Several months ago a white dove appeared at my door after a storm, and I brought it in. Found out about doves, discovered how to read the band around its leg and returned it to the friend of the previous owner (deceased) who kept doves in his barn. That man showed me how he handled doves and it looked so easy: chest against his middle with it legs folded back, relaxed.
It was ten years old, walked around and I loved her for a week. So quiet.
So later on I pined after the little thing and with more study, decided to go to the animal rescue shelter and buy one. The ends of his feathers were kind of grubby but he's a nice-looking bird. I sat out in my friend's car thinking about whether I wanted two birds (no) and which of a new couple (six weeks together) I wanted. Didn't really want eggs...I don't know what I was thinking! Guilt, guilt, guilt.
It cost eighty-five dollars, and it makes loud cooing. He coos at everything, but he also makes soft noises to communicate and is very expressive. This dove is a male and won't touch its feet on the ground. When he comes out of his cage he flies. On the internet I read about catching it with a tea towel.
I called up a middle-eastern friend who knows about birds and he said that because it was older than three months it could eventually learn anything but it would take a great deal of patience.
And he said the bird might "be silly" and refuse to bathe in water.
Don't know who is learning what but three times now I made so many feathers come out by catching it in the tea towel. And I've felt more remorse and guilt than all the years of raising my children.
First I had a flat perch made for him but he only poops the perch, and the bottom of his cage is left perfectly clean. So thrice a day I clean his perch which he won't get off of.
The last time he was out I caught him...I really don't ever want to catch him that way again. I'm going to use my hands next time.
I decided his foot cake was not acceptable. His feet were so clean because of my diligence but then he stepped on one of his home-made donuts.
So by this time I feel I am the worst bird owner in the world. More feathers came out...but I thought now that I have him I'll clean his little feet. My daughter tried to help me but it was going to take quite awhile and Adelais (his name) was awake but had gone limp. He was so limp I thought his toes were all broken. I made his feet all clean thinking "what is the point...his feet are useless...how's he going to stand?" I also saw what are called "blood feathers" which are his newly growing tail feathers.
In a few minutes his feet slowly start to flex, and I thought "ah ha" this is a thing that rabbits do, they kind of "faint". I finished up the job, and placed him on his perch and he was perfectly fine.
The good thing is: he's becoming whiter than white, because of the molt and the new feathers growing in.
Kind of like what happens to us as Christians. No wonder we're told to "wash each others' feet". It's a daily task we help each other with. The rest of the whitening process happens all by itself.
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