Ask Lafeber

Help!

I have a pair of ringneck doves. I adopted the male about 8 months ago. I already had a female ( her mate passed at 9 years old). She is also about 9 and I adopted a male about same age. I had the stupid idea of letting them hatch an egg…
she is beautiful but is mean to her mother. She attack’s constantly and chases her around. She will not leave her alone!!!
I want to keep all 3!! Will she ever stop picking on her mom. I have 4 post…swing, 2 feed dishes, 1 huge water bowl, thistle, round rope swing, grit in bowl….
Help! I love all there. The baby is so gentle when I hold her.
I have them in a XXL dog crate.

Hi Shelley,

You are going to need to get a separate cage for the chick. It is unusual that the chick is attacking the adult. Normally once the chicks are weaned, the adults will start to bully them to drive them away. It’s just natural instinct – they can be very territorial and will attack other doves who wander into the territory. It isn’t going to get better, and the attacks could escalate to the point that she kills the older bird.

Thank you for asking Lafeber,

Brenda