hiriki
Well-known member
- Oct 19, 2014
- 543
- 749
- Parrots
- (Birdie - Jenday Conure)
(Kiwi - Green Cheek Conure)
(Elby - Lovebird)
(Gorou - Ringneck Dove)
Hey all!! I posted about my dove a while ago... he (well, technically she) lost his mate half a year ago or so, and wasn't really coming around to my hands. We haven't made much progress since, and while I don't necessarily see myself giving up, I just don't think he'll ever see me as replacing a mate in his eyes... or at least, the one good eye 
So... I reached out to a pigeon rescue in my area, recommended by my vet, and they have an old man who needs a home!!
My dove, Gorou aka Goop, is 15 years old by my best estimation. This old man currently at the shelter, whose name is Joe but I think that's silly so he'll be going by JoJo, is... a whopping 20 years old. Doves have a similar lifespan to cockatiels, articles online tend to estimate 12-15 years but they're known to sometimes live to around 20. I will admit that I'm a bit nervous about his age, but it's just an estimate from the shelter, and after all Goop is also a senior, so I think it's better to bring home another senior and give him a cushy end of life rather than bring home a really young dove who might push Goop around.
I'm so excited. The foster I've been texting with who currently has him tells me he's very chill, and she sent a pic of him hanging out with her, so I think he may be more friendly with people than any dove I've ever adopted. I do expect him to kind of forget that he likes people as soon as he has a cagemate, but if he lets me pet him occasionally, it will warm my heart. Before I ever met Birdie and welcomed my first parrot into my home, I wanted pigeons and doves, and while I'm now a parrot-centric flock, there's still a special place in my heart for pigeons and doves and I'm just so excited to meet JoJo.
So... I reached out to a pigeon rescue in my area, recommended by my vet, and they have an old man who needs a home!!
My dove, Gorou aka Goop, is 15 years old by my best estimation. This old man currently at the shelter, whose name is Joe but I think that's silly so he'll be going by JoJo, is... a whopping 20 years old. Doves have a similar lifespan to cockatiels, articles online tend to estimate 12-15 years but they're known to sometimes live to around 20. I will admit that I'm a bit nervous about his age, but it's just an estimate from the shelter, and after all Goop is also a senior, so I think it's better to bring home another senior and give him a cushy end of life rather than bring home a really young dove who might push Goop around.
I'm so excited. The foster I've been texting with who currently has him tells me he's very chill, and she sent a pic of him hanging out with her, so I think he may be more friendly with people than any dove I've ever adopted. I do expect him to kind of forget that he likes people as soon as he has a cagemate, but if he lets me pet him occasionally, it will warm my heart. Before I ever met Birdie and welcomed my first parrot into my home, I wanted pigeons and doves, and while I'm now a parrot-centric flock, there's still a special place in my heart for pigeons and doves and I'm just so excited to meet JoJo.
