Now I know that I have a green thumb, but what I am growing in a hanging basket is not the usual kind of plant.

I had an empty plastic hanging basket this spring, I hung it up outside meaning to get around to planting something in it (Need to decide what) I had emptied the soil and rinsed it out.

A couple of days ago I go outside to get it instead I got a startling surprise, A Nest, a Dove and and Egg!

Well she startled me when she flew out of the basket as I reached up to get it.

I didn't touch it, went back inside and waited. The dove returned and is still out there.

My Question: What kind of food do doves eat? I would like to show my new neighbor that the neighborhood is a good one and that I would be more than happy to have her raise her kids here. Other than a bird bath (Which we have several) What else can I do to make her want to stick around?

David

Awww congrats David!!! You're gonna have a baby!!

You will find that every time you go near her nest, she's going to fly away - this is primarily to distract you. The Moms will never stay near the egg(s), you might think it would to protect it, but what it's hoping you do is follow IT and not stay near the nest.

As for food...I have several doves that hang out at the bottom of my bird feeders, they seem to like the smaller seeds, whatever falls to the ground from the higher feeders, they eat the sunflower seeds as well. They LOVE to eat bugs...I'm not so sure you want to catch them for her!!!

Put a shallow bird bath or large bowl nearby so she won't have to work so hard to get water to the little one once it's hatched and for her to bath in. I'd also put some pieces of something fluffy nearby...she'll find it and add it to her nest - if you have any pets, pethair would be perfect...or pieces of string, yarn or the like (cut them up for her). They like to take dirt/sand baths too...so if you REALLY want to go all out...make a little place for her to do that so she won't travel off too far.

Doves lay eggs a few times during the season, so if you provide her with a nice safe spot, you just might be "growing" doves!!!

Lucky you!!!
Gotta love listening to them!
(oh...and the male usually sticks around to help out too, so if the "atmosphere" is right, you could have them around for a while!!!)

David, Lydia has given you lots of great advice.

This site is also pretty cute.

Thanks for the information.

We thr ow the cat hair out side all the time, so that isn't anything new.

The male is hanging around, mostly around the tree, I've spied him more than once.

Bath, dirt, seed - I can manage that.

I don't, however, do diapers

Thanks Tree for the site, I'll read over it. I guess I have pet doves to go with the dog, cats, Koo, squirrels -

Just call me Noah

cheers