Origin

Originating from the Blue Rock Pigeon and a descendent of white doves thought to have originally been bred in Mesopotamia, beautiful pure white garden doves make endearing pets.

Full of energy, acrobatic in flight, graceful and with distinctly individual personalities, they are a joy to see in your garden.

Doves mate for life and it is worth bearing in mind that contented doves will produce young, in optimum conditions breeding up to eight times a year laying eggs in pairs.

Owning doves, as with any other pets brings commitment and a responsibility for the upkeep of their welfare, health and hygiene.

Siting your dovecote

In domestic settings cats are the most likely predator so when siting your dovecote avoid close proximity to shrubs and trees. In some areas the unwelcome attention of Hawks and other birds of prey can also be a problem. Unfortunately little can be done about the latter other than considering keeping birds in an aviary.

When siting and installing your dovecote we recommend that at least 60cm (2ft) of the mounting post is concreted into the ground.

Homing

In order to ensure that your doves return home after release they need to be ‘Homed’. This can be achieved with the use of a homing box attached directly to the dovecote. Each box confines one pair of doves to their own compartment. Depending on the size and design of your dovecote one or more can be employed simultaneously. Widely regarded as a kinder, but not risk free option is the use of a homing net. Draped over the dovecote to form a tent and securely pegged to the ground (the use of additional bricks or planks is recommended) nets allow homing of multiple birds and allow them a degree of flight and exercise while they get used to you and their new surroundings.

Birds need to be homed for between four to six weeks depending on their age. Usually the older the bird the longer the homing period.

Release

It is recommended by some that your doves should be fed only sparingly, if at all, immediately prior to initial release. The promise of food back at base should encourage them to return. Nothing however in life is guaranteed.

Feeding

Whichever method of homing you choose your doves will need food and water every day. If using a homing box, feeders and drinkers securely attached to the boxes are useful and avoid spillage. If using a net, and of course after release, a feed table located beneath your dovecote is a useful addition. Feeding your birds at a set time every day is recommended.

Your pet store can probably advise on a suitable ready mixed feed but wheat or layer pellets are a common choices. Each dove will eat about an ounce of feed a day but they must be provided with pigeon grit which allows them to break down the feed into an easily digestible state.

Breeding

‘As sure as eggs are eggs’ as they say, your contented doves will breed. Laying two eggs a couple of days apart, the first egg appears about 10 days after mating. Both eggs will be incubated by both cock and hen until the eggs hatch in about 2 and a half weeks.

The infant doves, called ‘Squabs’ will be weaned in about 3 weeks before which time they will have been fed by both parents on highly nutritious ‘Dove Milk’. The young, sometimes with a little supplement from mum and dad, will be able to feed themselves from here on and should be flying at about 5 weeks old.

Take care not to let your dovecote become overcrowded. This can be achieved by removing any laid eggs and replacing them with dummy eggs to prevent re-laying.