Emerald Dove Husbandry Manual - Nswfmpa.org

Jennifer Brown ● Emerald Dove Chalcophaps indica ● Husbandry manual
Free fl ight
aviary
Soil l evel i n
aviary
Mesh that
reached down
past the soil
and under it
3m
40cm
50cm
Fig: 4.1.1 One way to rodent proof an aviary
4.2 Holding Area Design:
When contemplating a holding area (an off exhibit holding area) for the Emerald Dove
the duration of the holding time needs to be considered. If it is for a very temporary
holding period such as a number of hours, suitable c ages can be the transportations
boxes such as those designs found in section 7 as long as the area;
• Allows the bird to move freely and turn around
• Has access to a sheltered area as well as food and water
• Is the length at least three time the animals length and the breadth at least one
and a half times its length
• Has safe access for keepers and no blind spots
If t he b ird i s t o b e h oused f or an i nfinite longer p eriod o f ti me, s uch between o ne a nd
ninety days, then a suitable area needs to be set up.
Again there are few regulations that are l isted in the EAPA (2004) that affect the holding
area design for this bird but the area must:
• Permit normal behavioural requirements such as flying space for flying species
• Allows the bird to move freely and turn around
• Has access to a sheltered area as well as food and water
In m y ex perience an y h olding area sh ould al so h ave a f ew p erches, and m ore
importantly for this species plenty browse to hide in. As this species spends the majority of
its time on the ground a holding area should have some sort of substrate such as mulch to
make the bird feel more secure. These birds are known to knock their heads on low roofs
when t hey g et st ressed o r n ervous so a p added roof m ay h ave t o b e ex plored i f your
holding area is too short. Fig 4.2 is an illustration of a holding area that I would use to keep
one o r t wo E merald D oves in for b etween o ne an d n inety days. It i s t all e nough no t t o
need p added r oofing an d m eets th e E APA (2004) requirements. The o nly i tems to ad d
would be browse and a couple perches. Being a ground bird the Emerald Dove doesn’t
need that many perches and any perches provided should be quite low to the ground.
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