KEEPING DOVES IN YOUR DOVECOTE

First major point about these doves is they fly, take care in taking them out of the box, and do not lose them on day one! Let them take time to see their new home.

There are two common methods to keep your birds safe during homing; either a caged box fixed to your dovecote or a net draped over your dovecote and firmly secured to the ground to prevent any unwanted access in or out of your dovecote. Personally I would recommend the net method, as it's kinder and allows the birds the freedom to stretch their wings during the weeks of homing; During this period they establish a magnetic sense of homing to the dovecote.

Be sure they are happy birds before you remove the cage or net, minimum time is about four weeks for young birds, longer for adults. This breaking in to your dovecote is the hardest part of keeping your new doves, if you time it right and follow my next note by the letter your doves should stay.

Doves need water and grain to keep them growing, in fact you must provide water immediately you receive your birds, dehydration is a fast killer to young doves.

Top tip: if using the cage method, buy two hook on feeders you can secure to the mesh of the cage, thus preventing the doves from tipping their food and water over.

You must feed and water your doves every day... the day before you wish to fly the doves only give them a few grains. Fly day should see them keen to feed; they will then return to seek their food and water.

Do not over feed them prior to fly day as they may take off never to be seen again. Once your doves are happy you should not lose them.

Your new dovecote is a perfect environment - it's dry and warm; two key elements to successfully keeping doves.

Feed your doves with wheat or layers pellets, tic beans or any round grains; avoid cracked maize as it scours the mouth which leads to canker of the mouth. Your local pet store should be able to advise you on the most suitable feed. If you feed them right and keep them dry and warm you should be able to keep them healthy.

Predators are normally cats and hawks. If you live in the Highlands, pine martens are also on the predator list to watch out for.

Cats are a problem; you should pay close inspection to the siting of the dovecote, keep it away from trees and large shrubs. NOTHING will deter a cat from an easy kill, so to avoid coming home to find a pile of feathers on your lawn, keep a look out on how they enter your garden etc., and do your best to deter them. If you have a lot of cats in your area pick doves with flat tails not the shuttlecock tailed variety. Larger tailed birds take longer to get off the ground and are probably more suited to an aviary set-up.

If you let your doves have a bath, please be present - they are quite vulnerable to predators until they are dry enough to take off ...and it's great fun to watch them all pile into even a small tray to have a splash about!!

Dogs tend not to be a problem if you control the dog by simply introducing the doves to the dog, given time they will get on fine.

Hawks.. the only solution if you have a breeding pair near you is an aviary type set up as they will empty your dovecote.

Stray pigeons must be removed from the dovecote as they may infect your birds with viruses that are rife in pigeon lofts which are overcrowded, do not allow your dovecote to become too overcrowded. To prevent this use false eggs (readily available from your local pet store) or simply take away the eggs.

Last points...HAVE FUN! ..but remember to always feed and water regularly!!

Any queries you may have, please don't hesitate to contact me.

I hope this guide has been useful to you and you enjoy both your doves and dovecote!

Kind regards

Mark