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Posted by BettytheDove on March 26, 2003 at 09:40:29:
In Reply to: Re: Pet Mourning Dove acting strange posted by Lara on March 16, 2003 at 20:34:13:
Thanks for the reply! :)
I have looked up the laws pertaining to keeping wild animal specimens in Missouri, my state. It is legal to keep 5 specimens of any non-endangered species without a special license. To keep more than 5 specimens, or to keep endangered species, a special license is required.
I also looked around on the 'net a bit more thouroughly for information on dove behavior. I found this page ( http://www.petdoves.com/petdoves/Wingwobble.htm ) Which seems to pretty accurately describe what he is doing. Something about nesting. (Actually, I don't think that's the page I found earlier! The page I found specifically described a male bowing and wiggling his wing. lol! Maybe I just can't read.)
I always keep some sprouted seeds out where he can get them, and I offer him vegetables when I think of it (which is very regularly). He doesn't really like them, but he always tastes them; gives it a try. ;) I haven't ever thought of eggs, though! I may have to try that. :) I have been looking for dove mix, but my pet shop doesn't carry it and neither do my regular online shops. I may have to ask the pet shop lady to special-order it for me.
Thank you very much for your help!
: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