Jillus Posted April 27, 2008 Share Posted April 27, 2008 Last week as an anniversary present my husband bought me four young white doves to go in my new dove cote. We did everythng by the book and had a large very strong homing net over the cote, secured to the ground by tent pegs and large bricks. The doves were wonderful and had settled in so well. On Friday I got back from a funeral to find the whole place in disarray. The net had obviously been viciously attacked and two large holes chewed in it. No sign of the babies but lots of feathers. While I was frantically searching the trees and shrubs my neighbour appeared to confess her large unruly labrador had got into the garden, eaten his way into the net and killed all four birds. I don't know why they had not got into the coop, I can only imgaine a large barking dog had disorientated them and they could not escape. The neighbour had removed the bloodied bodies to avoid further anguish. This sort of thing sickens me, especially as I had been assured by the specialist breeder that dogs would not go for the doves. I stupid was I? I am now in the process of looking at making a sort of homing cage to attach to the cote and with the money the neighbours have given me will be getting more doves once I feel able to. Are there any dove keepers out here with any tips for this novice. It is worthwhile pointing out that a year ago this same dog also attacked my hens which used to free range but because of the attack are now in a very large secure run. I really had thought that these animals would live happily side by side. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jules. Posted April 27, 2008 Share Posted April 27, 2008 I'm sorry to read this. Hope everything gets sorted. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Olly Posted April 27, 2008 Share Posted April 27, 2008 oh, how awful - you must have felt devastated. I'm glad your neighbour was honest enough to own up, thoughtful enough to remove the evidence, and has paid up for the damage. I'm afraid my feeling is that the neighbour should be keeping their dog in a secure run, rather than you having to protect your birds. Sorry I can't offer any advice on doves, but there's bound to be someone on here who will know about them. I do hope you can get some more, and keep them safely this time. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gamebird Posted April 27, 2008 Share Posted April 27, 2008 I'm so sorry to hear about your doves, particularly as they were a recent present. I suspect the dog is unruly because the owner can't control it Dogs and birds do get along. My black labrador, Oliver, wonders in amongst them and even when they fly or run past him he doesn't react. In fact he is a good fox watcher and my chickens follow him for safety. He is also good at clearing up their poo I have no experience of doves so cannot help you there but just wanted to assure you that not all dogs are bird eaters. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted April 27, 2008 Share Posted April 27, 2008 How dreaful for you. The very least I would expect from her is that she should replace the doves and secure the fence so that her animal can't behave like this again. He needs to be sent on a behaviour modification course. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jillus Posted April 27, 2008 Author Share Posted April 27, 2008 Thanks for all your support. I had a long talk with my neighbour today and she has got one of these special collars for the dog that you can 'zap' the dog with. She has had it for ages but so far she has only used it on the noise setting but intends to try and train the dog by letting him near my garden and giving him a slight tingle if he looks like coming nearer. Somewhat uncharitable I know ,but I would be more inclined to turn it up to full power...... I agree that it really should be up to her to keep the dog under her control but I feel that I have to protect my livestock myself just to make sure. It is awful as I don't want to fall out with the family, they are nice people, I just hope that what was said today gets done. Meanwhile my husband is busy designing and building a homing box for the dove cote so I can get my new doves soon. The original doves were all named, of course and after trying hard to choose names for them we are now having to have another think. As doves in Scotland are known as Doos we had Scooby, S"Ooops, word censored!"py, Doo Little and Doo Lally! At least I can smile a bit now but on Friday I was a wreck. Not unlike when we lost our adorable Scots Dumpy hen ,Tallulah. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gamebird Posted April 27, 2008 Share Posted April 27, 2008 I am so glad that this incident hasn't put you off getting more doves and pleased that your next door neighbour is trying to sort out her dog. Our previous neighbour used to have white doves and it was a joy to see them circling round. They are such pretty, peaceful birds. Please let us know when you get your new doves and what you decide to call them. Good luck. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chelsea Posted April 27, 2008 Share Posted April 27, 2008 so sorry to hear about your doves, how upsetting. I would maybe have a quiet word with your neighbour and try and conceal the entry point on where the dog is getting in your garden/secure the fence. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jillus Posted May 8, 2008 Author Share Posted May 8, 2008 My new doves are here. My husband built a Fort Knox type homing enclosure around the dovecote and not even the most determined animal can get in ( or out) They all have completely different characters to the original lot and have been named appropriatley. Lily, pure white and very elegant, Bully, because that is what he is, obviously top of the pecking order. Then we have Huffy who spends a lot of the time hunched up looking most unimpressed and finally Hindoo as she/he is half fantail crossed with an Indian. Doo being the Scots word for Dove. This wonderful weather has been great for dove watching, I am trying to persuade my husband I am not sitting guard but it is very relaxing just watching them.Pimms in hand, doves cooing in the background, sun shining, bliss! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gamebird Posted May 11, 2008 Share Posted May 11, 2008 I am so pleased you have a new flock of doves and hopefully they will now be safe. Enjoy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted May 12, 2008 Share Posted May 12, 2008 Congratulations. They sound lovely. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paola Posted May 18, 2008 Share Posted May 18, 2008 I'm afraid my feeling is that the neighbour should be keeping their dog in a secure run, rather than you having to protect your birds. I agree with Olly Glad it is a happy ending Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Becka Posted May 29, 2008 Share Posted May 29, 2008 I'd love to have doves in the garden. Are they easy to look after? How well do they cope with our 'changeable' weather? We catch the wind quite badly and regularly have trees down so I wonder how a dovecote would cope with this or would I need alternative accommodation during inclement weather? Hope you don't mind me asking so many questions, as you can see I'm really very interested! Becka Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lewis Posted May 29, 2008 Share Posted May 29, 2008 They sound cool. Have you got any pictures of 'Fort Knox' and the new doves I have always wanted a homing pigeon, they are v clever. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jillus Posted June 10, 2008 Author Share Posted June 10, 2008 Hello again. I was hoping to add a picture of Fort Knox but have failed miserably. The new doves have settled in very well and are due to be released in a couple of weeks time. So far they are very easy to look after, they must have clean water at all times, sometimes not very easy as they like to paddle and poo in it. They also need access to pink mineral pots all the time plus grit. I feed them a special pigeon conditioning mix at a rate of 35gms per dove per day. We have had some pretty windy weather up here since they arrived and although they are in the doo cote and homing run they just go into the cote to get out of the wind and rain. ( Unlike my hens who sit around, drookit looking bewildered!) The dovecote is securely anchored into the ground and also concreted in, it weighs a lot and this has to be done to keep it solid. The wind up here can blow quite fiercely. Have a look at my blog for pictures of the cote if you like. www.moonziedoos.blogspot.com Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paola Posted June 10, 2008 Share Posted June 10, 2008 Gorgeous cote and very beautiful doves Do let us know how it goes when you release them. Somebody near by has got a cote but used little cages on the entrances to keep them in and they also have got balloons on sticks a few feet away at each corner. I am assuming that this is to stop them from going to far. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jillus Posted June 10, 2008 Author Share Posted June 10, 2008 I would love to know what the balloons were all about. I am a fairly new dove keeper and every little bit of advice would help. I am still not sure how to go about things on the release day but I was told that if you don't feed them the day before you let them out and then put grain out once they are out, it makes them come back. I will let you know! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scramble Posted June 21, 2008 Share Posted June 21, 2008 I'm so sorry for your loss but glad that you're getting more, and that they'll be secure. I wish them long and happy lives Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jillus Posted June 25, 2008 Author Share Posted June 25, 2008 Just to let you know that two days ago we released the doves after 7 weeks in the homing cage and after a day sitting in the trees and the odd fly by, they all came home again. It is a great sight to see them on the lawn and on the roof doing what doves do. Wich appears to be not a lot, bet they are very restful to watch and I am loving having them. Again thanks for all the support and kind messages received. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gamebird Posted June 25, 2008 Share Posted June 25, 2008 That's really good news. I am so glad that everything has turned out so well after the dog attack. I hope you continue to enjoy your doves for many years to come. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
