All kinds of pets have their signature type of meals; dogs have kibble, cats have fish and milk, while animals like birds have their seeds. One of the most commonly known birds that people keep these days are doves, doves have usually been used in ceremonies like weddings and continue to be used on many other occasions today. If you love keeping doves, then you need to find the best bird food for doves.
That’s right! You’re going to need to feed them right to help them grow right!
When choosing bird food in general, you have to take into account what the food is made from, in this case, the most common type of bird food is seeds. Different seeds have different nutritional values, so you must take these into account when raising your doves to give them the right amount of nutrition in a balanced amount.
Aside from the kinds of seeds, you must also take note of how the seeds are treated. Some seeds go through processes like roasting or being cleaned before packaging while others tend to leave their seeds unwashed for a more natural flavor. Although, it is highly recommended that the seeds are cleaned before feeding to your birds.
If choosing the best food for doves is a challenge, then here’s a short guide to help you out.
Comparison Chart
| IMAGE | PRODUCT | DETAILS | PRICE |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hagen Pigeon And Dove Staple Vme Seed | The Hagen Pigeon and Dove Staple Vme Seeds are staple food for doves in pigeons around the globe. If you’re a beginner in raising doves then this is the optimal choice for you. | ||
| Wild Delight Dove & Quail Food | Another kind of bird food made for dove and quail that is highly recommended for beginners is the Wild Delight Dove & Quail food because of its well-rounded approach to treating the seeds and supplying the nutrients for your birds. This product works especially well with game birds. | ||
| Wild Harvest A1203 Daily Blend For Small Birds | Small-sized beaks of small-sized birds need small-sized food but not all food can be found in small size and that poses a big problem. However, with the Hartz Small Bird food, you can give your small birds food that not only fits their beaks but also their tummies. | ||
| Morning Song 11974 Dove and Ground Feeding Wild Bird Food | Morning Song 11974 Dove and Ground Feeding Wild Bird Food offer wholesome nutrition for your birds. Containing natural protein, fiber, oils, and nutrients of whole grains, this dove food is a high-quality mix that is fortified to ensure a balanced blend. With natural seeds, grains, and pellets, Kaytee Supreme food makes nutritious and quality food any bird would love. | ||
| Wagner’s 18542 Cracked Corn Wild Bird Food | Wagner’s Cracked Corn is the best food to give you that “close to nature” feeling as you feed your wildlife in your backyard. Leave it up to the experts at Wagner’s to give your birds the feed they need. | ||
| Kaytee Wild Bird Food | Kaytee Wild Bird Food is the top choice of a variety of bird species like cardinals, doves, juncos, sparrows, titmice, chickadees, and jays. Consisting of cracked corn and millet, it is enjoyed by many ground-feeding species to supply them with their much-needed energy. | ||
| Wagner’s 53002 Farmer’s Delight Wild Bird Food With Cherry Flavor | Wagner’s Farmer’s Delight Wild Bird Food is great for attracting all kinds of birds, especially ground feeders. A clean blend of millet, milo, cracked corn, and sunflower, this is an exceptional choice for birders who want an economical option. |
A Detailed Review on the 7 Best Bird Food for Doves
HAGEN PIGEON AND DOVE STAPLE VME SEED, 25-POUND
The Hagen Pigeon and Dove Staple Vme Seeds are staple food for doves in pigeons around the globe. If you’re a beginner in raising doves then this is the optimal choice for you.
Product Highlights
This product features 25 pounds of blended quality seeds that sport a balanced nutritional diet for your doves and pigeons. The product ensures that the seeds have enough vitamins and minerals to support the finest diet for your bird’s nutritional needs. The seeds undergo a process of cleaning and polishing to make sure that they are dust-free and appetizing for your birds to eat.
The Good
The product features a balanced mix of bird seeds that can supplement proper nutrition for the birds that consume it. The food is compatible with other supplements that can supply an extra boost of vitamins and minerals to prevent nutrient deficiencies.
The Bad
Users have claimed that the packaging of the food is flimsy and that some orders have arrived with holes that spilled the seeds out. Another complaint is that there is an inconsistency of ingredients and the birds didn’t like to eat the food after the first batch.
PROs
- A lot of food for a decent price
- Adequate vitamins and minerals for the birds
- Compatible with food supplements
- Cleaned and polished
CONs
- Flimsy packaging that causes bags to get holes and leak
- Inconsistency in taste and possibly ingredients in the batches of bird food
WILD DELIGHT DOVE & QUAIL FOOD
Another kind of bird food made for dove and quail that is highly recommended for beginners is the Wild Delight Dove & Quail food because of its well-rounded approach to treating the seeds and supplying the nutrients for your birds. This product works especially well with game birds.
Product Highlights
This product can be ordered in two sizes, 10lbs and 20lbs, depending on how much bird food is needed by the customer. The food is made of a mix of seeds and grains that are specially made for doves, quails, pheasants, and other game birds. The mix of seeds and grains includes millet, milo, wheat, popcorn, oat groats, safflower seed, sunflower kernels, and sunflower seeds. All the seeds are uniquely cleaned to assure the maximum cleanliness of the food.
The Good
The food has the right mix of seeds and grains that can easily supply doves and other game birds with the nutrients they need to achieve a larger yet healthier size. The different seeds and grains provide everything from carbohydrates to vitamins and minerals that helps the growth of the birds. The seeds are also cleaned so the birds won’t consume harmful contaminants like bacteria and dirt.
The Bad
The customer’s claim that the product has poor packaging. There are also times when birds love to eat it but other times when birds refuse to eat it which presents an inconsistency in the taste of the product.
PROs
- Uses a variety of seeds and grains
- Provides the right amount of nutrients
- Seeds are cleaned
- Good for game birds
CONs
- Poor Packaging
- Inconsistent taste
Wild Harvest A1203 Daily Blend For Small Birds
Small-sized beaks of small-sized birds need small-sized food but not all food can be found in small size and that poses a big problem. However, with the Wild Harvest A1203 Daily Blend For Small Birds, you can give your small birds food that not only fits their beaks but also their tummies.
Product Highlights
The product features 3lbs of bird food in a resealable bag. The small bird seeds fit the nutritional needs and taste preferences of small birds. The ingredients were also selected to accommodate the size of small beaks thereby making it easier to consume by small birds.
The Good
The product contains a good amount of carbohydrates, proteins, and fats to keep your bird at a healthy weight and in tip-top condition. The selection of bird seeds helps maximize the amount eaten and the seeds left behind as waste. The seeds are fortified with vitamins, antioxidants, and Omega-6 Fatty acids for your pet’s nutritional health as well.
The Bad
Some customers claim that the seeds were much larger than anticipated. Another buyer said that the birds like to eat specific parts of the food but not all of it leaving it to have less value and more waste.
PROs
- Great nutritional value not found in other bird food
- Perfect for small birds
- Fortified with additional supplements
- Resealable bag
CONs
- Seeds were larger than advertised
- Birds don’t eat some parts of the feed
- More waste
- Less value in each pack
Morning Song 11974 Dove and Ground Feeding Wild Bird Food
Morning Song 11974 Dove and Ground Feeding Wild Bird Food are a favorite treat that all birds enjoy.
Product Highlights
Morning Song 11974 Dove and Ground Feeding Wild Bird Food come in 7-pound bags of natural seeds, grains, and pellets. The ingredients make it best for a healthy, well-rounded diet with nutrients best for birds.
The Good
Reviews of the product express that the mix makes a delicious meal that even the pickiest birds love to eat until the last seed.
The Bad
It is said to be insufficient nutrition-wise to feed to birds on its own. The pieces are quite large that can be hard to consume for doves, which have small beaks, and sometimes birds are not interested in eating it – possibly due to its odor.
PROs
- Birds love to eat it
- Big serving
- Healthy and cheap option
CONs
- Nutritionally insufficient to feed on its own
- Sometimes birds will not eat it
WAGNER’S 18542 CRACKED CORN WILD BIRD FOOD
Wagner’s Cracked Corn is the best food to give you that “close to nature” feeling as you feed your wildlife in your backyard. Leave it up to the experts at Wagner’s to give your birds the feed they need.
Product Highlights
This will attract all sorts of birds like blue jays, cardinals, doves, juncos, quail, pheasants, ducks and grouse, and even other playful wildlife like rabbits and chipmunks. It is best to feed on the ground away from your bird feeding area to divert other small animals attracted to the food. It can be fed on its own or mixed with other seeds.
The Good
The product is relatively clean, with a minimal number of twigs and sticks. It appears to be fresh, with convenient zip-lock packaging. The corn is nicely cracked and in a good size for the animals to eat.
The Bad
Customer reviews say that the product has become too expensive. It also has an inconsistent quality from bag to bag – some bags are packed with fine corn, while other bags consist of a large amount of powdery residue.
PROs
- Relatively clean
- Fresh
- Convenient Ziplock packaging
- Nicely cracked, good size
CONs
- Expensive
- Inconsistent quality
- Sometimes has a large amount of powder/dust
Kaytee Wild Bird Food
Kaytee Wild Bird Food is the top choice of a variety of bird species like cardinals, doves, juncos, sparrows, titmice, chickadees, and jays. Consisting of cracked corn and millet, it is enjoyed by many ground-feeding species to supply them their much-needed energy.
Product Highlights
The product, which comes in 5-pound bags, attracts a variety of different bird species and suits various types of feeders, namely hopper, tube, and platform feeders. Kaytee Wild Bird Food consists of milo, millet, cracked corn, black oil sunflower seeds, wheat, and vitamins.
The Good
Customers find the product to be value for money – it is cheaper relative to other brands for a good amount of feed. Birds also seem to enjoy the food very much.
The Bad
Pieces of wood and little rocks are sometimes found by customers amongst the feed. Fillers like sticks and seeds birds do not like eating are mixed in. One customer reported their bag to have small bugs.
PROs
- Value for money
- Birds enjoy the food
CONs
- Has wood pieces and rocks
- Fillers are mixed in like undesirable seeds and sticks
- May have bugs
WAGNER’S 53002 FARMER’S DELIGHT WILD BIRD FOOD WITH CHERRY FLAVOR
Wagner’s Farmer’s Delight Wild Bird Food is great for attracting all kinds of birds, especially ground feeders. A clean blend of millet, milo, cracked corn, and sunflower, this is an exceptional choice for birders who want an economical option.
Product Highlights
This is a general-purpose mix that can be used in hopper or tube feeders. This product, packaged 10 pounds per bag, also attracts a variety of bird species.
The Good
Birds seem to mostly enjoy eating the feed and customers say the product is a good price for the amount of food.
The Bad
Reviews of the product point out that there are too many milo seeds and cheap millet in the mix, which birds are not interested in. Others report the packaging having slits, which caused spillage in transit, and even bugs found in the bag.
PROs
- Birds enjoy the feed
- Value for money
CONs
- Too many milo seeds and cheap millet
- May have holes in the packaging
- May have bugs in the mix
Conclusion
Finding the best bird food for your doves can take you out of your home and into the skies, with so many choices that offer everything from nutritional value to assorted seeds to fit specific birds, you’re bound to think twice before your purchase. There are products like Hagen Pigeon And Dove Staple Vme Seed which are staples at providing doves with the nutritional needs they need while others like the Hartz Parakeet, Canary, Finch Small Bird Food aren’t made for doves but can sport a high amount of enhanced vitamins and nutrients that can be used to enhance your dove’s health even if they aren’t specifically made for them. Whatever the case, the best food for doves will always be the tastiest, most nutritious meal that ensures a healthy and happy dove ready for the next big event in its life. Know more about bird food.