Expert: Chrys Meatyard - 12/12/2006

Question
Hi I have been trying to send a picture I am not sure it is working though... Its white, full grown, I am guessing it is not a pigeon because it doesn't fly very far let us go and pick it up right off the street and there are lots of churches around.  Very clean no mites or lice no injuries no street smarts.I hope this helps THANKS FOR YOUR TIME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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-----Question-----
Hi a friend of mine found a white dove and I took it in.  I was wondering if it will get lonely by itself?  It is kept in my daughters room in a tank and gets let out daily.  It stays by the window which my daughters bed sit up against. It always seems to be as close as possible to her while in the tank.  Outside the tank it rarely flies and seems content to just sit here and there.  Also I was wondering does it mean anything if it coos allot or a little?  What is allot or a little?  It is being fed wild finch seed,gravel and of course water.  I just read about how it needs a flat surface kind of perch. I currently have a pretty thick perch in the tank right now with sanded perch covers. Is that ok?  I felt it would keep the nails trimmed and the perch cleaner.  If I have forgotten any little details let me know.  THANKS SO MUCH!
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Hi, Mary Grace.  Thanks for posting!

Before I can answer your questions, I need to know how big this bird is.  Can you describe it's size and featheration for me?  This will help me with what I need to tell you.

Thanks.

Chrys

Answer
Hi again, Mary Grace.

You can't send photos to this website I don't believe.  You can send me a photo at:  chrys.meatyard@wpafb.af.mil.  This is my work E-Mail address.  This bird could be a pigeon, but I can tell you once I see a photo.  

Although birds prefer other birds to humans, it's possible to keep a single dove/pigeon as a pet.  They make good pets, since they can't bite like a parrot does and they don't make any noise other than cooing.  If this is an adult bird, you can't keep it in a tank.  It needs to be outside in an aviary-type setting preferably.  You can keep it inside in a roomy cage sometimes, but pigeons/doves need room where they can fly, get direct sunlight, bathe in the rain, etc.  

The amount of cooing a bird does depends on the particular bird...there's no set amount that is normal or not.  This bird needs to be fed dove or pigeon grain, not wild finch seed.  It also needs grit, not gravel, and lots of water.  Doves/pigeons have 3 toes forward, 1 toe back (different from parrots), which means they need at least a 2-3 inch wide, flat perch, not a round perch.  You can use 2x4 or 2x4 or similar size wood to make perches.  DO NOT use sanded perch covers...they will ruin the bird's feet.  You'll need to trim toenails when/if they get too long.  Doves/pigeons can be messy, so be prepared to clean up after this bird!

Chrys