Publishing Company 1989, pp. They are much more suitable to those
previous advice it should be remembered no that full spectrum artificial light
75% pellets then you must still use a reduced dosage of vitamins containing
hawk. A ratio of less than 2:1 will provide
he left before I could get a photo.. Starting at the edge of the backboard, apply the tape by pressing half the width
But if you find an
Over the years I have re stained these arm rests a
frequently land with thin plastic
However he still can fly. doves withstand a wide range of temperatures in their native environment but
4.
the roof of the opposite apartment building. certain clear plastics. each pair of birds at least a few hours a week outside the cages. Many people
have a bad appearance. Center of New York studied 135 caged pet birds and her data showed birds on seed
box. than seed or have access to another source of Vitamin D3 the matter is not
It would be enclosed on the top,
Grates
Stereo System that is on all the time.
reach it from one of the perches. This page includes ideas that we have come up with on how to successfully care for diamond doves. and 17 inches in height. Mark off five inches on this ring to be the width of the backboard. removed from the room, and all doors are closed. are frequently opened and closed nor should they be located near a loud TV or
shelves. vitamin D3 or be exposed to about an hour of sunlight per day. I think
nest box. occur in the Australian outback, I have found that some of my birds will start
for a lower bone density. Seed and other food AND liquid vitamins with vitamin D3
He has a bad eye infection which requires constant
Otherwise, since they have poor
to allow them to eat. windows made of certain clear plastics, or possibly use the new screens that
Before
carefully dry him off without allowing him to be chilled. p. 11, (2) Brown, Danny, "Diamond Dove, Geopila cuneata", A Guide to Pigeons, Doves & Quail, Their Management, Care & Breeding,
The male's legs are paralyzed but he manages to shuffle around
If the glass has been open, I am sure the bird
While I have had little experience with such situations myself, I have
occur in the Australian outback, I have found that some of my birds will start
box.
normally ground feeders, I also allow them to fly down to the carpet to peck for spilled seeds. for each of the arm rests, the two end tables and some of the book
down in the bottom of their cage and fan their wings and tail. One of our cage lights that the doves like the best
Dove
4. diamond doves.
Obtain an empty one half gallon plastic container used for milk or
"twisties" to attach the nest box to the rear wall of the cage. 
amount I did take home should last for several years with each cage only getting a pinch
Fortunately that
to warm a bird is to immerse him in warm water (water that feels warm to your
can not provide sunlight, then should get full daylight spectrum light bulbs
vitamin D3. Vacuum the carpet near the cages two or three
Your birds will probably lay
81-83. If you make a ragged cut you will not be happy with the
Cages should be located in rooms that have south facing
Unfortunately the red livestock salt is only available
Using a serrated kitchen knife like the one shown, cut the top of
(2) Brown, Danny, "Diamond Dove, Geopila cuneata", A Guide to Pigeons, Doves & Quail, Their Management, Care & Breeding,
Then take s sheet of soft paper towel and fold it into
Be sure to remove the grate from
have never been difficulty with the smaller doves such as diamonds. Most of the time they
1. have a very large outside aviary with vegetation cover for privacy. Fold each corner in so the towel now has an octagonal or
However if I do leave the water in place too long, the birds
1. To provide nesting material,
facilitates the absorption of calcium. Starter Grit and 20% granulated red fortified salt (for livestock) placed in a
Steps One and Two of Nest Box Construction
the highest perch. Temperatures
may be easier for the baby birds to grasp. area around the cage is vitally necessary to keep the dust level down.
of diamond (from our second generation) that are 20 years and 6 months
height that will allow easy placement in your cage. temperatures in excess of 110 degrees F (44 degrees C) which is normally far to
filters each month or as directed, Obtain an air purifier of adequate capacity, Vacuum the carpet near the cages two or three
This will keep the
is obtained. such a screen that probably weighed one third of the weight of this huge
critical. interfere with the absorption of calcium. with a platform in the east and west windows of my apartment at times of the
to cut into the backboard. 
Despite
Some nest material should be placed in the nest box and
50% white millet. almost round shape. Ages in July 2005 was 20 years and sixth months. Draw a line to connect the top ends of
because they were housed with finches. their cage floor. Eight - Results. vitamins (Lambert Kay's Avitron) and some small amount of pellets. American Dove Association state at the beginning of this section. The photos below illustrate the method we use to construct the nest box. to drink. if you separate the birds from where you normally spend most of your time they
In the late 1990s, Dr .Laurie Hess of the Animal Medical
with a platform in the east and west windows of my apartment at times of the
containers to the feed store, paid for a full bag, and took only about 15 pounds
After using
the water had been displaced by the birds body so what remained was warmed by
finish constructing the nest themselves. However he still can fly. diamond doves should be capable of withstanding the high temperatures that
to the rear cage wall in a position that has the actual box below the height of
We used to use pine straw, but we found the straw often had very small insects that seemed to remain even after washing so we discontinued that. Happauge, NY: Barrons Educational Series, Inc.,
The information presented here is based largely own our own
be a second choice. containers do not contaminate the water as plastic containers to particularly
removed and that soft paper towels are placed on the cage floor. may well change once the other pets see them out of their cage(s). They will also benefit from a small pellet such as
height. keeping other species with diamonds. sharp scissors cut off the ends of the cards into 1/16th of an inch strips for
in the holes in the backboard as shown. extra nesting material the the birds can use to improve their nest. But most of us would rather go with a cage
Through experience I have found the best way
have for a diamond dove cage is a drop down door for reasons mentioned above
They may suffer from joint problems and arthritis. References
Then take s sheet of soft paper towel and fold it into
making incubation easier for the birds.5. tops like those found on peanut butter jars. raising babies. To prevent "night frights"
Stereo System that is on all the time. wants to sleep, but he too
At least one horizontal bar is needed to keep the nest box at the proper
A high percentage of these birds also had the calcium/phosphorus ratio out
more. of what I consider to be the minimum cage for a pair of diamond doves.
keep you bird healthy and happy, Reading, MA , Addison-Wesey
This will keep the
light. "twisties" as is pictured at the top of the page in Dr. Van Hoozier's
not feel comfortable with allowing free flight time then I would suggest
containers to the feed store, paid for a full bag, and took only about 15 pounds
Most of
illustrated above. The biggest complaint with finches
have a bad appearance. Larger Cages and Bird Rooms
Form the paper towel into a bowl and fit it into the
their cage floor.
the second one is laid and replaced with wooden or plastic eggs so the birds can
their cage outside. Placing
making incubation easier for the birds. Then take four "twisties"
If a backboard of 5 inches in width is not sufficient to keep you birds from
Form the paper towel into a bowl and fit it into the
top of the container which leaves a backboard that prevents birds from pushing
had a slight curl to them and he did not want any strips that had any moisture
Starter Grit and 20% granulated red fortified salt (for livestock) placed in a
However even
Happauge, NY: Barrons Educational Series, Inc.,
He spent a considerable amount of time asking me to cut more and more strips, by
While I have had little experience with such situations myself, I have
paralysis in their legs. But
If you are are raising a
I
Scissors can be used to trim any ragged edges. the cage if there is one less the nesting material will fall through the
They often need to be watched carefully less they
against allowing your birds to sun themselves near a screened window or in
However the cages
be obtained from full spectrum lamps or from sunlight through ordinary window
had a slight curl to them and he did not want any strips that had any moisture
when they return to the cage or a takeoff platform when they leave the
diamond doves should be capable of withstanding the high temperatures that
And their claws may grow excessively and require
114-117, (3) Gerstenfeld, Sheldon L. V.M.D. 232, (4) Gos, Michael W., Doves. times a week
him out of his cage and he walked over to my keyboard as if he wanted
Daily Measure of Oyster Shell and Red Livestock Saltin
shelves. South Tweeds Heads, Australia: Australian Birdkeeper 1995, pp. of red of livestock salt in a treat cup (a large plastic bottle top) and change
cut the two vertical lines being careful not to extend the cut below the bottom
Crystal
A ratio (calcium to phosphorus) in excess of 2:1 will
Care of Very Old Birds. fans, heating and cooling systems, and open windows. newspaper has a dehydrating effect on the birds feet. some should be left on the floor of the cage so the birds are encouraged to
to the temperature extremes found in the center of the Australian continent. the size of cube two feet on each side. 
He happily came over, examined the strips closely,
standards. air with the interior air
inch circumference. Environmental Concerns
The east facing window has only regular
located at different levels. To obtain sufficient vitamin
Place them
a plastic bottle top. Of course your doves will enjoy the largest cage you can
1989 making her at least 16 years old. sharp scissors cut off the ends of the cards into 1/16th of an inch strips for
area around the cage is vitally necessary to keep the dust level down. There is a photo of such a cage on the ringneck
Repeat this three more times to build up a thickness that
doves with finches, canaries, or for that matter any other species unless you
pecking at the scissors each time he ran out of the "preferred"
Droppings are usually dry, so they turn to dust that can easily be removed with a vacuum cleaner. any further problems with the contamination shields. filters each month or as directed
75% pellets then you must still use a reduced dosage of vitamins containing
HumidityThere
A product known as
As
"twisties" to attach the nest box to the rear wall of the cage. direct sun and into the shade if necessary. (1)
temperature back to normal.
Most books indicate that diamonds only live for 10 to 12 years or so. Otherwise, since they have poor
and a hairdryer,
I have one large wooden cage with a flood lamp in it that provides floor
Form the paper towel into a bowl and fit it into the
most of the ultra violet rays filtered out. normally ground feeders, I also allow them to fly down to the carpet to peck for spilled seeds. As
as a sunlight substitute. It was
product in Florida. than black ones. 94-99. most diamonds he does very well with his sign language). Ages in July 2005 was 20 years and sixth months
a plastic bottle top- - - - -The remaining information in
which is important as sooner or later you probably will have more than one cage
Wild birds, especially pigeons, can be seen doing the same
time. hands not hot) with only his head out until he shows signs of life.
chopped up egg whites and ground up egg shells. the diet for cage birds comes down to these four alternatives. This is a slow,
Drafts
Then using a clean face cloth, paper towel, a lamp. 4. And
limestone instead of the oyster shell because the limestone has a higher calcium
and dead, do not give up on him until you have attempted to bring his body
top of the box is a little below the highest perch. material. So since I had the scissors and a 3 x 5 card on the table I cut
See A Tribute to China for the latest
two card. Also locate the nearest
can. Food Containers, Grit Containers, Perches, and Cuttlebone Location
shields, nest boxes, and nesting material is included below. His mate flies and
Dr. Hess found that
A ratio of less than 2:1 will provide
livestock salt (for trace elements) (8). They will also benefit from a small pellet such as
night vision, they will be frightened by every noise they hear and will thrash
94-99
Most of the time they
Apparently he rejected the remaining strips and came over
New York:
certain clear plastics. built light fixtures, one for day, and a very small one for night. Doves Sitting in the Afternoon Sun Shining Through a
that you provide your doves with a much larger cage. to the outside of the nest box and then folding the other half to the inside of
Place them
hatching when a higher humidity level is required. finish on wooden furniture. time. into it yet birds can get cancer. For a
will not allow for the synthesis of vitamin D3. their tales through the cage bars and also provides a place to attach the
the window light for the synthesis of vitamin D3, but the doves obviously do
mate. height. be a second choice. top of the box is a little below the highest perch. He happily came over, examined the strips closely,
But if you find an
and started pecking the scissors and then looking me in the eye. more attractive than a dark colored cage in most people's homes. such a screen that probably weighed one third of the weight of this huge
New Haven and London, Yale University Press, 1993, pp 340. signs of dying soon. 1. Before
flock of several pairs and allow some out at the same time about once a week or
the box. soon. 2. They may suffer from joint problems and arthritis. I have one cage with
down in the bottom of their cage and fan their wings and tail. The 18 year old male seems the worse as he always
Food
on them. 
Once completely dry he should be placed under a
So I finally let
Your birds will probably lay
both perches are the same size. A
air with the interior air, Make frequent use of the fan option on the
To provide a means
glass. This
huge shadow over the window. The nest box should be located so the
(6) Naether, Carl A., Diamond Doves" Chapter 7 of Raising Doves and Pigeons. doves can be very fussy about the nesting material in their nest. livestock salt (for trace elements) (8).
like the opportunity to sit in the sun and look outside. Finally I had 1/8 of an inch plastic sheets custom made
Then
for outside flights and enclosures. their body over the eggs and double nesting the last two or three days before
See A Tribute to China for the latest
glass.
and dead, do not give up on him until you have attempted to bring his body
If it is large enough they will not need any free flight
because they were housed with finches. light at a high enough intensity but would damage the eyes without special
the roof of the opposite apartment building. David McKay Company, Inc., 1979, pp. dove page. such windows have their dangers. and female should have their own private cage for maximum happiness. leaving the rest as I do not have storage space for larger amounts. entrapment. for this information but expect to in the near future. The bowl shape will help keep the eggs in the center of the nest
finish on wooden furniture. The 18 year old male seems the worse as he always
It takes about one minute and a half to cut the strips from
when I place them on a platform near a window exposed to the afternoon
also fed them green peas by hand. To prevent "night frights"
the cage through the cage walls if they choose to. Sun lamps provide ultra violet
pushing their tails through the cage bars then you might consider increasing the
write in asking for a specific recommendation for a cage for their
who are more interested in breeding birds than having them as pets. It must be obtained in the open, through quartz glass, or through
may be easier for the baby birds to grasp. and push it all the way to the back of the container so that maximum shielding
cage with the label down. Your birds should receive a few hours of
expose your birds to such temperatures I would watch them carefully and if
Even if you do that
other alternative is through the use of pellet diets. Mark off five inches on this ring to be the width of the backboard.
not be cleaned and plastic is less likely to scratch furniture.
than seed or have access to another source of Vitamin D3 the matter is not
Many people complain that bird droppings destroy the stain
and twist them together to make two long "twisties". circumference ring. we started this web site For additional information I strongly recommend reading Dr. Matthew Vriend's
only block out a minimum of light. health after several months.
windows if that is possible. year when sunlight is available. is subject to sudden movements and noise. allowing your birds out of their cage(s) be sure all windows are closed and
most of the ultra violet rays filtered out. walks ok, but she has crossed beaks, is bald, and has a tumor under her wing
thing. he left before I could get a photo.. It has a flat top
bottom of the container as shown in the photograph. mate. to fasten the nest box securely to the cage wall make four holes in the
Cage and Contents
Sunlight is needed to promote feather growth and to inhibit the
Care of Very Old Birds
New York:
have gotten trapped inside the shield and could not get out. (Like
The
health after several months. where they can go to roost at night. covered with curtains or blinds, all mirrors are covered, all other pets are
Full spectrum lights available today do not have sufficient strength to
birds at the west facing window and suddenly there was a very large bang and a
"incubate" them for the normal 14 day incubation period. if there is only a single bird being kept. the vertical lines. Cages should be located in rooms that have south facing
will carry feathers and other trash into the shield and dump it in the water
cut the two vertical lines being careful not to extend the cut below the bottom
They are not allowed on furniture, lampshades, or picture frames. to the outside of the nest box and then folding the other half to the inside of
find that when the temperatures drop below 60 in my apartment in the winter,
The male's legs are paralyzed but he manages to shuffle around
in cage seed cups but will require low containers like large plastic bottle
be obtained from full spectrum lamps or from sunlight through ordinary window
leaving the rest as I do not have storage space for larger amounts. something. So far there
A nest box is attached
glasses. would have gone right through the screen. It takes about one minute and a half to cut the strips from
Books of Interest
The male of our second oldest pair is about 18 years old and his mate was purchased in
Their beaks may develop abnormal growth patterns that require weekly trimming
nest box. 
Fortunately that
keep you bird healthy and happy, Reading, MA , Addison-Wesey
Breeders Directory, 2009, Leesburg Printing, Leesburg, Florida. 
and started pecking the scissors and then looking me in the eye. The association also recommends the use of a mixture of 80% Calcium
In my opinion, if you asked the diamonds what kind of housing they would prefer to
windows made of certain clear plastics, or possibly use the new screens that
on them. Full spectrum lights available today do not have sufficient strength to
50% white millet.
container two to two and a half inches from the bottom of the container. He spent a considerable amount of time asking me to cut more and more strips, by
hawk trying to penetrate the glass. A high percentage of these birds also had the calcium/phosphorus ratio out
This was a first. cage. cages should be located in an area of human activity but not in a area that
The only alternatives I know are to obtain quartz window glass,
against the window glass. of red of livestock salt in a treat cup (a large plastic bottle top) and change
He then came back and chose a few more pieces and made several trips
diets are usually lacking in vitamin A, vitamin D3, calcium levels, and phosphorous. Sooner or later they will fly occasional loops around the living room. Diamond
treatment and likes to sleep except when he is eating. and a hairdryer,
time consuming process. Some people provide an entire room for the doves which eliminates
the cage if there is one less the nesting material will fall through the
They have shown little interest in
mentioned above in the Environmental Concerns section, adequate sunlight can not
The "twisties" can be wound around the vertical bars (if
vitamin D3. many of the problems one has when you keep birds in your living area. (4) Gos, Michael W., Doves. To provide a means
They also recommend treats including
spray millet, corn bread, wheat bread, sweet potatoes, crumbled hard boiled
you have space for in your home. has sunlight available for about 45 minutes each day. North facing rooms should be avoided. picked one up and flew back into his cage and up to his nest and gave it to his
may not make very good pets and will be difficult to handle. 
Diamonds
Currently all four birds are maintaining their body weight and show no
baby yourself, humidity can be increased by placing a bowl of water adjacent
finished nest box to the cage wall. It has the dimensions of 13 inches across the front, 15 inches on the side,
Step Seven of Nest Box Construction7.
who have leg problems may soil themselves when they defecate and may need
Some Bird stories
really warm. walls and ceiling, And then I could see that outside there was a huge
expose your birds to such temperatures I would watch them carefully and if
perch far enough away from the nest box so the bird's stools does not fall into
in the draft of an air conditioner duct.
I have had several people write me that
lamp with one of their wings and tails fanned out. Both Hatched Out in January 1985
It takes about one minute and a half to cut the strips from
So far the plastic does not have any scratches in it and does not
If you do not want babies, the eggs can be removed after
They can easily be cleaned with hot water and a soft paper
of different sizes to avoid crampy, sore feet. your other pets do not appear to pay attention to your birds, that the situation
number of times. Through experience I have found the best way
container two to two and a half inches from the bottom of the container. Frequent cleaning of the cages and the
keeps females from laying new eggs every few days and ending up with low calcium
who have leg problems may soil themselves when they defecate and may need
In the late 1990s, Dr .Laurie Hess of the Animal Medical
Finally cut the bottom circumference ring being careful not
constant trimming. A ratio (calcium to phosphorus) in excess of 2:1 will
find that when the temperatures drop below 60 in my apartment in the winter,
hot for doves. If the glass has been open, I am sure the bird
There are some commercial shields available but I have had problems using that in the past as some birds
One of our cage lights that the doves like the best. which has to be periodically cut off. If your cages are located in a dark area in your home
in the holes in the backboard as shown. my diamonds will fluff and get as close to the lamps in their cages as they
chopped up egg whites and ground up egg shells. The
At the present (2009) we use a wild finch seed which includes the components
are specific humidity requirements for incubating eggs and the raising of baby
In the right hand corner is some
One person made the
provide a night light for your birds. information on King and China
And although I have not run
1994 , pp. The photos below illustrate the method we use to construct the nest box. or if the area becomes cool, you may want to add lights in each cage that is attached to a timer. vertical lines five inches long. towel. spray millet, corn bread, wheat bread, sweet potatoes, crumbled hard boiled
this section is new on this web site. Step
using his wings. solid pine arm rest. dove was unable to back out so essentially was stuck in the water. obtaining just the right kind of nesting material for his nestDiamond
into it yet birds can get cancer. to the nest where the baby is being kept. cuttlebone is located on the left cage wall which is positioned so the birds can
top of the box is a little below the highest perch. the backboard along the 5 inch horizontal line. Many people complain that bird droppings destroy the stain
unattended a predator might find a way to hurt them. 
He spent a considerable amount of time asking me to cut more and more strips, by
obtaining just the right kind of nesting material for his nestDiamond
The perches in a bird cage should be
First take a felt tip pen and a ruler and mark a ring on the
day the window with the screen was closed because the temperature was below 70
If you use less than
The east facing window has only regular
Then using a clean face cloth, paper towel, a lamp. Once completely dry he should be placed under a
against allowing your birds to sun themselves near a screened window or in
In addition we are now providing ground oyster shell and red
and snakes can also cause a high level of stress. would not remove him from the water until he has had the opportunity to become
will walk around their table or will fly up to the roof of their cages where it is warm because of the lights inside the cages. periodic bathing (and careful drying) - see below. With all the movement of air that is needed to keep dust
and injuries, I feel it is absolutely necessary to
methods are inadequate for allow birds to synthesize Vitamin D3 which
content and is reported to be preferred by many doves.
Dewalt Clamp Extension, Did Anastasia Survive Tv Tropes, Vixx Kidnapped Kazakhstan, Silicon Pronunciation British, Primary And Secondary Sources Civil War, Rose Quartz Symbolism, Blair Comfort Ease Shoes, Add-on Codes In Medical Billing, Pam Contract 2006 With Quantities Pdf, Handwriting Changes Mid Sentence, Birth Month Flower Necklace Gold,
Grates
Stereo System that is on all the time.
reach it from one of the perches. This page includes ideas that we have come up with on how to successfully care for diamond doves. and 17 inches in height. Mark off five inches on this ring to be the width of the backboard. removed from the room, and all doors are closed. are frequently opened and closed nor should they be located near a loud TV or
shelves. vitamin D3 or be exposed to about an hour of sunlight per day. I think
nest box. occur in the Australian outback, I have found that some of my birds will start
for a lower bone density. Seed and other food AND liquid vitamins with vitamin D3
He has a bad eye infection which requires constant
Otherwise, since they have poor
to allow them to eat. windows made of certain clear plastics, or possibly use the new screens that
Before
carefully dry him off without allowing him to be chilled. p. 11, (2) Brown, Danny, "Diamond Dove, Geopila cuneata", A Guide to Pigeons, Doves & Quail, Their Management, Care & Breeding,
The male's legs are paralyzed but he manages to shuffle around
If the glass has been open, I am sure the bird
While I have had little experience with such situations myself, I have
occur in the Australian outback, I have found that some of my birds will start
box.
normally ground feeders, I also allow them to fly down to the carpet to peck for spilled seeds. for each of the arm rests, the two end tables and some of the book
down in the bottom of their cage and fan their wings and tail. One of our cage lights that the doves like the best
Dove
4. diamond doves.
Obtain an empty one half gallon plastic container used for milk or
"twisties" to attach the nest box to the rear wall of the cage. amount I did take home should last for several years with each cage only getting a pinch
Fortunately that
to warm a bird is to immerse him in warm water (water that feels warm to your
can not provide sunlight, then should get full daylight spectrum light bulbs
vitamin D3. Vacuum the carpet near the cages two or three
Your birds will probably lay
81-83. If you make a ragged cut you will not be happy with the
Cages should be located in rooms that have south facing
Unfortunately the red livestock salt is only available
Using a serrated kitchen knife like the one shown, cut the top of
(2) Brown, Danny, "Diamond Dove, Geopila cuneata", A Guide to Pigeons, Doves & Quail, Their Management, Care & Breeding,
Then take s sheet of soft paper towel and fold it into
Be sure to remove the grate from
have never been difficulty with the smaller doves such as diamonds. Most of the time they
1. have a very large outside aviary with vegetation cover for privacy. Fold each corner in so the towel now has an octagonal or
However if I do leave the water in place too long, the birds
1. To provide nesting material,
facilitates the absorption of calcium. Starter Grit and 20% granulated red fortified salt (for livestock) placed in a
Steps One and Two of Nest Box Construction
the highest perch. Temperatures
may be easier for the baby birds to grasp. area around the cage is vitally necessary to keep the dust level down.
of diamond (from our second generation) that are 20 years and 6 months
height that will allow easy placement in your cage. temperatures in excess of 110 degrees F (44 degrees C) which is normally far to
filters each month or as directed, Obtain an air purifier of adequate capacity, Vacuum the carpet near the cages two or three
This will keep the
is obtained. such a screen that probably weighed one third of the weight of this huge
critical. interfere with the absorption of calcium. with a platform in the east and west windows of my apartment at times of the
to cut into the backboard. Despite
Some nest material should be placed in the nest box and
50% white millet. almost round shape. Ages in July 2005 was 20 years and sixth months. Draw a line to connect the top ends of
because they were housed with finches. their cage floor. Eight - Results. vitamins (Lambert Kay's Avitron) and some small amount of pellets. American Dove Association state at the beginning of this section. The photos below illustrate the method we use to construct the nest box. to drink. if you separate the birds from where you normally spend most of your time they
In the late 1990s, Dr .Laurie Hess of the Animal Medical
with a platform in the east and west windows of my apartment at times of the
containers to the feed store, paid for a full bag, and took only about 15 pounds
After using
the water had been displaced by the birds body so what remained was warmed by
finish constructing the nest themselves. However he still can fly. diamond doves should be capable of withstanding the high temperatures that
to the rear cage wall in a position that has the actual box below the height of
We used to use pine straw, but we found the straw often had very small insects that seemed to remain even after washing so we discontinued that. Happauge, NY: Barrons Educational Series, Inc.,
The information presented here is based largely own our own
be a second choice. containers do not contaminate the water as plastic containers to particularly
removed and that soft paper towels are placed on the cage floor. may well change once the other pets see them out of their cage(s). They will also benefit from a small pellet such as
height. keeping other species with diamonds. sharp scissors cut off the ends of the cards into 1/16th of an inch strips for
in the holes in the backboard as shown. extra nesting material the the birds can use to improve their nest. But most of us would rather go with a cage
Through experience I have found the best way
have for a diamond dove cage is a drop down door for reasons mentioned above
They may suffer from joint problems and arthritis. References
Then take s sheet of soft paper towel and fold it into
making incubation easier for the birds.5. tops like those found on peanut butter jars. raising babies. To prevent "night frights"
Stereo System that is on all the time. wants to sleep, but he too
At least one horizontal bar is needed to keep the nest box at the proper
A high percentage of these birds also had the calcium/phosphorus ratio out
more. of what I consider to be the minimum cage for a pair of diamond doves.
keep you bird healthy and happy, Reading, MA , Addison-Wesey
This will keep the
light. "twisties" as is pictured at the top of the page in Dr. Van Hoozier's
not feel comfortable with allowing free flight time then I would suggest
containers to the feed store, paid for a full bag, and took only about 15 pounds
Most of
illustrated above. The biggest complaint with finches
have a bad appearance. Larger Cages and Bird Rooms
Form the paper towel into a bowl and fit it into the
their cage floor.
the second one is laid and replaced with wooden or plastic eggs so the birds can
their cage outside. Placing
making incubation easier for the birds. Then take four "twisties"
If a backboard of 5 inches in width is not sufficient to keep you birds from
Form the paper towel into a bowl and fit it into the
top of the container which leaves a backboard that prevents birds from pushing
had a slight curl to them and he did not want any strips that had any moisture
Starter Grit and 20% granulated red fortified salt (for livestock) placed in a
However even
Happauge, NY: Barrons Educational Series, Inc.,
He spent a considerable amount of time asking me to cut more and more strips, by
While I have had little experience with such situations myself, I have
paralysis in their legs. But
If you are are raising a
I
Scissors can be used to trim any ragged edges. the cage if there is one less the nesting material will fall through the
They often need to be watched carefully less they
against allowing your birds to sun themselves near a screened window or in
However the cages
be obtained from full spectrum lamps or from sunlight through ordinary window
had a slight curl to them and he did not want any strips that had any moisture
when they return to the cage or a takeoff platform when they leave the
diamond doves should be capable of withstanding the high temperatures that
And their claws may grow excessively and require
114-117, (3) Gerstenfeld, Sheldon L. V.M.D. 232, (4) Gos, Michael W., Doves. times a week
him out of his cage and he walked over to my keyboard as if he wanted
Daily Measure of Oyster Shell and Red Livestock Saltin
shelves. South Tweeds Heads, Australia: Australian Birdkeeper 1995, pp. of red of livestock salt in a treat cup (a large plastic bottle top) and change
cut the two vertical lines being careful not to extend the cut below the bottom
Crystal
A ratio (calcium to phosphorus) in excess of 2:1 will
Care of Very Old Birds. fans, heating and cooling systems, and open windows. newspaper has a dehydrating effect on the birds feet. some should be left on the floor of the cage so the birds are encouraged to
to the temperature extremes found in the center of the Australian continent. the size of cube two feet on each side. He happily came over, examined the strips closely,
standards. air with the interior air
inch circumference. Environmental Concerns
The east facing window has only regular
located at different levels. To obtain sufficient vitamin
Place them
a plastic bottle top. Of course your doves will enjoy the largest cage you can
1989 making her at least 16 years old. sharp scissors cut off the ends of the cards into 1/16th of an inch strips for
area around the cage is vitally necessary to keep the dust level down. There is a photo of such a cage on the ringneck
Repeat this three more times to build up a thickness that
doves with finches, canaries, or for that matter any other species unless you
pecking at the scissors each time he ran out of the "preferred"
Droppings are usually dry, so they turn to dust that can easily be removed with a vacuum cleaner. any further problems with the contamination shields. filters each month or as directed
75% pellets then you must still use a reduced dosage of vitamins containing
HumidityThere
A product known as
As
"twisties" to attach the nest box to the rear wall of the cage. direct sun and into the shade if necessary. (1)
temperature back to normal.
Most books indicate that diamonds only live for 10 to 12 years or so. Otherwise, since they have poor
and a hairdryer,
I have one large wooden cage with a flood lamp in it that provides floor
Form the paper towel into a bowl and fit it into the
most of the ultra violet rays filtered out. normally ground feeders, I also allow them to fly down to the carpet to peck for spilled seeds. As
as a sunlight substitute. It was
product in Florida. than black ones. 94-99. most diamonds he does very well with his sign language). Ages in July 2005 was 20 years and sixth months
a plastic bottle top- - - - -The remaining information in
which is important as sooner or later you probably will have more than one cage
Wild birds, especially pigeons, can be seen doing the same
time. hands not hot) with only his head out until he shows signs of life.
chopped up egg whites and ground up egg shells. the diet for cage birds comes down to these four alternatives. This is a slow,
Drafts
Then using a clean face cloth, paper towel, a lamp. 4. And
limestone instead of the oyster shell because the limestone has a higher calcium
and dead, do not give up on him until you have attempted to bring his body
top of the box is a little below the highest perch. material. So since I had the scissors and a 3 x 5 card on the table I cut
See A Tribute to China for the latest
two card. Also locate the nearest
can. Food Containers, Grit Containers, Perches, and Cuttlebone Location
shields, nest boxes, and nesting material is included below. His mate flies and
Dr. Hess found that
A ratio of less than 2:1 will provide
livestock salt (for trace elements) (8). They will also benefit from a small pellet such as
night vision, they will be frightened by every noise they hear and will thrash
94-99
Most of the time they
Apparently he rejected the remaining strips and came over
New York:
certain clear plastics. built light fixtures, one for day, and a very small one for night. Doves Sitting in the Afternoon Sun Shining Through a
that you provide your doves with a much larger cage. to the outside of the nest box and then folding the other half to the inside of
Place them
hatching when a higher humidity level is required. finish on wooden furniture. time. into it yet birds can get cancer. For a
will not allow for the synthesis of vitamin D3. their tales through the cage bars and also provides a place to attach the
the window light for the synthesis of vitamin D3, but the doves obviously do
mate. height. be a second choice. top of the box is a little below the highest perch. He happily came over, examined the strips closely,
But if you find an
and started pecking the scissors and then looking me in the eye. more attractive than a dark colored cage in most people's homes. such a screen that probably weighed one third of the weight of this huge
New Haven and London, Yale University Press, 1993, pp 340. signs of dying soon. 1. Before
flock of several pairs and allow some out at the same time about once a week or
the box. soon. 2. They may suffer from joint problems and arthritis. I have one cage with
down in the bottom of their cage and fan their wings and tail. The 18 year old male seems the worse as he always
Food
on them. Once completely dry he should be placed under a
So I finally let
Your birds will probably lay
both perches are the same size. A
air with the interior air, Make frequent use of the fan option on the
To provide a means
glass. This
huge shadow over the window. The nest box should be located so the
(6) Naether, Carl A., Diamond Doves" Chapter 7 of Raising Doves and Pigeons. doves can be very fussy about the nesting material in their nest. livestock salt (for trace elements) (8).
like the opportunity to sit in the sun and look outside. Finally I had 1/8 of an inch plastic sheets custom made
Then
for outside flights and enclosures. their body over the eggs and double nesting the last two or three days before
See A Tribute to China for the latest
glass.
and dead, do not give up on him until you have attempted to bring his body
If it is large enough they will not need any free flight
because they were housed with finches. light at a high enough intensity but would damage the eyes without special
the roof of the opposite apartment building. David McKay Company, Inc., 1979, pp. dove page. such windows have their dangers. and female should have their own private cage for maximum happiness. leaving the rest as I do not have storage space for larger amounts. entrapment. for this information but expect to in the near future. The bowl shape will help keep the eggs in the center of the nest
finish on wooden furniture. The 18 year old male seems the worse as he always
It takes about one minute and a half to cut the strips from
when I place them on a platform near a window exposed to the afternoon
also fed them green peas by hand. To prevent "night frights"
the cage through the cage walls if they choose to. Sun lamps provide ultra violet
pushing their tails through the cage bars then you might consider increasing the
write in asking for a specific recommendation for a cage for their
who are more interested in breeding birds than having them as pets. It must be obtained in the open, through quartz glass, or through
may be easier for the baby birds to grasp. and push it all the way to the back of the container so that maximum shielding
cage with the label down. Your birds should receive a few hours of
expose your birds to such temperatures I would watch them carefully and if
Even if you do that
other alternative is through the use of pellet diets. Mark off five inches on this ring to be the width of the backboard.
not be cleaned and plastic is less likely to scratch furniture.
than seed or have access to another source of Vitamin D3 the matter is not
Many people complain that bird droppings destroy the stain
and twist them together to make two long "twisties". circumference ring. we started this web site For additional information I strongly recommend reading Dr. Matthew Vriend's
only block out a minimum of light. health after several months.
windows if that is possible. year when sunlight is available. is subject to sudden movements and noise. allowing your birds out of their cage(s) be sure all windows are closed and
most of the ultra violet rays filtered out. walks ok, but she has crossed beaks, is bald, and has a tumor under her wing
thing. he left before I could get a photo.. It has a flat top
bottom of the container as shown in the photograph. mate. to fasten the nest box securely to the cage wall make four holes in the
Cage and Contents
Sunlight is needed to promote feather growth and to inhibit the
Care of Very Old Birds
New York:
have gotten trapped inside the shield and could not get out. (Like
The
health after several months. where they can go to roost at night. covered with curtains or blinds, all mirrors are covered, all other pets are
Full spectrum lights available today do not have sufficient strength to
birds at the west facing window and suddenly there was a very large bang and a
"incubate" them for the normal 14 day incubation period. if there is only a single bird being kept. the vertical lines. Cages should be located in rooms that have south facing
will carry feathers and other trash into the shield and dump it in the water
cut the two vertical lines being careful not to extend the cut below the bottom
They are not allowed on furniture, lampshades, or picture frames. to the outside of the nest box and then folding the other half to the inside of
find that when the temperatures drop below 60 in my apartment in the winter,
The male's legs are paralyzed but he manages to shuffle around
in cage seed cups but will require low containers like large plastic bottle
be obtained from full spectrum lamps or from sunlight through ordinary window
leaving the rest as I do not have storage space for larger amounts. something. So far there
A nest box is attached
glasses. would have gone right through the screen. It takes about one minute and a half to cut the strips from
Books of Interest
The male of our second oldest pair is about 18 years old and his mate was purchased in
Their beaks may develop abnormal growth patterns that require weekly trimming
nest box. Fortunately that
keep you bird healthy and happy, Reading, MA , Addison-Wesey
Breeders Directory, 2009, Leesburg Printing, Leesburg, Florida. and started pecking the scissors and then looking me in the eye. The association also recommends the use of a mixture of 80% Calcium
In my opinion, if you asked the diamonds what kind of housing they would prefer to
windows made of certain clear plastics, or possibly use the new screens that
on them. Full spectrum lights available today do not have sufficient strength to
50% white millet.
container two to two and a half inches from the bottom of the container. He spent a considerable amount of time asking me to cut more and more strips, by
hawk trying to penetrate the glass. A high percentage of these birds also had the calcium/phosphorus ratio out
This was a first. cage. cages should be located in an area of human activity but not in a area that
The only alternatives I know are to obtain quartz window glass,
against the window glass. of red of livestock salt in a treat cup (a large plastic bottle top) and change
He then came back and chose a few more pieces and made several trips
diets are usually lacking in vitamin A, vitamin D3, calcium levels, and phosphorous. Sooner or later they will fly occasional loops around the living room. Diamond
treatment and likes to sleep except when he is eating. and a hairdryer,
time consuming process. Some people provide an entire room for the doves which eliminates
the cage if there is one less the nesting material will fall through the
They have shown little interest in
mentioned above in the Environmental Concerns section, adequate sunlight can not
The "twisties" can be wound around the vertical bars (if
vitamin D3. many of the problems one has when you keep birds in your living area. (4) Gos, Michael W., Doves. To provide a means
They also recommend treats including
spray millet, corn bread, wheat bread, sweet potatoes, crumbled hard boiled
you have space for in your home. has sunlight available for about 45 minutes each day. North facing rooms should be avoided. picked one up and flew back into his cage and up to his nest and gave it to his
may not make very good pets and will be difficult to handle. Diamonds
Currently all four birds are maintaining their body weight and show no
baby yourself, humidity can be increased by placing a bowl of water adjacent
finished nest box to the cage wall. It has the dimensions of 13 inches across the front, 15 inches on the side,
Step Seven of Nest Box Construction7.
who have leg problems may soil themselves when they defecate and may need
Some Bird stories
really warm. walls and ceiling, And then I could see that outside there was a huge
expose your birds to such temperatures I would watch them carefully and if
perch far enough away from the nest box so the bird's stools does not fall into
in the draft of an air conditioner duct.
I have had several people write me that
lamp with one of their wings and tails fanned out. Both Hatched Out in January 1985
It takes about one minute and a half to cut the strips from
So far the plastic does not have any scratches in it and does not
If you do not want babies, the eggs can be removed after
They can easily be cleaned with hot water and a soft paper
of different sizes to avoid crampy, sore feet. your other pets do not appear to pay attention to your birds, that the situation
number of times. Through experience I have found the best way
container two to two and a half inches from the bottom of the container. Frequent cleaning of the cages and the
keeps females from laying new eggs every few days and ending up with low calcium
who have leg problems may soil themselves when they defecate and may need
In the late 1990s, Dr .Laurie Hess of the Animal Medical
Finally cut the bottom circumference ring being careful not
constant trimming. A ratio (calcium to phosphorus) in excess of 2:1 will
find that when the temperatures drop below 60 in my apartment in the winter,
hot for doves. If the glass has been open, I am sure the bird
There are some commercial shields available but I have had problems using that in the past as some birds
One of our cage lights that the doves like the best. which has to be periodically cut off. If your cages are located in a dark area in your home
in the holes in the backboard as shown. my diamonds will fluff and get as close to the lamps in their cages as they
chopped up egg whites and ground up egg shells. The
At the present (2009) we use a wild finch seed which includes the components
are specific humidity requirements for incubating eggs and the raising of baby
In the right hand corner is some
One person made the
provide a night light for your birds. information on King and China
And although I have not run
1994 , pp. The photos below illustrate the method we use to construct the nest box. or if the area becomes cool, you may want to add lights in each cage that is attached to a timer. vertical lines five inches long. towel. spray millet, corn bread, wheat bread, sweet potatoes, crumbled hard boiled
this section is new on this web site. Step
using his wings. solid pine arm rest. dove was unable to back out so essentially was stuck in the water. obtaining just the right kind of nesting material for his nestDiamond
into it yet birds can get cancer. to the nest where the baby is being kept. cuttlebone is located on the left cage wall which is positioned so the birds can
top of the box is a little below the highest perch. the backboard along the 5 inch horizontal line. Many people complain that bird droppings destroy the stain
unattended a predator might find a way to hurt them. He spent a considerable amount of time asking me to cut more and more strips, by
obtaining just the right kind of nesting material for his nestDiamond
The perches in a bird cage should be
First take a felt tip pen and a ruler and mark a ring on the
day the window with the screen was closed because the temperature was below 70
If you use less than
The east facing window has only regular
Then using a clean face cloth, paper towel, a lamp. Once completely dry he should be placed under a
against allowing your birds to sun themselves near a screened window or in
In addition we are now providing ground oyster shell and red
and snakes can also cause a high level of stress. would not remove him from the water until he has had the opportunity to become
will walk around their table or will fly up to the roof of their cages where it is warm because of the lights inside the cages. periodic bathing (and careful drying) - see below. With all the movement of air that is needed to keep dust
and injuries, I feel it is absolutely necessary to
methods are inadequate for allow birds to synthesize Vitamin D3 which
content and is reported to be preferred by many doves.
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