We have been keeping ring neck doves for several years.
They are a great source of entertainment for our visitors, so we thought we would keep a photo diary of the nesting, hatching, growing etc.
We keep them in our porch. They are fed a high protein and high calcium mix of grains - the same layer ration we feed to our laying hens.
They produce young about every four to six weeks, almost always in pairs, similar to pigeons.
Laying is light stimulated - by the lengthening daylight hours in the spring.
We will post photos, taken each day showing their progress.
Each day will be a new post; the most recent will be at the top.
DAY 1 April 11 2011 First baby hatched out
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| The Dad- 8:00 pm. Baby hatched out overnight. Do you think this baby will be- white? or grey? or beige? when it is feathered out? |
The baby next to the second egg which will hatch out tomorrow.
The food pouch is not very full yet.
You will see it more full in the next photos as the day wears on.
Does it look like it could fit inside the egg?
The Dad tucks the baby and the egg under his breast feathers.
At laying time and hatching time the parents will often be together
on the nest.
They will also be together when they change shift.
The female (white in this case) sits at night, and the male takes
over in the morning for the day shift.
Egg and hatchling.
The Mom tucks the egg and baby under her breast feathers with
her beak.
Getting settled for the night - about 6:00 pm.
All tucked in!
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