How to Feed Pet Doves Co-authored by Deanne Pawlisch, CVT, MA
Last Updated: June 6, 2025
Giving Your Dove the Right Food
|
Establishing a Feeding Schedule
|
Supplementing Your Dove's Diet
|Show more|Show less X
This article was co-authored by Deanne Pawlisch, CVT, MA. Deanne Pawlisch is a Certified Veterinary Technician, who does corporate training for veterinary practices and has taught at the NAVTA-approved Veterinary Assistant Program at the Harper College in Illinois. Deanne has been a Board Member of the Veterinary Emergency and Critical Care Foundation in San Antonio, Texas since 2011. She holds a BS in Anthropology from Loyola University and an MA in Anthropology from Northern Illinois University. This article has been viewed 21,133 times.
Doves can make great pets, as they are calm, gentle, and generally easy to care for. However, when you have a dove you should make feeding it properly a priority. Giving it proper nutrition on a regular basis can improve your bird's quality of life. It can also help your bird to stay healthy for years to come.
Steps
Method 1 Method 1 of 3:
Giving Your Dove the Right Food
1 Give your dove a seed mix. There are a variety of seed mixes that are made specifically for pigeons and doves. These typically contain a mixture of a variety of seeds, including millet and safflower seeds.
Seed mixes for doves are sold at most pet stores and online.
2 Introduce pellets into your dove's diet. In addition to seeds, many doves benefit from eating pellets. These pellets are engineered to give the bird proper nutrition and many nutrients that seeds can't, such as calcium.[1]XResearch source
Doves may not automatically start eating pellets if they are offered. You will need to transition your bird onto them by gradually mixing them into your bird's seeds.
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3 Provide fresh fruits and vegetables. Doves should be offered fresh fruits and vegetables alongside seeds and pellets. These add diversity to the bird's diet and give it a wide variety of nutrients. Some items to give your dove include lettuce, kale, broccoli, carrots, and apples.
Avoid giving your dove avocado. Avocados have a chemical in them, persin, that can be toxic and deadly to birds.[2]XResearch source
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Method 2 Method 2 of 3:
Establishing a Feeding Schedule
1 Feed your dove set meals. Unlike some pet birds that are allowed to graze on food all day, doves do well when given specific meals. The goal is to give your dove a set amount of food every morning and have the bird eat it all by the end of the day.
Doves should usually be given about 2 tablespoons (30 ml) or less of food a day.
Giving your dove a set amount of food minimizes seed waste and guarantees that your bird doesn't eat only high-calorie seeds out of its mix.
Monitoring the amount of food your dove is eating will also help you to notice when its appetite changes, a possible sign of illness.[3]XResearch source
2 Change out fruits and vegetables daily. Your dove should be given fresh fruits and vegetables every day. Older vegetables and fruits are not attractive to birds and can attract bugs and bacteria into the cage.[4]XResearch source
Take all uneaten fruits and vegetables out of your dove's cage after 2 hours.
3 Clean out feeding dishes daily. In addition to giving your dove new food daily, you should give it clean dishes daily. Keeping food and water dishes clean will minimize bacteria that the bird is exposed to and will help keep your bird healthy.[5]XResearch source
Even if a dish doesn't look physically dirty, it's a good idea to clean it.
Consider getting several food and water dishes for your dove's cage. If you have several you can switch them out daily and you will have time for them to dry before using them again.
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Method 3 Method 3 of 3:
Supplementing Your Dove's Diet
1 Keep fresh water in your dove's cage. In addition to fresh food, your dove needs access to fresh water at all times. This is very important for the bird and should not be overlooked.[6]XResearch source
Having a covered water dish will help keep the bird's water clean.
2 Place grit in your dove's cage. Provide your dove with a small amount of grit, crushed eggshell, or crushed oyster shells. Birds, such as doves and pigeons, who swallow seeds whole require grit for digestion of the seeds. Consider sprinkling it over the top of your dove's food, so that the bird gets a little bit daily.[7]XResearch source
Only give your bird a small amount of grit at a time. Overeating grit can cause digestive problems in birds.
3 Consider giving your dove additional dietary supplements. There are a variety of food additives and supplements that you can give your dove to help keep it healthy. Talk to your veterinarian about appropriate supplements and additives for your bird.[8]XResearch source
For example, some suggest adding brewer's yeast or cod liver oil to your bird's seed.
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Co-authored by: Deanne Pawlisch, CVT, MA Certified Veterinary Technician This article was co-authored by Deanne Pawlisch, CVT, MA. Deanne Pawlisch is a Certified Veterinary Technician, who does corporate training for veterinary practices and has taught at the NAVTA-approved Veterinary Assistant Program at the Harper College in Illinois. Deanne has been a Board Member of the Veterinary Emergency and Critical Care Foundation in San Antonio, Texas since 2011. She holds a BS in Anthropology from Loyola University and an MA in Anthropology from Northern Illinois University. This article has been viewed 21,133 times. 96 votes - 88% Co-authors: 6Updated: June 6, 2025 Views: 21,133
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Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 21,133 times.
Reader Success Stories
Allie Adams
Jul 30, 2019
"Very helpful. I currently have one ringneck and am getting another in a few days. Just thought I'd make sure I had everything right. Thanks!"..." more
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Yes No Advertisement Cookies make wikiHow better. By continuing to use our site, you agree to our cookie policy. Co-authored by: Deanne Pawlisch, CVT, MA Certified Veterinary Technician Co-authors: 6Updated: June 6, 2025 Views: 21,13388% of readers found this article helpful. 96 votes - 88% Click a star to add your vote
Allie Adams
Jul 30, 2019
"Very helpful. I currently have one ringneck and am getting another in a few days. Just thought I'd make sure I had everything right. Thanks!"..." more
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Feb 7, 2018
"It was all good. Am caring for another's birds and had no directions." More success stories Hide success stories
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Co-authored by: Deanne Pawlisch, CVT, MA Certified Veterinary Technician This article was co-authored by Deanne Pawlisch, CVT, MA. Deanne Pawlisch is a Certified Veterinary Technician, who does corporate training for veterinary practices and has taught at the NAVTA-approved Veterinary Assistant Program at the Harper College in Illinois. Deanne has been a Board Member of the Veterinary Emergency and Critical Care Foundation in San Antonio, Texas since 2011. She holds a BS in Anthropology from Loyola University and an MA in Anthropology from Northern Illinois University. This article has been viewed 21,133 times. 96 votes - 88% Co-authors: 6 Updated: June 6, 2025 Views: 21,133 
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482 
1 Give your dove a seed mix. There are a variety of seed mixes that are made specifically for pigeons and doves. These typically contain a mixture of a variety of seeds, including millet and safflower seeds. 
2 Introduce pellets into your dove's diet. In addition to seeds, many doves benefit from eating pellets. These pellets are engineered to give the bird proper nutrition and many nutrients that seeds can't, such as calcium.[1] 
3 Provide fresh fruits and vegetables. Doves should be offered fresh fruits and vegetables alongside seeds and pellets. These add diversity to the bird's diet and give it a wide variety of nutrients. Some items to give your dove include lettuce, kale, broccoli, carrots, and apples. 
1 Feed your dove set meals. Unlike some pet birds that are allowed to graze on food all day, doves do well when given specific meals. The goal is to give your dove a set amount of food every morning and have the bird eat it all by the end of the day. 
2 Change out fruits and vegetables daily. Your dove should be given fresh fruits and vegetables every day. Older vegetables and fruits are not attractive to birds and can attract bugs and bacteria into the cage.[4] 
3 Clean out feeding dishes daily. In addition to giving your dove new food daily, you should give it clean dishes daily. Keeping food and water dishes clean will minimize bacteria that the bird is exposed to and will help keep your bird healthy.[5] 
1 Keep fresh water in your dove's cage. In addition to fresh food, your dove needs access to fresh water at all times. This is very important for the bird and should not be overlooked.[6] 
2 Place grit in your dove's cage. Provide your dove with a small amount of grit, crushed eggshell, or crushed oyster shells. Birds, such as doves and pigeons, who swallow seeds whole require grit for digestion of the seeds. Consider sprinkling it over the top of your dove's food, so that the bird gets a little bit daily.[7] 
3 Consider giving your dove additional dietary supplements. There are a variety of food additives and supplements that you can give your dove to help keep it healthy. Talk to your veterinarian about appropriate supplements and additives for your bird.[8]