Bird Food for African Ringneck Doves

One of the most commonly kept doves, the African ringneck, also known as the collared, Barbary, or domestic ringed dove, is easy to feed. The biggest challenge is making sure that his diet is balanced and that he doesn't overindulge on treats. Healthy food can be offered in unlimited amounts, but treats should be limited to no more than once a week.

  1. Seed Mix

    • The mainstay of a ringneck dove's diet is a mixture of seeds. If possible, offer your bird a commercial mix made specifically for doves. Otherwise, feed a mix made for wild birds or small parrots. Look for blends that contains canary grass, millet, wheat, milo, hemp, black sunflower and safflower seeds as well as cracked corn. Seeds should make up around 90 percent of your ringneck's diet.

    Grit

    • Unlike parakeets, cockatiels and other common pet birds, doves don't shell the seeds they eat, and simply consume them whole. Because of this, they need a little extra help in the form of grit to digest the seeds. The grit grinds the seeds inside the dove's body. In addition to an ample supply of seeds, give your ringneck dove free access to grit as part of his diet.

    Calcium

    • To ensure that your dove is receiving enough calcium, offer him a supplement as part of his regular diet. It can be given in the form of a mash with his seeds, mixed in with the grit, as a form of grit, or as a cuttlebone. If your dove ignores the cuttlebone, offer him a different form of supplement.

    Extras

    • Your dove will enjoy a few additions to his regular seed diet, although these should be considered supplements or extras, and not make up the bulk of the diet or take the place of seed. Tasty extras for your ringneck dove include cooked yellow squash, zucchini or sweet potato; chopped greens such as spinach, kale or lettuce; shredded carrots or cheese; and small pieces of whole grain bread. Limit these to no more than 10 to 15 percent of the total diet.

    Treats

    • Occasional treats can help keep your dove happy and add some variety to his diet without compromising his health. Tasty and healthy treats include cottage cheese, mashed boiled egg, bean sprouts, spray millet and cooked beans. Offer about a spoonful of any of these to your bird about once a week.