Can different dove breeds live together?

[sweets]

Hello,
I'm sorry if this isn't the right place to ask this question...

I have a laughing turtle dove, we hand raised him from when he was under 1 week old. He'll be 2 on Australia day

Anyways he always coos at my feet & my hands and he's really friendy but sometimes he can be very pushy and pecks and wingslaps and I wonder if he would want a mate. He's happy, his house is really big & he free-ranges in my room most of the day and I'm home most of the time so I give him lots of attention.

Also I can't get him a dove that's the same as him because they're all wild. So Can doves have mates that are a different breed to them? Someone on another forum said maybe a ringneck dove might work. My friend in Canada has a pair of ringneck doves and she said they're alot bigger than Booth.

So does anyone have any ideas or thoughts about it?

Thanks, Katie

[avinet]

Hi and welcome Katie - sounds like you have a nice collection of assorted pets!

In the east we usually call them the Senegal Dove after the scientific name Streptopelia senegalensis and they are sometimes available from breeders. However I suspect that in WA they are likely to be banned from sale since they are an introduced exotic species, and CALM in western Australia gets pretty upset about exotic animals in the state.

Your dove would probably appreciate a mate - of the opposite sex, if he is a male then they can be a bit aggressive to other males.

I would agree with your Canadian friend - there is a size difference and that very likely would be a problem. Similarly the Australian Diamond and Peaceful Doves are a bit smaller - again a problem.

My feeling that it is probably best with a hand raised dove that is 2 years old to keep him as a single bird - from my experience, hand raised doves need socializing with other doves at weaning time, else they become too human imprinted to satisfactorily become a dove later in life.

I know what you mean about them getting pushy - we had a Spotted Turtle Dove that we hand raised and if he flew to my shoulder and wasn't getting attention he would vigorously peck my ear - painful

cheers,

Mike

[sweets]

Thanks for the reply Mike, it was very helpful to get another opinion

I think he sees me as his mate because he imprinted on me when he was a baby. He also sees my feet & any clothing that is pink as his 'girlfriend' Booth hates my sister, which is weird 'cause she hand raised him too.

Yeah we can't get them as pets in WA...I only took him because he was going to be euthanised if I didn't take him & I loved him as soon as I saw him
So I feel a bit sad for him that he probably can't have a mate but I think he's happy enough & maybe he'll calm down a bit as he gets older.

Oh your dove used to peck aswell. They have quite sharp beaks hey! I can put up with it, he's my baby so I don't mind.

Thanks again,
Katie