Robinson Garden. Dovecote Guide. Bespoke Garden Products

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1 Robinson Garden Bespoke Garden Products Dovecote Guide

2 Contents 2 About us 3 Family run business 4 Workshop 5 Website 6 Blog 6 Materials 7 Our Dovecotes 8 What is a Dovecote 10 History of Dovecotes 12 Where do I position my Dovecote 16 Constructing your Dovecote 22 Care & Maintenance of your Dovecote 28 Homing and Keeping Doves 32 Dove feeding 39 Purchasing Doves 42 Breeding Doves 48 Doves health & wellbeing 49 Sources of Information 54 Shopping List 56 Bespoke Finials 57 Delivery 58 Social Media 58 Contact Information 59 Useful Websites 59

3 About Us The first stages of Robinson Garden arose in 2008 when an idea to have a Dovecote in our garden made us think; we could hand-craft one ourselves. After many stages of understanding how they were built, our first Dovecote was finally finished and proudly sitting in our front garden. The dovecote received attention from local residents asking where we purchased it. After telling them, we hand-crafted it ourselves, the interest grew larger and in late 2012 we started trading. Our core values have been the same since we have started. To sell bespoke, sustainable, high quality hand-crafted British garden products. Our products are unique in their own way creating that perfect added touch to your garden. When we first started, we only made Dovecotes but our design and technique have allowed us to produce other well known products such as Birdtables and Dog Kennels. We also have new and exciting products that are expected to be released in the near future that will proudly stand by our core values. 3

4 Family Run Business We are proud of our family business roots, having first established by father and son - Nigel and Dominic Robinson. Since then we have never looked back, with the new website in operation in 2015, driving forward into the 21st century and selling our well loved products throughout Europe and beyond. Since then we have delivered orders to proud gardeners, homeowners, retailers, garden designers and influential business people alike. Lets not forget, to some very fortunate local wildlife too. 4

5 Workshop Our workshop is based in our home county of Lincolnshire, England. All of our products are uniquely handcrafted in our workshop from start to finish, ensuring hiqh quality control. 5

6 Website Blog Our new website launched in early 2015 creating an elegant, easy to use online environment to view our products, learn more about our dedication and passion that we put into all of our bespoke garden products. Since our website has been launched we have been able to target clients across Europe including some well known garden centres, retailers and exterior garden designers. Orders can now be easily placed on our website with every step being considered to make a smooth and easy process which we believe is second to none against our competitors. Since launching the Robinson Garden website, we have been asked numerous questions by our clients which weren t entirely covered in other online blogs. We decided to create a blog with the aim of answering some of those important questions and apply our knowledge we have gained over the years. Please feel free to take a look at our online blog by visiting We try our best to keep it reguarly updated but if you have an questions that we are yet to answer, please contact us and we will try our best to accommodate your query. Our website has been uniquely designed in house allowing amendments and tweaks to made based on our previous clients experience and allowing continuous improvement. 6

7 Materials Timber A large makeup of our products are made from high quality timber. We ensure that we ethically source our timber the best possible way to protect our Global environment for future generations. All of our timber is hand picked and checked for it s high quality standard by our carpenters at our local timber merchants. Each piece of timber is FSC ethically sourced ensuring our manufacturing process is as environmentally friendly as possible. Paint From the undercoat to the main coats, all of the paint we use is Farrow & Ball. This well established and very popular English paint company takes pride on it s quality and environmentally friendly business values which both Farrow & Ball and Robinson Garden share. Slate Each piece of slate that we use is reclaimed Welsh slate, well known for its quality it s non-comparable to any other slate throughout the World, we know this because we have tried and tested all of them and we believe Welsh slate lives up to it s name for high quality and endurance. 7

8 Our Dovecotes Our bespoke Dovecotes are the perfect home for your well loved Doves. It is fully assembled and ready to use. We give you a choice for the Dovecote to be freestanding or ground fixed depending on your intentions. Our Designs Each Dovecote is suitable to accommodate six pairs of Doves all living in separate compartments. All pole mounted, it would perfectly suit any garden including smaller suburban gardens. We currently have three different designs depending on your own preference. Mayfair Dovecote A handcrafted dovecote with a slate roof and wooden roof ridges. Fantail Dovecote A handcrafted dovecote with a slate roof and slate sides on the roof. Dovedale Dovecote A handcrafted dovecote with a wooden roof and wooden roof ridges. 8

9 Specially designed nest boxes All our Dovecotes have 6 nest boxes which will comfortably house 6 nesting pairs. Each nest box is independent from the other which reduces the risk of the birds fighting. The nest boxes are just the right height for the birds to build a nest without being too airy or spacious so that the birds don t fill them with mess. The nest boxes are also designed to shelter the Doves well from the wind and rain. Each nest box has a unique annexed nest area hidden around the corner from the door. Independent balconies Doves need their own space so each nest box has it s own balcony from which the doves can sit, take off or land. If the balconies were joined together then the birds would walk around on to each other s balconies increasing the risk of fighting. The finish All of our dove cotes are supplied with the Farrow & Ball painted finish, completed to true Robinson Garden standards. In order to provide the most durable finish possible, the completed Dovecote is first given a coat of wood treater before being given a specialist undercoat. We then apply no less than three coats of the famous Farrow & Ball paint. 9

10 What is a Dovecote? A dovecote is a structure designed to house doves, pigeons, and other small birds dependent on your own preference. These structures provide a safe environment for pigeons to nest in, as well as creating a clear home base for the birds, this encourages them to settle and make a dovecote their ideal home. Modern dovecotes purchased today are often used to house racing pigeons and other hobby birds including ornamental doves. The keeping of ornamental doves in garden settings started to become popular during the 1920s, and this trend has continued right through to the present day. Over the years, there has been a vast array of names for these beautiful structures, examples include: dovecot, dove cote, dovecote, pigeon cote, dove house, Doocote and many more. You may be pleased to know, they all mean the same thing and derive from language and regional differences. A note on terminology: a dovecote or pigeon house may appear in English-language documents as a culverhouse, in Scots as a doocot and in Latin as a columbarium. Historically, pigeons and doves were an important food source for the wealthy, providing tender meat and eggs. These beautiful birds were also used to carry messages, and their manure was a great form of fertilizer. People kept varying numbers of birds in their dovecotes, in some parts of the world a flock of doves was a status symbol. In some regions of the United Kingdom, dovecote construction was regulated and ownership of the birds was restricted to people of a certain social rank. Some very fine examples of ornate dovecotes can be found at old manors in Europe. 10

11 Dovecote Designs Several basic design features are common to all dovecotes. They generally have a large number of compartments or cubbies to serve as individual nest holes, they are also elevated to deter predators. The shape of a dovecote varies widely; circular, square and octagonal dovecotes are all relatively common. Typically, the structure of the older and traditional dovecotes are large enough for someone to walk inside, and it was hollowed out, with the cubbies lining the inside walls. These dovecotes are very few and far between now as over the years they have been demolished or have been neglected. The remaining traditional dovecotes are protected to help preserve their history. In addition to the large traditional brick dovecotes, it is also possible to find much smaller structures, which are designed for estates, public and private gardens of any size. At Robinson Garden we specialise in producing wooden dovecotes that house up to six pairs of doves in specially crafted individual compartments to house each pair, making it ideal for a casual hobbyist who likes keeping birds but doesn t want to invest a lot of time and energy. 11

12 History of Dovecotes Dovecotes have been a feature of the British landscape for over a thousand years. They used to be a common sight especially at monasteries and manors, where the young birds, called squabs were highly valued for their tender and tasty meat. The structures could be massive buildings in some cases, housing hundreds of birds which foraged for food in the locality, much to the annoyance of local farmers. Some of these huge dovecotes have survived and are now protected buildings. These beautiful structures can be found at various sites all over the world. For centuries doves and pigeons were a valuable source of meat, manure and their feathers were used for mattresses and pillows. In the Middle Ages only manorial lords could keep these birds, so the few remaining medieval dovecotes are connected with manor houses, castles, parsonages or former monastic sites. The laws relaxed after about 1600 so many later farms had dovecotes, until their use declined after the 18th century. Nesting-boxes could be built into Norman castles. The later castle at Westenhanger has a dovecote tower that has been restored in recent years. Nesting-boxes can also be found above granaries or other farm buildings or even in parish churches, such as Compton Martin, Somerset. 12

13 Freestanding dovecotes are more common though. Medieval Dove cotes were usually round and massively built in stone. The circular plan enabled squabs (young doves or pigeons) to be collected from the nesting-boxes by a ladder attached to a revolving pole with arms, known as a potence. Examples survive at Dunster, Somerset (St. George s Church) and Kinwarton, Warwickshire (National Trust). However in Wales and the far west of England, dovecotes could have a domed stone roof, such as the Knights Templar dovecote in Garway, Herefordshire, built in If dovecotes were timber-framed, they had to be square, rectangular or polygonal. With a little ingenuity, a potence could still be used within some of these, for example the polygonal dovecote at Erddig, Wrexham, Clwyd (National Trust). Brick began to be used in the 16th century and lent itself to a variety of shapes, though a round plan remained popular. 13

14 Dovecotes ceased to be a matter of pride, and became socially unacceptable. Many were demolished, others were allowed to fall derelict. In some Dovecotes the pigeon entrance was blocked and were often converted for other purposes such as stables, granaries and cider houses. A detailed study in Somerset concluded that roughly five per cent of the total have survived to our own day. Outside the regions devoted to pastoral farming, few dovecotes survived the Napoleonic Wars without conversion; but in some places - Herefordshire and Nottinghamshire for example - they continued in use much longer. After the wars there was a partial revival, but it did not last. By the middle of the nineteenth century other developments in farming, and changes in the law, had effectively put an end to dovecotes. Though they may appear picturesque to modern eyes, dovecotes were functional buildings, almost always built in vernacular styles using local materials. However some of the later ones, particularly those belonging to large country houses, were consciously designed to be a feature in the landscape. Like other late Georgian garden features, they could be in any style that took the owner's fancy, such as the mock-gothic tower of Mounthooly Doocot, Aberdeenshire. 14

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16 Where do I position my Dovecote? When choosing the locality for your dovecote, a sheltered yet secure site will be essential. It is also important to avoid a position near to trees or fences, from where cats, foxes and other predators might be able to reach the birds. Can I buy a Dovecote for display purposes? Some choose to purchase a dovecote specifically for their picturesque beauty and they look very attractive in all types of gardens. There will be the occasional birds that will decide to nest in it during the season. If you wish to do this, it is essential that you keep the dovecote clean and avoid large amounts of mess being left on the dovecote. There is nothing to stop you from housing doves in the future. We have had customers in the past that have chosen to purchase a dovecote for display purposes and overtime, decided to purchase doves after a few years of owning their dove cote, building up their knowledge on how to keep doves. Either way it is a great edition to any garden. If you decide that you would like the dovecote for display purposes and you would prefer to not have any birds nest in the dovecote, it may be worth putting netting in the door openings from the inside. Dovecote homing netting would be suitable. 16

17 Will I need to do any Groundwork? Groundwork will entirely depend on the type of Dovecote that you are purchasing. At Robinson Garden we offer a wide choice of Dovecotes to suit any garden. We offer the choice of Freestanding or Ground fixed dovecotes. 17

18 Freestanding Dovecote By having a freestanding dovecote, it will allow you to move your dovecote anywhere you wish (providing two or more people move it with care). There are times where we have had clients that have decided that they may want to move home in the next few months or years and would like their dovecote to come with them to their new home. A freestanding dovecote is also very useful when it s been discovered that the position that the customer would have liked the dovecote to be, didn t have the correct ground properties to dig a suitable hole. All of these problems can be fixed with a freestanding dovecote. 18

19 Ground Fixed Dovecote If you have decided that you would like your dovecote in a particular place and you are able to do so in the correct means, the ground fixed option is perfect. If you purchase a dovecote from Robinson Garden and you choose the ground fixed option, it s essential to assess the ground and ensure it s suitable. 19

20 Do I need planning permission for my Dovecote? This question has been asked a few times and it is quite hard to answer. On the majority of occasions you will not require planning permission. The big questions lies in where is it going to be situated? Each situation is judged on different criteria, it may be the place you are planning to erect the dovecote is near a boundary or near a public footpath, listed building or an area of natural beauty. If you fall into these criteria, it may be a reason to seek further help and advice. As guidance they also say that the dovecote shouldn t stand taller than 3 meters without planning permission. All of our dovecotes are under this requirement so you should generally be ok. If you believe you think you will require planning permission please contact your local planning office about planning permission and if you need to apply. 20

21 How tall does the Dovecote need to be? As a general rule it needs to be high enough to prevent predators from attacking the doves when they are homed in the dovecote. Due to this, as guidance it has to be at least 2 meters high. All of our dovecotes meet these criteria and should prevent any attacks on the doves when homed. How do I keep predators away? Leading on from the previous question it s essential that predators are not encouraged to regularly try to attack the doves. The best advice is to ensure that dovecote is away from anything that may allow a predator such as a fox or cat to climb and easily attack. The doves won t feel comfortable if they feel they are vulnerable to attacks. The best place for a dovecote is away from anything else such as trees, shrubs, high walls, fences or other garden furniture. 21

22 Constructing your Dovecote 22

23 Erecting a ground fixed Dovecote If you have chosen to construct and fit your bespoke dovecote yourself, we have an easy guide to help you do it in a safe and easy manner. We would advise that there must be at least 2 people at all times. First step is to ensure that the main dovecote is attached to the post and the wooden pieces are screwed into place. (Only do this near where the dovecote is to be placed as it s very heavy.) We would advise three different methods depending on your own preferences, ground/ soil type as well as the tools and materials that you have. Whichever method you choose, you will need a hole. Before you start digging your hole, please consider where you are positioning your dovecote and ensure you consider the main points highlighted throughout our material. You must remember once concreted in, there s no going back. 23 Seperate compartments and balconies for each pair of Doves. 6 compartments in total.

24 Connecting to Dovecote The First step is to lean the dovecote on its side carefully making sure no damage is made to the dovecote. Once on it s side pick up the main post and guide it through the hole shown in the photo to the left. Make sure that the post is guided all the way through the hole, you can check this by looking through the compartments. Final Fixings This is the final step after you have placed your dovecote in your ideal location. The photo to the right photo shows the underneath of the dovecote. There are four pieces of wood between the post and the main dovecote, the wood needs to be screwed into the dovecote and the post. This further solidifies the structure of the dovecote. 24

25 Method One 25

26 Method Two 26

27 Method Three Once the hole is deep enough fill bottom layer with concrete ensuring the bottom of the post doesn t touch the soil. Once the post is positioned, fill the rest of the hole with concrete. 27

28 Care & Maintenance of your Dovecote Cleaning out your Dovecote From time to time it s important to ensure that the dovecote compartments are cleaned out. This can be a tedious and messy job but it s essential as with having any pets that their environment is clean to prevent infections, pests or vermin. It s important to do this when the doves have flown out the nest for the day. Some Dove experts advise lining the dovecote compartments with felt strips that can be easily replaced from time to time. Alternatively we would advise using a scraping tool to clean off the bulk of the mess and then apply a cloth with lukewarm soapy water to ensure all the mess is cleaned off. Avoid using strong odour cleaning products. Fairy liquid is most commonly used. 28

29 Slate Roof If you have one of our Robinson Garden Dovecotes with a reclaimed slate roof we would recommend that as a general up keep to ensure its continues to look elegant we would advise that you purchase some slate oil or teak oil. This can be purchased from most garden/ hardware stores and can you effectively paint the slate with the oil. Prevent using too much as it will drip. It creates a shine effect and brings the slate back to its former glory. It would be advised that the doves are not in the dovecote at the time due to it s odour. 29

30 The Annual Paint We would recommend that you repaint your dovecote annually, preferably in the spring months when the weather isn t too warm or too cold. Before you start, ensure the areas you are applying paint is clean. Some areas may need sanding down, do so with soft sandpaper and brush off any dust. If the sanding has reached the raw wood, reapply farrow and ball undercoat. Allow around 4 hours for the undercoat to dry and then continue to paint in the farrow and ball colour of your choice. 30

31 Farrow & Ball Paint We are proud that our all of our dovecotes are hand painted by our highly experienced carpenters with the care and dedication they deserve. At Robinson Garden you have the choice of all the Farrow and Ball colours, which allows you to fully customise the colour of your dovecote to a particular colour scheme you may have in mind. When re-ordering your paint, ensure you purchase the Farrow & Ball exterior eggshell paint. Undercoat We carefully apply Farrow and Ball wood knot & resin blocker to any areas that need treating as well as a layer of farrow & ball external undercoat. The main post is treated further to prevent the wood rotting and ensuring longevity when it s placed in the ground. 31

32 Homing & keeping Doves Our Bespoke Dovecotes are a beautiful edition to a garden of any size as well as being the perfect luxury home for your doves. There are a few things that need to be considered to successfully home and look after your doves. Doves are closely related to the pigeon family and incidentally they share the same homing instincts. Without the necessary temporary caging of the doves into the dovecote they will fly off with a highly likely chance you won t see them again. Preperation before you purchase Doves We recommend that you have the dovecote installed and have everything ready before you purchase your doves. 32

33 The Art of Confining In order to ensure that your Doves make your dovecote their permanent home you need to be fully confident this will happen before you set them free. To do this correctly, you will need to confine your doves into the dovecote for roughly 2-4 weeks before you let them free. The art of confining is done by covering the entire dovecote with dovecote homing netting ensuring the doves have access to food and water and there is no way the doves can escape. Homing Netting At Robinson Garden we recommend that you use a homing net when you are confining your doves. This net will cover the whole of the dovecote and will allow the doves to fly in and out of the dovecote allowing the doves to fully stretch and exercise their wings. Another method is fitting homing boxes, some other dovecote manufacturers advise this but we wouldn t recommend this due to various reasons. The homing net is spread out down the floor and secured using either of the following, pegs, planks of wood, weights or 33 bricks. By doing this, it creates a temporary aviary; ensure it is fully secured down to prevent predators such as cats and foxes entering the temporary aviary. The doves will be able to perch on the separate balconies that we put on each of the compartments, as it s important that the doves are not on the floor at night and are in the dovecote. Make sure the doves cannot hurt themselves or get trapped, and that the mesh size won t allow them to push their heads through and get trapped in that way either.

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38 Where can I purchase a homing netting? There are a few retailers that you can purchase one from however we recommend looking on ebay and typing in homing net dovecote. After the homing period After the homing period we would advise you to remove the net that temporarily covers the dovecote. Some sources advise to do this after dark to limit frightening the doves and others don t say a particular time. If you are an earlier riser it may be advised to take the netting off the evening before and check on them in the early hours the next morning. By removing the netting it will allow the doves to get used to their wider environment, avoid disturbing them too much during this period. We would also advise that you purchase some leg rings and attach to the dove with your name and telephone number before releasing them in case they get lost. 38

39 Dove Feeding 39

40 What do I feed the Doves when confined? Your local pet store should advise you more on this but we recommend that you feed them at a set time every day and generally feed them on a suitable ready mixed feed including corn, wheat, lentils and pulses. the rock doves that live and breed on cliffs around the coast. Course sea salt is advised to be added to their diet but be aware not to give them too much. A pinch of salt a week for 4 doves as a guidance would be sufficient. Ensure that you also provide them with pigeon grit and this allows them to break down the feed and properly digest the hard seeds they eat. Poultry grit is consider the best sort as it contains oyster shell and lime stone. Grit should always be available to the doves and can be put into a small dish or grit hopper. Salt also plays an important part in the dove s diet, this is mainly due to their relation to All food that is feed should be as fresh as possible and should be kept clean and dry. On average each dove eats roughly an ounce of feed a day, ensure you put enough feed out per dove on this guide. Doves also enjoy the occasional piece of bread. Ensure water is always available as it can be surprising how much they can drink. 40

41 How do I feed the doves when confined? We would advise purchasing a two-hook feeder/ feed hopper and place within the confined space outside of the dovecote. By having a feeder it allows you to place plenty of food into it so that the doves can choose when they want to eat. Alternatively you can scatter the feed, this can help the doves get used to you and their environment but avoid doing this if the weather is bad. If you choose to scatter the food you will need to do this three times a day. The feeders can be purchased from reputable pet shops and Internet pet stores. They are most commonly used for parrots and it allows the doves to cling onto the mesh safe and securely. 41

42 Purchasing Doves The Dove Family They are a large group of birds from the family columbidae, there s over 300 species of pigeons and doves around the World. As far as the doves that we keep in a dovecote, these are basically domestic pigeons but they all come from the same ancestor, the rock dove. Doves generally lay two eggs, the chicks from which are fed a substance called milk or crop milk, which is regurgitated into their mouths by their parents. They eat seeds, greens and fruits. What type of doves can live in a dovecote? Pigeons and doves are both species that descended from the rock dove. There are several types of doves that can be used for homing, to name a few these are the most popular: - 42

43 Fantail Doves These beautiful doves derive from the pigeon family originating from the blue rock pigeon and they are sometimes named doves or pigeons. The fantail doves are deemed as the most popular as they are heavier feathered and are one of the easiest to home. i. Garden Fantail Many experts in the industry describe them as having a spade like tail. They are ideal for a dovecote or aviary. ii. Full Fantails This variety is between the garden fantail and the exhibition fantail and they have an attractive appearance. Perfect for dovecotes and aviaries. iii. Exhibition Fantails These have large and rigid tails which restricts them from flying very well. Its advised that they are not suitable for Dovecotes. Garden Doves These are white birds that don t have a fantail and are ideal for an aviary or dovecote. These are most often used for weddings. Java Doves/ Magician Doves These are well known for being used by magicians for their magic tricks. These doves are NOT suitable for homing in a dovecote. Aviary Doves These doves are also NOT suitable for homing dovecote, as they unfortunately don t have the homing instincts required to survive in a dovecote. It s important to note that pigeons/ doves are fairly hardy birds that can successfully survive and acclimatise to the UK environment. They are the only birds that can be successfully introduced to a dovecote and then colonise. 43

44 Do Doves have a natural homing instinct? The rock dove makes a good starting point for a dove to be kept in a dovecote, first of all they have a homing instinct. They fly freely about but return to the same place to roost and breed. The rock doves adapt to dovecote life so well because they naturally live and breed on cliff faces, choosing to breed in gaps and cracks in the rock. This concept is mimicked by the compartments in a dovecote. Dovecote doves can be of any type you want, depending on your own preference, but they are most often pure white and have fantails. Where can I purchase Doves? There is a wide range of places for you to find Fantail doves for your Dovecote. Magazines The most popular include Feathered World and Cage and Aviary Birds. Newspaper The pet section of your local newspaper Websites There are a wide range of website, some of the most popular include

45 How many Doves do I purchase? Our Dovecote range can house 6 pairs of doves, however this doesn t mean you need to purchase 12 doves. Doves multiply and breed relatively quickly (a pair can breed up to 8 times a year) and purchasing too many doves can become more of a problem than a casual hobby. To keep on top of the numbers it may be necessary to replace the eggs with dummy eggs or remove the eggs and hard boil them and put them back. The doves will lay on the eggs until they realise they are infertile and will simply roll them out of the nest. Seasonal considerations when buying Doves When purchasing your birds there is very little seasonal considerations apart from the birds that will be available. Generally you will only be able to get young birds at the start of the year and you may have to wait a few months for breeding pairs or adults. Also at the end of the year the dove s feathers won t be perfect as they moult. We must advise that doves generally live in colonies and this must be taken into consideration before you purchase doves. If you purchase one or two they will fly off looking for a colony/ small group. Taking this into account it s advised to purchase between 4-6 doves. Old birds are generally more difficult to home and will sometimes try to find their previous home. It is also harder to introduce new birds to an established colony as the resident doves often defend their home against strangers. 45

46 What to look out for when purchasing Doves As you find with anything you purchase, you get what you pay for. You find that if someone is selling Doves marked down lower than most others, it s usually for a reason. Always try and find breeders that are highly rated or strongly recommended by other enthusiasts, you can do this by joining blog and forum websites such as TheDovecotespot.com where they have a dedicated forum to ask a wide range of questions. When looking at the birds there are a few things you need to look out for before purchasing. Check that the birds are clean and are not covered in droppings. They should have bright eyes that sparkle. Ensure that their feathers are tight to their body and not fluffed up as this is a sign of a sick bird. Ask the seller if you can pick up the doves, they should have solidness about them and not be underweight. If purchasing young birds, ensure they are feeding themselves. Ask if they have been wormed and treated for canker and paramyxo as these are big killers if not treated regularly. Ask as many questions as you wish to the seller and if you believe they are not to a high standard, walk away. 46

47 Sexing Birds from the pigeon family are very difficult to sex. The only sure way of telling is by watching their behaviour. The main things to notice include; The male tends to be slightly larger than the female, with a shorter and bolder head. The female has a slender head and neck which tends to make her beak appear longer. The male tends to show off more than the female and coos more loudly. It is the male that will collect and bring twigs to make a nest and sit inside the nest and coo to attract a female. Choosing the sex of the Doves This depends on your intention of the doves. If you want them to breed then obviously you choose a male and female (cock and hen). If you would like them for your dovecote and you don t want them to breed then you can keep two of the same sex together. Be aware that males will fight from time to time but they will do little harm to each other when free flying. It has also been noticed that two males tend to be less argumentative if there are no females around. 47

48 Breeding Doves If you are thinking of breeding doves, we would highly recommend that you look at a website that specialises in breeding doves. However we have a brief overview to get you started below. When your doves are contented and are paired, they will breed. A pair of dovecote doves produce a clutch of two eggs, which they incubate for just over two and a half weeks. The eggs appear about 10 days after mating. Then the young squabs are fed by both parents with regurgitated liquid food ( pigeons milk ), and they grow rapidly. By the age of four weeks they are ready to fly. In nature the parent birds would then drive them from the nest. Take care not to let your dovecote become overcrowded. This can be achieved by removing any laid eggs and replacing them with dummy eggs to prevent re-laying. 48

49 Doves Health & Wellbeing There are several common health problems that Doves can experience over their life. Some are more serious than others so as a matter of caution it s important to keep an eye on them. This is a quick overview of a few common problems, for more information seek advice from a dedicated website/ blog or consult with a Vet. As with any animals health prevention is the best cure and it s unlikely that your doves will have any health problems if they are housed correctly in dry clean conditions. Periodically, the dove compartments need to be scoured to remove detritus, which could promote the spread of disease among the birds. If you are buying new birds its sometimes best to keep them away from your own birds for a short time this gives you the chance to see if they are all well. 49

50 External Parasites All doves and pigeons will have lice, fleas or red mite, however if your bird looks a little off colour, then this is one of the first things you should look for. Lice live on the bird and do very little harm, fleas and red mite can live on and off the bird and feed on the blood and these can cause more harm and in worse scenarios lead to death. Parasites are introduced to the doves by wild birds so it cannot be avoided. The best way to deal with them is a regular spray of Johnson s anti mite will do the job. As well as the birds the nest box should also be sprayed. Internal Parasites These are spread by wild birds, tape and hair worm or possibly from new doves that have been introduced. As there are no signs of a worm infestation until it s too late we would recommend that you try to de-worm regularly. Garlic can also be effective as a natural remedy, this can be done by boiling a few cloves of crushed Garlic into a pan and then allow it to cool. It can then be put into the birds drinker for them to drink. It should be removed after a day and do this once a week. Dove Facts The average life span of a Dove ranges between 10 to 25 years depending on species. Doves reach maturity between six and twelve months. The Average weight of a Dove is between grams. The Average size of a Dove is between seven and twelve inches. It takes roughly two to three weeks for Doves eggs to hatch. 50

51 Canker This one of the most common problems to face all doves and pigeons and is brought on by stress and poor conditions. It is said that over 80% of all birds carry it. The problem with canker is that most of the time you re unable to tell until it s too late. Coccidiosis This is commonly called coxy and mainly appears in damp weather or when the aviary litter has been left to become wet as with canker coxy is very much stress related. The symptoms include diarrhoea and birds looking cold and mopey. Most of the treatments that are used are added to the bird s drinking water, there are several brands Hakers vanhee and Norvet. The first sign in an adult bird having ruffled feathers and looking life less. On closer inspection you will see a cheese looking mass on the inside of the mouth next to the join. This will grow so large that the bird will not be able to feed and if untreated could lead to death. The bird should be removed straight away, as it will soon spread to the rest of the group. As a general rule, birds should be treated every 6 months with Metronidozale tablets. These are given to the birds directly and it ensures that they all get treated. Measurement guidelines are 1/2 tablet per adult bird 1/4 for birds being weaned. 51

52 Handling Doves When handling your doves it s important to understand the correct way, prevents causing harm to your doves. The image to the right shows the correct way to handle the dove, with one hand, grasp the back of the dove ensuring you grip the legs in between two fingers and then with the second hand hold the front. This method prevents putting pressure on the doves lungs and is the most effective way to handle them. Do I need to clip the Dove s wings? Doves and pigeons wings should never be cut. Once they are cut and on the floor they will be unable to get back onto the dovecote to roost. The dove s feathers won t regrow until the next molt. 52

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54 Sources of Information Anon, (2015). Available at: Ariss, P., The dovecotes of Gloucestershire, Journal of the Historic Farm Buildings Group, vol. 6 (1992), Beacham, M.J.A., Dovecotes in England: an introduction and gazetteer, Transactions of the Ancient Monuments Society, vol. 34, (1990), Based on published material. Beaton, E., Doocots of Caithness (Scottish Vernacular Buildings Working Group 1980). Beaton, E., Doocots of Moray(Moray Field Club 1978). Buildinghistory.org, (2015). Researching the History of Dovecotes in Britain and Ireland. Available at: Buildinghistory.org, (2015). Researching the History of Dovecotes in Britain and Ireland. Available at: Cooke, A.O., Book of Dovecotes (1920), annotated by Helen Bresler. Covers England, Scotland and Wales. Includes bibliography. Davis, E.M., Dovecotes of south Cambridgeshire, Proceedings of the Cambridgeshire Antiquarian Society, vol.75 (1986), Dunn, M. et al., Doocots of Scotland: Lanarkshire (Scottish Vernacular Buildings Working Group 2006). Gillon, J., Doocots in Scotland, Context no. 57 (March 1998). Liberally illustrated article. Hansell, P. and J., Doves and Dovecotes (1988). Jeevar, P., Dovecotes of Cambridgeshire (1977). Lloyd, G., Flintshire dovecotes, Flintshire Historical Society Publications (1966), McCann, J., An historical enquiry into the design and use of dovecotes, Transactions of the Ancient Monuments Society, vol. 35, (1991). McCann, J., The Dovecotes of Suffolk (Suffolk Institute of Archaeology and History 1998). McCann, J., Two more Dovecotes of Suffolk, Proceedings of the Suffolk Institute of Archaeology and History, vol. 40(4) (2004), Mccannhistoricbuildings.co.uk, (2015). John McCann B.A. Consultant on Historic Buildings The Truth About Dovecotes Page. Available at: McCann, J., Dovecotes and pigeons in English law, Transactions of the Ancient Monument Society, vol. 44 (2000), McCann, J. and P., The Dovecotes of Historical Somerset (Somerset Vernacular Building Research Group 2004). 54

55 Peterkin, G.A.G., Scottish Dovecotes (1980). Pigeoncote.com, (2015). Dovecotes of Old England, Wales and Scotland. Available at: dovecote.html. Pigeons.co.uk, (2015). Boddy and RidewoodPigeon Warehouse pigeons.co.uk. Roberts, S., Dovecotes in the grand manner, Country Life, vol. 161 (1977), Robinson Garden, (2015). Robinson Garden - Bespoke Dovecote And Bird Houses. Available at: co.uk. Ross, D. (2015). Hawford Dovecote - History, Travel, and accommodation information. Britain Express. Available at: Severn, J., Dovecotes of Nottinghamshire (1986). Spandl, K., Exploring the round houses of doves, British Archaeology, no 35, (June 1998). Includes a list of dovecotes open to the public in England and Wales. Stainburn, I. R., A Survey of Dovecotes in the Old County of Herefordshire (1979). Thedovecotespot.com, (2015). The Dovecote Spot - DIY. Available at: Whitworth, A., A Concise Bibliography of Dovecotes and Pigeon Lofts (1986). Whitworth, A., Dorset Dovecotes (1988). Whitworth, A., Yorkshire dovecotes and pigeon lofts: a preliminary survey, Yorkshire Archaeological Journal, vol. 65 (1993),

56 Shopping List - A Bespoke Robinson Garden Dovecote of your choice - Hollow plastic dummy eggs - Homing net of argricultural grade quality - Ground / tent pegs - Containers for feed, grit and water - Tobacco stalk nesting material - Leg rings - Bird feeder - Magazines - Feathered world and Cage & Aviary Birds - Farrow & Ball Paint of your choice for the annual paint - Maintainance tools e.g. Dovecote scraper - Doves - Metronidozane tablets - Bag of all year round feed - Bag of Oyster shell grit with mineral additive - Johnsons anti mite spray When constructing your dovecote - Ready to use extra rapid Cement - Spirit level - Spade / Shovel - Wheelbarrow - Planks of wood (If using traditional method) - Ground Auger (If using power of the machine method) - Screws / Drill 56

57 Bespoke Finials As well as the classic ball and acorn finial, we also offer our own bespoke finial. We handcraft each finial to the highest standard using sustainably sourced wood. It allows a unique and one off added touch to our garden products. 57

58 Delivery We offer delivery throughout Mainland England & Wales. For more information, please visit the Delivery page on our website. We hand deliver all of our orders ourselves ensuring your order gets to you safely. SocialMedia Over the past few years we have understood the importance that social media plays in our day to day lifestyles. To get our message out there far and wide we have increased our exposure to a wide range of Social Media including Twitter and most recently Pinterest 58

59 Contact Information Useful Websites If you would like to get in touch with us, please feel free to contact us via the methods below. Alternatively, please use our contact us page on our website. Robinson Garden - The Dovecote Spot - Bird Trader - Pets Classified - Ebay - Pets Oodle - Dove Page - Pet Doves - Dove Central

60 Robinson Garden Craftsmen In Bespoke Garden Products Riddleton End, Inghams Road Tetney, Lincolnshire, DN36 5LW