Any Diamond Dove Parents out there?

[Lisagonmcgin]

My pair of diamond doves combo blue/silver will be one year June 21. They're completely healthy since purchased last February '08. They love their new home, yes, still trying to come up with names. Would appreciate any input,
however, with regards to their mating habits. He'll coo his head off, flutter his wings, follow her everywhere, but won't mount her. Is it too soon? I heard not, as I have homes the babies would eventually enjoy. They are a pair, have good nesting area; although i'm thinking of changing small finch nest (with dried grass cuttings the male took from my fingers!) to a larger one. In the past colder months they liked sitting on eggs together (2) & seems kinda small. Eggs aren't hatching.

My female Dia Dove likes to perch a top my wrought iron ornate curtain rod & he follows. Cage is clean, but like I said, in between laying she's always up their & he seems like he's trying to coax her to go elsewhere. Oh well, any feedback from Diamond Dove Parents would be appreciated. I realize there could be many implications for this situation, but a'm impatient!

Oh well, I hope to year from you soon.

Anticipating....

Lisa

[macawlover]

What kind of nest do you have? Is it covered or open? All of my diamond doves prefer to nest in the open nests, and I have never seen a pair in a closed "finch" one. They seem to like coconut fibers for nesting material, they loooovvee boiled eggs, shell and all! The extra protein is nice for the female, which is a double plus.
Good luck!! Just make sure you keep an eye on them when they have chicks. One of my pairs will pick on the babies at a certain age, so currently they have two babies with no tails! LOL

[Roger Harper]

Sounds like you need to put the doves in their cage.They probably need to be left alone.As for nest try just a small wicker basket.Don`t put hay/grass in nest just put in bottom of cage.They will make their own nest.But they usually use only a small amount of grass.I have one in bottom of cage sitting now hope to have babies middle of next week.Hope this helps.Just put them in cage and give them alone time.Nature will do the rest.