Doves vs Pigeons as pets

[Myth]

Hello every one! I am a lover of doves and pigeons but have only owned ring neck doves. I love them and adore them as pets because of their gentle nature and ability to form tight bonds with their owners, not to mention how silly they can be when they laugh and what not. I would like to hear peoples experiences and opinions on which they prefer as pets. I was told pigeons are less affectionate then doves, is this true? can owners of both birds please tell us which ones you prefer more over the other and why? I would love to get the pros and cons of both of them as pets. thank you!

 

[Veer67]

I've never had pigeons before but I do keep a few zebra finches (I used to have a lot). Pigeons and doves are the same bird though pigeon usually refers to the bigger bird and doves the smaller of the two. http://www.doveline.com/html/dove-information.html

 

[Myth]

I've never had pigeons before but I do keep a few zebra finches (I used to have a lot). Pigeons and doves are the same bird though pigeon usually refers to the bigger bird and doves the smaller of the two. http://www.doveline.com/html/dove-information.html

thank you veer67 but though they are very closely related they are not the "exact" same bird, pigeons and doves have many differences, saying they are the same is like saying a Pomeranian is the same as a Alaskan malamute just because they are a dog. doves and pigeons have their own traits and pros and cons and that is why I am asking.

 

[Veer67]

thank you veer67 but though they are very closely related they are not the "exact" same bird, pigeons and doves have many differences, saying they are the same is like saying a Pomeranian is the same as a Alaskan malamute just because they are a dog. doves and pigeons have their own traits and pros and cons and that is why I am asking.

Yeah, pigeons and doves aren't really my strong point.

 

[Myth]

lol no worries ^_^

 

[Synthem]

I would love to know this as well.

I haven't owned either — although I plan to build an aviary next spring and intend for my first two inhabitants to be ringnecks — and have heard much the same. Ringnecks are gentle and tame, pigeons less so, more skittish, etc... I do not know how much truth there is to that, though. I have also heard that it depends on the type of pigeon, and that King Pigeons are also gentle, leisurely birds in nature.

 

[Pigeon Power]

Doves from my experience are much less aggressive. However certain breeds of pigeon (again from my experience) are better for pets and are so very sweet. Any hand raised male or human condition male pigeon is a jerk and will most likely attack you and other people any chance they can get. Or try and mate with your hand, arm, ect. But they are good for hand battles....However I've had some lovely female pigeons that were very very loving and affectionate...One in particular I had would come to her name, love to snuggle and groom me I miss her lots

 

[Kleonaptra]

What does an indian fantail count as? I have a male pigeon and he was hand reared, as Pigeon Power says yeah, I suppose he is a jerk, he does all that agressive stuff, attacks my hand, tries to mate with me, but I find it very sweet. The female, the indian fantail, is cold as ice. Doesnt like to be touched or handled, coos and gives me the fiercest looks if I even think of touching her. Thats why Im raising their squabs right now, they dont make a good parenting team!

 

[Pigeon Power]

Indian fantails are in the oriental class of pigeons. Don't get me wrong I love my male birds...but they are little butts And after all every bird is different and has their own personality. So it doesn't surprise me that your female is distant, she is just who she is. Along with every person as their own preference. I always preferred pigeons over doves(I've had both) because I feel they are smarter, spunky, sweeter (when they are sweet), and have more personality. However I'm sure their are many out their who would disagree! Just depends on whatever YOU connect with most as a person! This all just based of my experience and I like everyone have my own biases and so its just my own individual point of view!

 

[Hokum Coco]

I have to agree with all your statements comparing doves to most pigeons from the few people I know in province that own homing pigeons.

However I am that one exception to the rule.

When I enter the loft all I have to do is sit down and I am swarmed with pigeons.
When I am out in the yard I can call close to 15 birds on my command (In a perfect world if few people are around and keep their distance). If you bought an adult homer from me you would have only on alternative. That would be to keep the bird prisoner the rest of it's natural life.

Check out the link and see what one bird accomplished when it escaped.

https://maps.google.ca/maps?saddr=2...vE1FfsgXOTDHtFd0x4VFqig&oq=Ott&mra=ls&t=m&z=7

I do enjoy dove calls but out side of that give me a good homing pigeon any day.

On another note:
Here is a recount of a memorable day in our household


Piper

My grand daughter's hand-raised, orphaned-homer failed to return on a 20 mile toss. It was one of the few times she did not accompany me on a release. She suffered tears and heartache when I told her of the loss.

Amazingly when I went to close up the loft at dusk what should come flying in but (her pigeon) Piper!

I checked him over and he was tore open from his neck to his tail feathers.

My first instinct was to put him out of his misery. I however brought him into the house for a better look. My wife flushed out the wound with a saline solution and I glued him back together with crazy glue. He was good to go in about 5 days

This is him incubating eggs after his ordeal. .

My grand daughter was On The MOON when I told her of Pipers return. Grand daughter has experienced love, loss, heartache. first aid, joy, responsibility, and kinship with yours truly. She has also developed special bonds with some of our doves who prefer her company over mine when she comes into the loft with me.

It has given her a good subject for presentation at school as well.

We also are starting up a small enterprise with white dove releases (Pipers parents were both solid snow white just for the record).




Pipers Parents

Grand daughter did her first dove release at a wedding last fall also another release for an anti bulling campaign at her grade school.

With the aid of the Internet she has also become somewhat of an authority on homing pigeons. She definitely knows more than the average 12 year old on the subject and can talk your ear off.

This was relayed to me by her teacher after she was forced to cut off a presentation she made when the question period looked like it was not going to end.

She would rather hang out with Hokum (her name for me since she was one) then any of her friends or parents (for that matter).

However she will be entering her teens next year (make-up and boys will probably soon shove me aside).

I know however that these birds have made her a better person regardless what comes in the future.

Plus I have another grand daughter who is only turned 3 and calls me Coco (since she was one).




Picture of Back Yard