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Posted by Lara on March 16, 2003 at 20:34:13:
In Reply to: Pet Mourning Dove acting strange posted by BettytheDove on March 14, 2003 at 17:18:11:
Are you in the US? You should be aware it may be illegal for you to keep a pet mourning dove. They're classified as "game birds" in most states so the restrictions aren't as tight as they are for most other wild birds, but it might be something you want to check out. I shouldn't say it, but it doesn't make much difference - just don't go around advertising his presence to your local game warden! At this point he is so used to captivity that your home is the best place for him, anyway.
I don't know what to tell you about his odd behavior. Perhaps it is a breeding behavior of some sort? If he was a baby when he came to you, then he's just reaching the age that those hormones are starting to hit! So that would be my guess, but on the other hand, it doesn't sound like any of the behaviors I've seen in my pet ringneck doves and pigeons, so do keep an eye on him in case I'm wrong.
One last thing - you might want to think about expanding his diet. Wild doves eat mainly seed, too, but the seeds they eat are far more nutritional than the seeds you buy at the pet shop. Most of them are germinated or sprouted, which improves their nutritional content. They also eat much more of a variety than you find in a canary mix, and they also eat bits of vegetable matter and even insects. You might want to try sprouting some seed for your dove. A special dove & pigeon seed mix would be better than canary mix, too. All of my pet doves ate finely chopped vegetables and greens, you might try that, and a little bit of scrambled egg now and then for protein.
Hope that helps some!
- Lara
:Hey all!
:I've had a pet Mourning Dove, a male named Betty, since 24 July 2002. He lives in a 18" cube cage and flies free for almost the entire day. He always has access to food (canary seed) and water, including a "bath tub". He's very affectionate and always loves to perch on me (though not lately; I'm sick and he doesn't recognize my voice). Yesterday, Thursday night, every time Betty would land (like on the head of my bed) he would hold his wings out away from him like he was hot. My other birds, a pair of Budgies, were not hot and the room was not any hotter than normal (70-74 degrees F). It was storming and I thought that the weather might have something to do with his behavior. Today, though, I caught him sitting on top of his cage, bowed down to his chest with his tail stuck high in the air. He was wiggling his wing like he did when I hand fed him (when he was a baby) (he also wiggles his wing when he's particularly cozy near me).
:Can anyone tell me what would possess Betty to sit in such a weird position? Is it natural behavior of some sort, or an indication of a problem?
:Thanks for any help!