3 Ways to Set Up a Dove Habitat (2024)

Explore this Article

Co-authored byPippa Elliott, MRCVS

Last Updated: November 24, 2020Approved

1. 1

   Use a cage for smaller doves. Cages don't provide a lot of room for movement, so you should only house smaller doves in cages. Ringneck, Diamond, and Common Ground doves are small doves that will do well in a cage.

2. 2

   Choose a cage that allows your doves to flap their wings. If the cage is too small, it can restrict the dove’s movement. It should be able to at least flap its wings without hitting the sides of the cage.^[1]

   • For a pair of ringneck doves, the smallest cage you can use is one that is 4 feet (1.2m) (1.3 m) tall, by 3 feet (0.91 m) wide, by 3 feet deep.
   • For each additional dove in your cage, you should add approximately 6 inches (15 cm) to the height, width, and depth of the cage.

   Advertisem*nt

3. 3

   Use a cage with small, close-spaced bars. The bars need to be spaced close enough together that the doves cannot get out between them. Bars with more than ¾ inch (2 cm) of space between them are spaced too far apart.^[2]

4. 4

   Choose a partially enclosed cage. Doves will like the feeling of protection from a cage that has some walls that are solid. You can find these at most pet stores. The cage shouldn’t be totally enclosed, but it should have one wall, or a portion of a wall.^[3]

5. 5

   Use perches of differing textures and sizes. Each cage should have at least three perches inside of it. The smallest should be no less than ¾ inch (2 cm) in diameter so that the doves can comfortably grip it with their toes. Different textures will help keep the doves’ nails trimmed and their feet healthy.^[4]

   • Try installing perches of increasing size. Begin with a 3/4 inch (2 cm) perch at the top, then a 1 inch (2.5 cm) perch, and finally a 1.5 inch (3.75 cm) perch near the bottom.
   • Perches that imitate natural wood branches are best for your doves' feet. You can also try perches made from faux leather.
6. 6

   See Also

   What is a Dovecote? | PigeonpediaPigeon Towers: The Rise and Fall of a 17th-Century Status SymbolBefore Root Vegetables Came to Europe, Pigeon Coops Were the Pinnacle of Good Winter EatingThe Brief History of Dovecotes: The Beauty and Practicality of Dovecotes over the past 1000 years!

   Spread paper or grassy sod on the bottom of the cage. Doves will spend most of their time on the bottom of the cage. Because cage bottoms are made from wire, they won’t be comfortable for the birds to stand on. You can spread newspaper or grassy sod on the bottom to make it more comfortable.^[5]

7. 7

   Set up the cage in a bright, draft-free area. You should set up the cage somewhere that’s bright, but not in direct sunlight, since this will be too warm for the birds. You should also avoid areas that are drafty, since the breeze can be uncomfortable for the birds.^[6]

8. 8

   Use a night cover if lights will be turned on and off. Lights turning on and off at night – like they might be in a living room or bedroom or office – can be frightening for the doves. Instead, either place their cage somewhere where this isn’t an issue, or place a cover over their cage at night.^[7]

   Advertisem*nt

1. 1

   Use an aviary for medium birds. Mourning doves are the most popular species of medium sized doves. You can also use an aviary if you're housing multiple species that need plenty of room.

2. 2

   Set up a shelter than can be heated and cooled. Since aviaries are placed outside, you’ll need the capability to heat or cool the aviary to keep the birds comfortable. This usually means having a small heater for the aviary and some kind of fan system to cool it.^[8]

3. 3

   Orient the aviary south or southwest. This gives the birds access to enough sunlight. It also prevents there from being any shadows in the aviary, which can frighten the birds.^[9]

4. 4

   Ensure the aviary is big enough to accommodate your doves. The doves will thrive best in an aviary that has room for them to fly, as well as space near the top to roost and build nests. The aviary should be as big as you can afford to build it, but the smallest it should be is 7 feet (2.1 m) long by 4 feet (1.3 m) wide by 6 feet (2 m) high.

   • If possible, build the aviary big enough for you to walk into. This will make it easier to clean the aviary. But it can also give you space to sit on the floor or in a chair and spend time with your birds.
5. 5

   Use strong materials to keep out predators. You should use wildlife-proof mesh for the walls of your aviary, with openings less than .5 inch (1.3 cm) wide. Use strong wood for the frame of the aviary, and make sure you have strong locks on any doors.

   • Untreated pine or redwood are good, strong woods that you can use for framing your aviary.
6. 6

   Use poured cement for flooring. Poured cement will keep out any critters or predators. It's also easy to scrub clean. You can also use sand, with a layer of steel hardware cloth installed underneath it.^[10]

7. 7

   Provide roosting and perching areas. A flat shelf near the top of the aviary will work well as a roosting or nesting area for the doves. Place branches and other platforms throughout the rest of the aviary to give the doves somewhere to perch throughout the day.^[11]

8. 8

   Place their food and water on the ground. Doves forage, so they’ll like to have their food and water on the ground. The water should be in a bowl 2 to 4 inches (5 to 10 cm) deep so they can drink and bathe in it.

9. 9

   Add locks to the doors. Once your aviary is built, you'll need to make sure your birds can't get out and predators can't get in. You can install padlocks on the doors of your aviary to protect your birds.

10. 10

    Clean the aviary floors every day. You should scrape bird waste off of the floor of your aviary every day. You should also make sure that you're thoroughly cleaning the aviary at least once a week. This includes wiping down any perches, and cleaning food and water dishes.

    • Wear a face mask while you clean the aviary.

    Advertisem*nt

1. 1

   Set up a dovecote for free flight doves. Most doves can be trained to be free flight doves, except for the smallest species of doves. Ringneck and diamond doves should not be trained to be free flying.

   • Doves are safer when they travel in larger flocks, so you should really only be setting up a dovecote habitat if you have multiple doves. You should have at least four doves in your dovecote.
2. 2

   Allow doves to become accustomed to the dovecote first. If you let your doves fly without teaching them where “home” is, there’s a good chance they won’t come back. Enclose the dovecote with mesh so the birds can’t get out. Give them a few weeks to learn that this is where home is, and where they can find their food.^[12]

3. 3

   Feed doves in a dovecote mainly at night. This will teach them to return home in the evening to eat. If you feed them their heaviest meal in the morning, they might learn they can stay out all night, increasing the possibility of their getting injured or killed by predators.^[13]

4. 4

   Build a wallcote against the side of your house. The wallcote should include a compartment (or compartments) for the birds to nest in at night, as well as a landing platform. For two medium birds, the wallcote should be about 26 inches (67 cm) wide, 19 inches (49 cm) deep, and 16 inches (41 cm) tall.^[14]

   • The landing board should be about 8 inches (20 cm) wide, and you should also make an entrance hole that is 5 to 6 inches (13 to 15 cm) in diameter. You can place food and water dishes on the landing platform.
   • The wall you build the wallcote against should be flat, so that predators can’t climb the wall to reach your birds.^[15]
5. 5

   Use a gardencote to combine a dovecote with an aviary. If you have larger birds that need a bigger habitat, you can build an aviary that’s open on top. This allows the birds out for free flight but still gives them the larger comforts of an aviary. ^[16]

   Advertisem*nt

Expert Q&A

Ask a Question

Tips

Advertisem*nt

Warnings

Advertisem*nt

45 votes - 87%