Difficulty: Moderately Easy
Things You’ll Need:
- Various types of bird seed
- Popcorn kernels
- Grit
- Grain and wheat
- Soft food
- Grubs and Worms
- Water
- Computer
- Internet access
Step1
Buy a package of bird seed that contains many small seeds. You can buy already made packages of feed for pigeons, wild birds, canaries or finches. Most doves eat small seeds such as millet because they can't break the coating off of the larger seeds like other birds can. They can eat small sunflower seeds and small popcorn kernels.
Step2
Add grit to your bird's diet. Birds need this to grind up their food for digestion. You can grind up egg or oyster shells. This also adds calcium to their diet. Feed the grit separately from the seeds.
Step3
Combine grain or wheat with the seeds. Doves enjoy many types of grain and small seeds. Some tropical doves eat fruit but common doves eat mainly seeds.
Step4
Feed your doves soft food with the seed mix. Some people add cut up hard boiled eggs or cornbread. The eggs add protein to their diet. Or you can add grubs and worms to their diet. You can also add greens on occasion.
Step5
Check that the food dishes, water dishes and cages are clean. You don't want your birds eating contaminated food or living in dirty conditions.
Step6
Provide doves with plenty of fresh water. Make sure you change the water often so the water doesn't get dirty. You don't want them to get sick. Have a separate bird bath for bathing.
Step7
Ask a veterinarian or pet shop owner which foods are best for your particular dove. Check websites like dovepage.com or gamebird.com for more information about feeding specific types of doves.