Ringneck Dove Care Sheet
We have kept Ringneck doves at the ranch for over 15 years.
Ringneck doves come in many colors. The most commonly sold color is white. They come
in gray, tangerine, pied and many variations. Ringneck doves are generally gentle and
sweet birds with good personalities. They cannot imitate sounds or speech, but have
several vocalizations that are quite beautiful.
We have kept Ringneck doves at the ranch for over 15 years.
Ringneck doves come in many colors. The most commonly sold color is white. They come
in gray, tangerine, pied and many variations. Ringneck doves are generally gentle and
sweet birds with good personalities. They cannot imitate sounds or speech, but have
several vocalizations that are quite beautiful.
Ringneck doves need a cage big enough for them to flap their wings without touching their wing
feathers and tail feathers on the cage bars. A large cockatiel cage would be suitable. For
ringnecks, the larger width and depth size is more important than height. 1 or 2 perches per
cage is enough...
My Ringnecks are accustomed to eating their food and drinking water out of open bowls placed
on the bottom of their cage. Avoid placing their bowls under perches, or the food and water will
get soiled.
My Ringnecks do well on a good wild bird seed mix, or a small hookbill mix. They also need a
small dish of grit and oyster shell available at all times. Ringnecks swallow their food whole, and
the grit helps them grind the food up internally for better digestion. The oyster shell is added for
the calcium, important to an egglayer’s diet...
Fresh water is essential to the health of all birds. Occasionally you can offer your doves an
additional large bowl of water to bathe in. They are comical to watch while bathing...Ringnecks
are generally very clean birds...You can also mist them with a light spray of water from a clean
spray bottle, in place of a full bath...
Ringnecks LOVE treats! Some like to nibble on greens pinned to the bars of their cage, or eat
them when chopped in a treat bowl. They also enjoy spray millet in their cages. Cornbread or
whole wheat bread crumbled, are also big favorites. They enjoy cooked and cooled mashed
sweet potato, cooked and cooled couscous, cottage cheese, shredded cheese, shredded
carrots, and a hard boiled egg, cooled and mashed with the shell included! (More added
calcium!) Offer these a few times a week, and only a spoonful per bird. Be sure to remove the
leftovers (if any) after a few hours, so that the food doesn’t spoil...
Ringneck doves are sweet natured and naturally tame. Give them a day or two to settle into their
new home, and begin to finger tame them. Talk to them and let them get used to your voice and
movements. Coax them onto your finger inside the cage, and then gently take them from their
cage. They will fly around the room, but will not fly for long and will settle down quickly. Patience
and time will pay off, and soon you will have a wonderful new friend...
feathers and tail feathers on the cage bars. A large cockatiel cage would be suitable. For
ringnecks, the larger width and depth size is more important than height. 1 or 2 perches per
cage is enough...
My Ringnecks are accustomed to eating their food and drinking water out of open bowls placed
on the bottom of their cage. Avoid placing their bowls under perches, or the food and water will
get soiled.
My Ringnecks do well on a good wild bird seed mix, or a small hookbill mix. They also need a
small dish of grit and oyster shell available at all times. Ringnecks swallow their food whole, and
the grit helps them grind the food up internally for better digestion. The oyster shell is added for
the calcium, important to an egglayer’s diet...
Fresh water is essential to the health of all birds. Occasionally you can offer your doves an
additional large bowl of water to bathe in. They are comical to watch while bathing...Ringnecks
are generally very clean birds...You can also mist them with a light spray of water from a clean
spray bottle, in place of a full bath...
Ringnecks LOVE treats! Some like to nibble on greens pinned to the bars of their cage, or eat
them when chopped in a treat bowl. They also enjoy spray millet in their cages. Cornbread or
whole wheat bread crumbled, are also big favorites. They enjoy cooked and cooled mashed
sweet potato, cooked and cooled couscous, cottage cheese, shredded cheese, shredded
carrots, and a hard boiled egg, cooled and mashed with the shell included! (More added
calcium!) Offer these a few times a week, and only a spoonful per bird. Be sure to remove the
leftovers (if any) after a few hours, so that the food doesn’t spoil...
Ringneck doves are sweet natured and naturally tame. Give them a day or two to settle into their
new home, and begin to finger tame them. Talk to them and let them get used to your voice and
movements. Coax them onto your finger inside the cage, and then gently take them from their
cage. They will fly around the room, but will not fly for long and will settle down quickly. Patience
and time will pay off, and soon you will have a wonderful new friend...
