Dove care tools and calculators
There are 24 tools for doves on XpertsPet, sorted into 13 topics such as age, behavior, breeding, cost, environment and grooming. The cards above take you straight to each group. Below is a short guide to what they cover and which ones are most useful at different points in your dove's life.
Doves at a glance
With good care, doves typically live 12-20 years. Doves are granivores, which shapes what you feed and how much. Most adults weigh around 150-250 g. They mature quickly, at around 6 months.
Doves are gentle, quiet ground-feeders that need a wide cage rather than a tall one, since they walk more than they climb. They are far calmer than parrots and suit households that cannot tolerate screaming.
The health problems vets see most often in doves include canker (trichomoniasis), egg binding in hens, respiratory infection and external parasites.
Eggs usually take 14 to 18 days to hatch.
Dove quick facts
| Measure | Dove |
|---|---|
| Typical lifespan | 12–20 years |
| Adult weight | 5.3–8.8 oz (150–250 g) |
| Diet | Granivore |
| Mature at | About 6 months |
| Egg incubation | 14–18 days |
| Clutch size | 2–2 eggs |
| Humidity | 40–60% |
Where to start
- Thinking about getting a dove? Start with the cost tools to see what you are signing up for.
- Setting up a home? The housing calculators size the space and work out how much bedding or substrate you need.
- Unsure about feeding? The nutrition tools give a daily amount you can adjust as you go.
- Raising a young dove? Use the weight and growth tools to check it is on track.
- Caring for an older dove? The age tools show its life stage and what usually changes next.
Other companion birds
If you keep more than one kind of animal, there are tools for parrot, budgie, cockatiel and lovebird. You can also browse every pet on XpertsPet.