Small doves

Trichomoniasis (canker)

SignsYellow-white masses in the mouth or throat, trouble swallowing, bad breath, beak held open, chicks or young birds suddenly losing weight

PreventionWash and refill drinking water and bowls daily. Quarantine new birds for 2 weeks or more. Have parent birds tested before breeding

Pigeon pox

SignsYellow wart-like scabs at the base of the beak, around the eyes and on the legs; white membranes in the mouth; swollen eyelids that cannot open

PreventionIn mosquito season, keep mosquitoes out with screens or a cage cover. Do not pick scabs. Isolate infected birds and see the vet

Chronic egg laying / low calcium

SignsLaying several times a month, trembling or unsteady legs, soft-shelled or shell-less eggs, dull feathers and weight loss

PreventionDo not over-provide nest material or nest bowls. Keep daylight to 12 hours or less. Always offer oyster shell grit and leafy greens. Discuss swapping in dummy eggs with your vet

Egg binding

SignsCrouching on the floor bobbing the tail up and down, straining, swollen abdomen, no droppings, legs not moving

PreventionCalcium deficiency and cold are triggers. Keep warm during winter laying. Check the weight and abdomen of hens with a laying history daily

Crop infection / candidiasis

SignsCrop stays swollen and does not empty, sour-smelling regurgitation, white residue in the mouth, reduced appetite

PreventionWash food and water bowls daily and discard old feed. Do not leave damp bedding. Be especially careful after antibiotics

Obesity / fatty liver

SignsRounded chest and belly with yellow fat, sluggish movement, overgrown beak or nails, rapid breathing

PreventionLimit fatty seeds such as sunflower and hemp; base the diet on small grains. Let the bird fly daily out of the cage and weigh it weekly

Head injury from panic flight

PreventionChoose cage width over height and line the ceiling with soft cloth. Cover the cage at night and avoid sudden noises or lights

First aidRest in a dark box, keep warm and do not handle. If there is bleeding, unsteadiness, unequal pupils or one eye held shut, see the vet the same day

Broken blood feather / bleeding

PreventionInspect the cage interior so feathers are not broken on narrow spaces or protrusions. During molt, do not startle the bird when it is out of the cage

First aidPress gauze on the base of the feather for 5 minutes. Do not pull it out. If bleeding continues or the bird is limp, see the vet while maintaining pressure

Leg fracture / sprain

PreventionDiamond doves have thin legs. Do not leave thread or hair on the floor. Use wire mesh small enough that legs cannot slip through

First aidRemove the perch and put food and water on the floor. Do not touch the leg or splint it. See the vet the same day

Pecking wounds from cage mates

PreventionAggression increases around the nest in breeding season. Provide escape spaces for each species and avoid overcrowding

First aidStop bleeding with pressure. Keep the injured bird warm in a separate cage. Wounds to the head or eyes need a vet the same day

Psittacosis

RouteInhaling dust from dried droppings, nasal discharge or feather dust

PreventionDampen droppings before cleaning and wear a mask. If a person has a persistent fever or cough, tell the doctor you keep birds

Bird-related hypersensitivity pneumonitis

RouteLong-term inhalation of feather dust and fine particles from droppings

PreventionDo not keep birds in the bedroom. Ventilate and use an air purifier. If a family member has a persistent cough or shortness of breath, see a doctor

Campylobacteriosis

RouteOral infection from hands or equipment that touched droppings

PreventionWash hands with soap after care. Do not wash food or water bowls in the kitchen

Red mites / northern fowl mites

RouteMove from nests or bedding onto human skin at night

PreventionReplace nest bowls and bedding regularly. If you find reddish-black dots in cage crevices, treat them and consult your vet

Food

• Small-grain dove or finch seed mix, morning and evening
• Always provide oyster shell or calcium powder and fine grit
• A small amount of leafy greens such as komatsuna or pea shoots daily

Water

• Fresh water at all times in a shallow dish the beak can reach into
• Change daily and scrub the container with a brush

Toys & play

• Bathing in a shallow dish (2–3 times a week)
• Scatter grain on the floor so the bird forages while walking
• Interaction with a mate or compatible cage mates

Nest, bed & hideout

• When not breeding, do not provide a nest bowl or nest material
• One wide perch placed high for sleeping at night

Bedding & litter

• Replace newspaper or pet sheets daily
• Do not spread thick sand or chips on the floor
• Remove droppings before they dry into powder

Cage / housing material

Wide wire-mesh cage. Line the ceiling with soft cloth or netting

Size & space

Wide cage at least 60 cm across. At least 45 cm across even for diamond doves

Layout

• One perch in the upper section, leaving the floor open
• Food and water on the wall side where droppings do not fall
• Nest bowl only when breeding is intended, in a quiet high spot

Placement notes

• Away from foot traffic and the front door, where sudden noises are rare
• Avoid direct sunlight by windows and cold drafts in winter

Exercise, free-roam & walks

• About 1 hour a day out of the cage with windows and curtains closed
• White doves have poor eyesight, so let them play at low heights
• Avoid loud noises and sudden movements while the bird is out

Temperature & humidity

Temperature18–28°C. Warm if below 15°C; sick birds about 30°C

Humidity40–60%. Avoid excessive dryness and condensation

Summer & winter

• In summer keep below 28°C with air conditioning and avoid direct sun
• In winter use a heater and cover to keep above 18°C, including at night

Nail trimming

If they catch on the perch, trim just the tips. If bleeding, apply pressure and see the vet

Brushing, skin & coat care

No brushing needed. Offer a bathing dish 2–3 times a week to keep feathers and feather dust clean

Other care

Check weekly for an overgrown beak, swelling around the eyes and scabs on the legs

Protection from predators

• Do not let the bird out in a room with cats or ferrets
• Do not take it onto the balcony; crows and raptors target it
• In summer prevent pox with mosquito netting or a cover

Foreign-body ingestion

Pecks at lint, hair, beads and plastic scraps on the floor. Clear the floor before letting the bird out. Regurgitation or loss of appetite needs a vet

Being stepped on

Walks on the floor and comes to your feet. Check where the bird is before walking. If stepped on, do not handle; rest in a dark box, and if it cannot walk go to the vet immediately

Getting pinched

Legs or wings get caught in sliding cage doors. Open and close slowly while watching the bird. Do not touch a caught leg; see the vet the same day

Falls

White doves have poor eyesight and easily collide with furniture or windows. Keep curtains closed and play at low heights. After a collision, rest in a dark box

Escape

Double-check windows and the front door are shut. Homing instinct is weak and it cannot survive outdoors. If it escapes, put the cage and food outside and call its name while waiting

Safe release procedure

1. Stop moving and stay quiet
2. With your free hand, wrap the bird from the back, wings included
3. Once it relaxes, gently hold the beak and release it
4. Return to the cage and darken it to let the bird calm down

After the release

Small dove bites are mild. Wash any wound under running water. Check the bird for bleeding or injury

What to tell the vet & what to bring

Dates and number of eggs laid, diet, photos of droppings, whether there are cage mates. Call ahead to a clinic that treats small birds

Checking consciousness, breathing & heartbeat

• Consciousness: do the eyes or head move in response to sound or touch
• Breathing: rise and fall of the chest. About 30–60 per minute at rest
• Heartbeat: lightly rest a finger on the chest. Over 200 per minute

Stopping bleeding

• Press with clean gauze for 5 minutes or more
• For nail bleeding apply pressure; do not pull out feathers
• If it does not stop, see the vet while maintaining pressure

Transport

• Small box or carrier lined with a towel, covered with cloth
• Attach a heat pack to the outside of the box and carry without shaking