Ringneck doves are gentle birds and excellent pets, whether they are kept in a cage or an aviary. Ringneck doves make a pleasant cooing noise that can add to the ambiance of a garden, they are hardy and easy to keep and they can be taught to feed from the hand, making them ideal for children.
Breeding ringneck doves is simple and easy. Here are some tips for keeping ringneck doves and their chicks healthy and happy.
Housing Ringneck Dove Pairs
A pair of ringneck doves will need a cage at least 2 feet square in order to breed comfortably. However, they are prolific breeders and may lay eggs even in smaller spaces. They will need a breeding box or a deep dish, if possible, with an outside perch. If they live in an aviary, an open box slightly smaller than a shoe box and firmly attached to the wall will suit them well. Make sure the walls of this box are several inches high, or the chicks may be prone to falling out. Provide the pair with some straw and small, flimsy twigs for nest building. Do not allow them to build with string, as this can become wrapped around dove feet, cutting off circulation and killing the digit or limb.
It is difficult to sex ringneck doves with any accuracy. The males tend to coo more than the females and are also slightly larger. Females have softer, more widely spaced pelvic bones (the pair of small bones between the legs and the vent). However, these are not foolproof signs and even experienced breeders may be fooled by a noisy female, or a quiet male. The only sure way to know is to purchase an already successful breeding pair, or to put two birds together and wait for a few months. If they lay 4 eggs between them, they are probably two females (and the eggs won't be fertile) if they don't lay at all they may be two males.
Caring for Breeding Ringneck Pairs
Ringneck doves need a relatively good quality of feed, with around 15% protein. A parakeet seed mix will do. They also need some grit, as they do not chew the seed. The doves will appreciate treats like lettuce, chard, fruit, millet sprays and even hardboiled eggs. They need a constant and fresh supply of water, placed well away from any perches and from the feeding bowls, as doves tend to scatter seed quite vigorously while eating.
A dove pair will produce two eggs within a week to 12 days of mating, and the eggs will hatch after around 15 days. Both mother and father will care for the chicks by bringing them food. Within two weeks the chicks will be growing feathers and in another two weeks they should be feeding themselves and can be taken from their parents. Keep a close eye on dove pairs in an aviary, as occasionally one chick will be pushed out of the nest and may need to be placed back, or raised as a foundling.
Ringneck doves are beautiful birds that are easy to keep and can make a wonderful addition to a home. Breeding them is simple and can turn into a fascinating hobby for the whole family.
Rachel Sawaya - Rachel Sawaya is a freelance writer from New Zealand (who also has US citizenship), and currently lives in Auckland, the big smoke of New ...
Join the Conversation