrs never one like this. She has laid another egg today one last wed. 6 eggs since end of march . No babies yet. I know she is protecting her eggs but omg , why sooooo many eggs??????????

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Charlie Roche - 2012-06-16
Are you letting her keep the eggs. If you remove them - she will lay another. She is going to lay until she has a clutch she can sit of two eggs. If you remove them, she wil just lay another egg. Soon, there will be no more calcium and the eggs will be like a rubber ball. The biting and flapping is protection. Does she have a mate? Is there another dove with her? Could you have two females in the same cage/nest box? Is she alone? No possiblility of eggs being fertile? If she has another dove with her in the cage and definitely not a female, possibly losing balance while mating. you can place a second perch one inch in front of the perch they normally sit on and 2 inches above the perch they normally sit on. This way the female can hang onto the bottom perch with her feet and the top perch with her beak. Sometimes a mate is a little over zealous and keeps knocking the female off the perch so infertile eggs.
janet - 2012-06-25
Yes I let her sit the eggs for no less than 21 days, yes she has a mate, yes there are plenty of room, 2 perches, they start to mate but the male seems like he doesn't finish like he did with his mate of 8yrs. She has laid 6 eggs since May this morning while cleaning their cage one of the eggs were cracked open and empty. I hope I did the right thing by throwing it away. She is still sitting the egg, and playing with her toys at the same time...
Charlie Roche - 2012-06-25
I have no clue then. As far as I know you have done everything that can be done. If you have fertile eggs from anothe pair, you can switch the eggs. This female obviously wants some babies.

Glen - 2012-06-23
My original pair are now 9! I have built a new larger cote and have just been told that the Doves may not recongise the new cote and fly off. Anyone with thoughts on this? I plan to replace the cote today. Many thanks

Dave - 2012-06-20
I have a pair of tangerine doves, their two eggs hatched a couple of weeks ago, but one of the hatchlings is completely white, it looks like a white dove, how is that possible ?

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Charlie Roche - 2012-06-20
Not all tangerine doves 'are colored' Genetics of the parents and grandparents (ancestors) determine the coloration of the doves. Give you an example here is a bunch of photos of tangerine doves http://www.bing.com/images/search?q=tangerine+dove&qpvt=tangerine+dove&FORM=IGRE
Dave - 2012-06-20
Thanks mate, really appreciate all the help..

dave - 2012-04-21
I have had a pair of white Ring Neck doves for the last 4 months and they were 6 months old when I got them. I have seen them mating a few times, but there hasn't been any eggs. The female spends a lot of time sitting in the nest, but hasn't laid any eggs. What could be the reason ? What should I do ?

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Dave - 2012-04-25
Thanks a bunch, really appreciate the help..
Charlie Roche - 2012-04-21
They are very young yet and they need to practice and get it right. They are doing the normal mating breeding thing but a little young yet. Give them some time.
Charlie Roche - 2012-04-22
It is very difficult to tell the sex of a bird by the pelvic bone width. The pelvic bone in the female is usually wider than the male but this takes a long time to get familar with it and not necessaryily very accurate. Just a good shot. You have a young pair. Possibly, you have two males though. Many times if there are two males, one of them will assume the female roll and even sit in the nest box hoping for an egg. Yes, it is normal for them to flap their wings at each other - I don't know about doves but some birds do it in a mating ritual. You will just have to wait. Not all doves are secually mature at this age so the idea is there but no eggs. If there are no eggs in another 6 months - you probably have two fellas.
Dave - 2012-04-22
Thanks a lot Charlie. I am new at this and I love my pair but I am really confused. Is it possible for both male and female to have the same pelvic bone structure? And also, is it normal for them to fight? They sometimes hit each other with their wings, but its not very often..
janet - 2012-04-22
Hey Dave. I had 2 white doves for over 7 yrs. They mated several times daily and never laid a egg. And yes I am sure that one was male and one was female. The female had been ill due to a injury, she went to the avian vet on 2-11-12 he said she had a hematoma and she died on 4-12-12,very sad. I bought another female for my male on 4-13-12. She laid 2 eggs on 4-19-12. My ringneck female I had for 12 yrs with no mate laid eggs 1 at a time for 11yrs . So go figure!
Dave - 2012-04-23
Thanks guys. It's funny but I never thought these cute little fellows will give me such a tough time. There's so much about them that is unclear. I so want them to raise off springs, but at the moment that doesn't seem to be happening. I am gonna get a new pair as I have lots of room for a few more and this time, I'll try to make sure its actually a pair :)
Charlie Roche - 2012-04-23
Don't give up hope yet, you may have a pair. The male does coo more often to attract the female. The female does approach the male and sorta try to get him to do his courtship thing with flapping the wings. It is said that doves reach sexual matuity around 3 months old, however, if they are in a flock, they can SEE what is going on around them. When they are not in a flock, they have to experiment and carry on and hope they get something right. It would be fun to get another pair and see the behavior differences and it may help you determine if you have the male/female pair. Good luck and enjoy.
Charlie Roche - 2012-04-24
Yes, if you can let them fly around a bit. I would think if you are just around them often enough, the female would get used to you and let you hold her. Just takes time and not being nervous. Separate cage on another pair.
Dave - 2012-04-23
Thanks again Charlie, I'll keep this pair as it's my first ever. Is it a good idea to let them out of their cage for some play time everyday? i have them housed in a big enough cage for them to fly around and get some exercise. The female freaks out when I catch it so I am thinking I shouldn't disturb it too much. Also, can I put the new pair with the old one or should I get a separate cage for them ?
Dave - 2012-06-04
Both my white doves turned out to be males. I got one replaced and got a new female. Within one week there were eggs, she is sitting happily on them now. I also got a new tangerine pair, they are also sitting on their eggs. If all goes well I'll have a few hatchlings in a few days, fingers crossed :)
Dave - 2012-06-04
Does it take 21-22 days for the eggs to hatch or 13-14?? I have heard both..
Charlie Roche - 2012-06-04
Incubation time for white doves is 14 - 15 days but they don't sit until after the last egg is laid. That could account for some of the disrepancy in the incubation time. So an egg is laid and possibly as long as 40 hours later, another egg is laid. Then she will start sitting the eggs and about 14 - 15 days later, the eggs should hatch. There is uaually a delay between the first egg hatching and the second egg hatching as well.
Dave - 2012-06-04
Thanks. The white dove eggs are considerably smaller than the tangerine eggs, also the birds have not been eating as much as they did before they started sitting the eggs, is that normal ?
Charlie Roche - 2012-06-04
Yep, it is normal for them to go 'off' their food a little when laying eggs and starting to incubate.
Dave - 2012-06-05
My tangerine eggs hatched today , so happy !
Charlie Roche - 2012-06-06
Congratulations
Dave - 2012-06-06
thanks
janet - 2012-06-07
Congrats Dave on the hatching!!!!!!!!!!!! my second set of eggs don't look like they will be fertile again, its been 22 days since sweetie laid them, oh well maybe next time. sure would love baby doves!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Dave - 2012-06-14
thanks Janet. One of my white dove eggs also hatched today. Waiting for the second one. I think your pair hasn't bonded yet. Give them a little time ..best of luck ..
Dave - 2012-06-16
How come one of my tangerine hatchlings is completely white ??

janet - 2012-05-07
If my doves eggs do not hatch after 21 days, what should i do with the eggs? the female is very,very protective of her eggs. it is her 1st eggs &she &her mate both sit on the eggs in thee nest. any advice would be appreciated. thanks

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Charlie Roche - 2012-05-17
It isn't normal for a dove to have two clutches in 28 days but not unusual. Did you let her sit the first two eggs? Yes, she will probably lay a second egg. Let her sit the eggs and don't throw them out until after 20 days or until she gets bored with them and stops sitting.
Charlie Roche - 2012-05-07
Yes, she is protective of her eggs but she will lose interest. After the 21 days - just throw them out and might as well give her a new toy --- just a little something to play with.
janet - 2012-05-07
thanks charlie, what kind of toy? how about her limping, any advice about that?
Charlie Roche - 2012-05-07
Doves seem to like to pull things that make a little noise. Maybe just a parakeet toy made out of plastic.
janet - 2012-05-12
Well the eggs were not fertile as I suspected. Took them out of their cage today, to make sure there was not a baby in one we broke it open. Just an egg! My birds seem ok and are singinng as I type. Hope down the road we have some new babies. Now for my question, why do you think my last female that died last month never laid a egg after 7yrs? No she was not a male said the avian vet.
Charlie Roche - 2012-05-12
If the avian vet did not run a DNA test to determine the sex - then there is no sure way for the vet to determine the sex of the dove. It is also possible that for some reason the female just didn't lay eggs. Not all females develop and not all females lay eggs. Without the DNA test - it could have been a male. However, it could be an undeveloped 7 year old female - it happens.
janet - 2012-05-16
Hey Charlie, thanks for the advice about the bird toy, my female dove has been playing with it it all moring!
janet - 2012-05-16
28 days ago my new white dove laid 2 eggs. They were not fertile. I just got home in her feed bowl is another egg. Is this normal? Is she going to have another one to make two?
janet - 2012-05-17
yes she sat the 1st 2 clutches for 22 days,(hoping for babies) why is there only one after the 1st 2 and not 2eggs? or dothey sometimes lay them days apart cuz it has been over 24hrs. since she had the last , what are the chances for a baby????????
janet - 2012-05-21
OK my white dove sweetie laid an egg on 5-16 and laid another one on the 19th or the 20th. Does anyone know of any doves who lay so many eggs? She laid two about 32 days ago that were not fertile. What's up with this egg laying dove?
Charlie Roche - 2012-06-15
Regarding Sweetie, many times they will continue to lay eggs - even running into a calcium difiecincy. You need to let her have the egg and sit it - she usually will lay two. Let her sit the eggs until she is bored with it or until 21 days. Yes, they usually hatch in about 14 - 15 but the mom doesn't usually start sitting until the second egg is laid. You really should let her have the nest box or bowl and nesting materials. They might be all infertile - but 'instinct' or some such thing is telling her to lay the egg. Let her have the egg and sit it. If you keep pulling the eggs, you could really hurt your dove.
janet - 2012-06-15
Ok what is going on with my white dove Sweetie, she just laid another egg!!!!!!!! this makes 5 and I a only bought her in march. not one has been fertile, whats up with this dove? I bought toys I got rid of all nesting material........
Charlie Roche - 2012-06-16
I'd be truly surprised if she sits them for 21 days - but I guess it can happen. I observed if infertile they would get bored with them and just throw them overboard. If she sits them longer than 21 days - then I would let her go to 30 days and then I would remove the eggs. However, when I remove the eggs, I would place a new toy in the cage - a little almost parakeet toy that they can pull on and let go. They seem to like beels. A safe toy but a toy -

janet - 2012-04-13
My beautiful female white dove died last nite. We had her and her mate for over 7yrs. She had been ill since the end of jan. We loved her and cried alot last nite. Her name was babe. She was a sweetheart and p;will be missed. I went to a mega bird store in cocoa fl. Today and came home with a new 8mos. Female mate for my male named rooster. He seems to llike her alot. I think they will soon fall in love. We named her sweetie, rooster can't stop cooing! Everyone here has a smile on their face , even my yorkie maggie.

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Charlie Roche - 2012-04-13
So hard but happy for your new little gal.
janet - 2012-04-19
Wow! Our new white dove sweetie that we bought 7 days ago for a mate for our male named Rooster just laid 2 eggs! How did that happen so fast? Our babe that died last Thurs 4-12 we had for almost 8yrs. never had an egg, yet they mated all the time till she got sick. Go figure!
janet - 2012-04-26
Could my new white dove be a little dumb or a very slow learner? I think she has hurt her foot by falling out of her branch. All my other doves figure out how to go from limb to limb to the top perch. The male keeps showing her how to get up and down, but she just keeps falling out. It is a beautiful cage my husband made with wood, oak branch in the center and fishing line so it looks like the are in the wild. 4ft. tall 3ftwide. Have any advise...
Anonymous - 2012-06-08
Does any dove lovers out there ever look at doves feet? Girls seem to have pinkish feet boys are purple, kinda like ducks. maybe!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

janet - 2012-05-05
i think my new female white dove my have hurt her right foot. she is limping in her cage. can i do anything to fix it, or will it heal on her own?

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Lily - 2012-05-08
Take her to the Vet. One that specilizes in birds. Ask the Humane Society for best bird vet in area.
Anonymous - 2012-05-29
Janet, I am trying to get some information on caring for a white dove that has shown up in my backyard. Yesterday, while I was working in the yard the dove either sat on my shoulder or up in the tree right above me. This dove has got to be a pet that flew off from home. Should I just leave it in the wild, feed it with the other wild birds I feed or cage it and take care of it. I'm just not sure what to do. I feel bad caging it, but not sure it knows how to survive in the outdoors.
janet - 2012-06-01
If it were for me to decide what to do with the dove, i would try to see if it is ok, you could feed with other birds, however it sounds like it could have gotten out of its home. You can try to see if you can catch it,(be very careful not to harm it) they are safe in nice cages and my doves love their BIG cage they live in. they also are wonderful pets. They live alot longer in captivity then in the wild. They don't do good if you have a cat in the house. It will EAT THE DOVE !!!!!!!!!!!!! IT HAPPENED TO MY HUSBANDS BROTHERS DOVE.
Charlie Roche - 2012-06-01
You can check and make sure there isn't a splinter or something in the bottom of her foot. You can feel each toe (gently) and see if she broke a toe. You can check for any cut. She may have twisted it. Try and see if it is hurting at the foot or the leg. If it is the leg - a vet may be able to splint it. If it is a broken toe - can't do anything about that except let it heal. I am sorry but it should be OK.

Maissey - 2012-05-31
I was walking around and found a fledgling Mourning Dove that couldn't fly too well yet. It ran away when I tried to catch it, but I caught it eventually and put it in a small rabbit cage. The nest was too high up for it to fly back to ( it tried and just smacked against the side of the building, so I took it home. I have mealworms already, but I really just want to know when I can release it again. It looks ready to leave the nest but can only fly 20-25 feet up before it falls and it doesn't know how to catch onto a ledge yet.

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Charlie Roche - 2012-05-31
It isn't cold anymore in most places so you can place the rabbit cage on the porch (a safe place) maybe in a week or so. Then leave the door open to the rabbit cage and continue feeding the little guy. Let the dove decide when it is time to go. Don't be surprised if he leaves and comes back in a hour. Might take him some time to find the flock.

yochanah hannah - 2012-05-29
just a side note---my name is also Janet. In hebrew it is spelled like Jonah but with one extra letter. So, when you take out the one extra letter it spells dove in hebrew!

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Charlie Roche - 2012-05-30
Interesting
janet - 2012-05-30
I know many hebrews, never knew that, very interesting i love all doves, they make me happy! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! !

Mary from MI - 2012-05-17
My little white dove has been with me,outside for a year now she made it threw a MI winter, and last month she brought home a friend, much larger than her? White with some black feathers in his? wings. For the past few weeks her bottom has been dirty ,like she been sittin in mud would this mean she's on a nest? Both come to the feeder daily, today she was just really cooing for a very long time, he? wasn't around at that time would that make a difference?

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Charlie Roche - 2012-05-18
WOW made it through the winter and found a friend. A dirty bottom could definitely be an indication of nesting or laying in a nest but not necessarily eggs. Also, it is the male that coos pretty constantly for the female so you probably have a boy calling for its mate.

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