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 LIBERTY 
OUT OF THE CAGE & FLYING FREELY ABOUT THE HOUSE
OK... THIS IS A MOST IMPORTANT DECISION, FOR BOTH YOU AND A MOURNING DOVE, AND THERE ARE SERIOUS CONSIDERATIONS AND PRECAUTIONS INVOLVED. It's perfectly understandable that, in the kindness of your heart and soul, you'd want to give this little one MORE SPACE, the ability to explore the rest of the place, to have an adventure, to be a part of the home, not to mention the ability to SPREAD WINGS AND FLY (to the best of his/her ability, if it's possible at all). And as long as necessary precautions are taken, well...
With caution, I repeat... with caution it's perfectly fine and, in fact, preferable, to give a dove the freedom to fly as much and often as s/he can and wishes. Unless you have an "Avian Flight" cage in the house (a "walk-in", if you will), the next best thing is free run of the house. Just beware of the potential "Hazards" that are ever-present in just about EVERY house. (Aside, of course, from the more obvious like a cat... or even another bird... especially an owl, or a hawk... HEY! You've got a mourning dove, anything is possible.)
BE EXCEPTIONALLY AWARE... AT FIRST, WALLS, DOORS AND WINDOWS CAN PROVE DETRIMENTAL! ESPECIALLY WHEN YOU CONSIDER THAT MOURNING DOVES CAN REACH SPEED OF 55mpg/88,5kmh IN FULL-OUT FLIGHT! IT WILL TAKE TIME FOR A DOVE TO ACCLAMATE TO THE CONFINES OF A HOUSE AND ADJUST SPEED ACCORDINGLY! AND "WINDOWS", BEING CLEAR, DON'T APPEAR TO EXIST IN THE EYES AND MIND OF A BIRD. THEY SEE WHAT "LIES BEYOND THE GLASS" AND TO THEM, IT'S OPEN SPACE. THERE MIGHT BE TREES OUT THERE, BUT THERE'S DEFINITELY SKY AND THEY'LL HEAD FOR IT... AT TOP SPEED!
ALWAYS REMAIN CALM AS THE LITTLE ONE TAKES TO THE AIR! Any sign of panic will be sensed and cause a dove to panic as well.
DO NOT RAISE YOUR ARMS AND HANDS AND DO NOT YELL!
Best approach is to follow the "flight pattern" from room-to-room.
If/when there's an approach toward a window or wall, try to situate yourself between the dove and the obstacle. Simply moving into position will deter, cause a change in direction. If you see him/her still heading toward disaster, simply putting your hands up at about your shoulder-height and moving your fingers will cause a diversion. Doves are extremely aware of even the slightest motion, and motion of fingers will give cause to change course.
If possible, try to have sheer curtains on the windows at least so that there's a "filtred" view of the out-doors. The "distortion" may deter any thought of attempt to "fly through".
The approach to having a mourning dove flying about is actually very similar to having an elderly person whose sight and judgment is impaired, in the house, in a great many ways.
VERY IMPORTANT: MAKE SURE THE DOORS TO THE HOUSE/FLAT ARE CLOSED AND THAT THEY CAN'T BE SUDDENLY OPENED BY SOMEBODY COMING IN WHILE THE DOVE IS FLYING ABOUT, UNLESS S/HE'S 100% ABLE TO TAKE FLIGHT BACK INTO THE WORLD!
Note furnishings that might present trouble. A stove, fridge, sofa, large chair, chest of drawers, china cup-boards, anything a bird could get under or behind and get stuck. (S/he might not understand that the way out is the reverse of the way in. Besides, it's dark under and back there, so that's disorienting.)
Light-weight items or those that are stacked can appear to be a great place to land and perch, but might also topple. Not only might this result in your loss due to breakage, it can also cause injury to the dove. Nick-nacks, bric-a-brac, even photos or other items hanging on the walls can fall victim and create a victim of an accident.
Books on shelves are attractive places to land and perch too, but remember... birds tend to "drop" (poop) when and where the urge strikes. You'll most likely find "droppings" about the house. Thankfully, if your little one is healthy, the droppings will be mostly solid, compact and easy to "dispose of", causing relatively little, if any damage at all. Still, it's a "rather not".
• The kitchen isn't a preferable room, nor is the loo. In the kitchen, stoves, especially those with pilot lights, can be hot and burn little feet. The kitchen basin is a good place to get trapped in. And of course, there's the danger of falling behind stoves, fridges and cabinets. As for the loo, well... tub and shower, a flight in, behind the curtain, can cause confusion and a "bashing" against a wall. The basin and toilet aren't exactly prime resting places... not to mention cosmetics and soaps. All present their own dangers to health and welfare.
• HOUSE-PLANTS... SOME ARE TOXIC! There are listings on-line of "Safe" and "Dangerous" house-plants. But a partial list of TOXIC plants almost common to many house-holds:
Philodendron
Dieffenbachia (also known as “dumb cane”)
Ivy – Hedera spp. (Boston, English and some others)
TWO EXCELLENT LISTS of tixic and non-toxic common house-plants CAN BE FOUND AT:
https://vcahospitals.com/know-your-pet/plants---toxic-for-birds
https://birdhism.com/blogs/news/common-bird-safe-house-plants
Once you've considered, checked, "corrected" and readied your house-and-home AND your nerves (because you're going to HAVE to REMAIN CALM NO MATTER WHAT HAPPENS)...
Start by leaving the door to the cage open. There's no need to "call" or "entice", the little one will become curious about the "space" where there's no "bars". If s/he's been in the cage long enough, that spot will already be associated with an "opening" of some sort because that's where you've put your arm and hand in to "clean", replace food and water and such. (Believe me... it HAS been noted... doves notice just about every-thing that happens around them AND they remember quite a bit.)
If you decide to leave the room, try to stay where you can HEAR the ruffle of wings should the little one decide to give "freedom" a try. That way you can be there if you need to "guide away" from a window or wall.
You can also stay in the room. Grab a chair, get comfy, don't move about too much. Even a "light", calm chat would be fine while you watch and wait. But too much "activity" will cause "concern", so best to remain relatively still... at least for a while. And you can observe any changes in behaviour: curiosity, or remaining in a corner or very much away from the open door. The initial reaction can give you a good idea of what's to come.
If there are ANY signs of anxiety, best to close the door again and wait for another time. After a while, a dove will come to feel "safe and secure" in a cage, and that opening, well, not only is it a way to leave, it's also a way for something to get in. (They're not stupid.)
Other-wise, if all seems well and fine, leave the door open and have a wait-and-see. IF there's ANY inclination to "set out", in his/her own time, there'll probably be a period of coming to the door and peering out, just to check what this "opening" is all about and to size-up the space beyond. Remember... mourning doves are naturally distrusting and skittish.
You might have to go through this a couple of times over the course of a couple of days before there's any effort toward leaving the cage. Give each event a while... after a few, leaving the room is fine, just be sure to be close enough to calmly step back in at the first sound of WINGS IN THE AIR, so you can stand between a bird and a window.
On the first couple of flights, there will likely be attempts to fly "out of a window". If the room is "average" size, chances are "high-speed collision" won't be possible, but, of course, ANY collision is a bad collision. And it WILL be disorienting. Hopefully, it won't be horrific! (This is the chance you'll have to be willing to take. If there IS a collision of any sort... be prepared... check the "PAIN & EMERGENCY" page for tips and information BEFORE hitting the run-way... and the window.) Best to take a position, as mentioned, between the bird and the glass and CALMLY raise your hands to shoulder level and wiggle your fingers. A gentle "No, no, no...." helps too since the sound of a voice acts as a distraction and deterrent as well.
Keep "first flights" to one room (primarily for your sake and sanity) and eventually leave the door to the room open. (It's like repeating the cage process, only this time, it's the room.) Natural curiosity will lead to exploration at a dove's own readiness... and not a moment sooner.
This said, Yonah has come to where being a-top his house is preferable during the day, to being in-house. In the morning, after opening the curtains, I open his door and go about my daily routine. When he's ready, of his own, he leaves takes full advantage of his freedom and takes to the air. He's also gotten "adventurous" and now manages to make his way into the other rooms of the house.
At first, he could readily find the "exit" from the cage but wasn't too keen on the "getting back in". For a while, I had to watch the clock to make sure he'd be able to get his meals and snacks and drinks of water during the day. He's NOT fond of "hands" so I had to find ways of coaxing him back... usually on my sleeved arm. Wearing a sweat-shirt or some other item with long sleeves, I pulled my hand inside, out of sight, offered my arm and, if needed, gave a little "coaxing" with the "free hand". He was quick to hop aboard the covered arm and get comfy either on my arm or shoulder as we headed "back to the ranch". Once back, he was usually quite happy to hop off and head to the comfort, security and familiarity of the "home cage". (And more often than not, head directly for a snack and a drink of water, so it really is a good idea to watch the clock when they're out, until they figure out that the way "back" is the same as the way "out"... only in reverse.)
As I've said else-where, doves DO look for company and, if given the opportunity, will come looking for you if they're left alone... and the door is left open.
Doves have amazing (astonishing and some-times amusing) instincts. And Mourning Doves are the closest living relatives of the old-time "Carrier Pigeons", so yes, they WILL find their way around... and back... eventually. Yonah finally figured it all out lately and these days, every morning I open his door, go about my routine and soon I hear the fluttering of the little angel's wings. He prefers to sit a-top his house for most of the day, occasionally taking a short "flight" about. AND... AND... NOW... when he's hungry or thirsty, he heads back in, has his snack and a drink of water and will either "rest and digest" in the cage until he's ready to head back out or, he'll immediately return to his "vantage point" and do his "rest and digest" in the open.
So yes, indeed, it's perfectly fine to give a Mourning Dove free range of the house. In fact, it's a good idea because it gives them the opportunity to exercise their wings (which is extremely important if you're just Nursing and the little "patient" is to be released back to the wild), which keeps their circulation going, "airs" their feathers and their bodies, avoids boredom and a sense of confinement.
Just remember: it takes preparation and patience... on your part. But when you can open the cage and know the little one is free to roam, it truly IS a WONDERFUL feeling... for BOTH!
*** For more information and up-to-date information and our "progress" on the matter of "cages", please check the lates posts to Yonah's JOURNAL. ***
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