They are 2 years old and are of great health and vitality. They have spent their whole lives with each other and with me. They are 100% tame and domesticated. In fact, the white peace dove has been living in captivity since the time of Christ and cannot live in the wild. [Many newlyweds who release doves on their wedding day do not realize that it is a death sentence for the doves.]
Pure and Innocent (whom you can certainly rename) have wonderful personalities. They laugh out loud when they do something funny. They snuggle with each other when they feel affectionate. They chase and play with each other when given the space to do so. And they are very romantic and loving. The male courts the female by dancing for her. They even French kiss, twirling their little tongues! But their affections are not just for each other, for they simply LOVE to sit on their owner's shoulder or head. And, while they do enjoy an occasional rinse in the shower, bathing is not necessary for this type of bird to stay and smell clean.
Doves are easily handled by small children, coo gently throughout the day (although not constantly), and love to snuggle with each other. The female will lay 2 eggs a month and they are usually fertile. Together the husband and wife share the responsibility of sitting on the eggs. It is cute to watch them change shifts!
If you do not wish for the eggs to hatch, simply remove and discard them from the cage. [If you do not remove the eggs, they will hatch in about 14-18 days. Then, it takes 3 weeks from the time of hatching for the baby doves to be ready to live on their own.]
These gorgeous white doves are inexpensive to keep. Unlike other bird species, their wings do not need to be cut. Their toe nails do not need to be cut. There are no necessary visits to the veterinarian. And they prefer to eat the most inexpensive seed out there.
To welcome these birds into your home, you will need the following supplies:
1. a cage that is approximately two feet wide and contains perches
2. three feeding cups (one for water, one for seeds, and one for gravel)
3. fine gravel (sold in pet stores and necessary for birds' digestion)
4. a bag of mixed seeds, recommended for finches or canaries
Additional supplies which are great but not necessary include:
1. cuttlebone (to scrape on top of the food and water, to provide calcium)
2. bird iodine (available in pet stores to prevent iron deficiency)
3. powdered bird vitamins (to sprinkle on top of the food or water)
The responsibility of dove ownership is merely:
1. cleaning the cage daily or once every two days
2. changing the food and water daily
Doves love to fly when released from the cage, but--when they are in an environment they know and are comfortable with--they will naturally pause and leave a dropping in the cage before exiting the cage to fly.
I am not seeking any money for these doves. But I do ask for evidence from you (verbal or otherwise) that the doves will be well cared for, loved, and never released into the wild.
Please contact me with any questions! Just leave a comment below and include your email address so that I know how to contact you.
Thank you and God bless!
