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TOXINS
PAIN & EMERGENCY

 TOYS, PERCHES, HEALTH & ENTERTAINMENT 

What you put into a dove's "house" (cage) is as important as where you put the house,health, nourishment and companionship. "Toys" and play-things are integral to good mood and health. But doves aren't parrots, conures or other common "house birds". They have particular pleasures and needs. One of the most important differences is that doves' beaks are softer than most other birds so harder toys, "chew toys", have to be softer to avoid fractures and breaks. Another difference is that doves tend to enjoy "calmer" environments, aren't "playful" as parrots.
Perches for doves, or for any bird for that matter, are better if they're "natural". But as with the "TOXINS" list here, on this site, what you use is extremely important. And cleaning properly and thoroughly is of utmost importance. Nothihg beats a natural tree branch as a perch, with or with-out the bark on. And more than one perch is imoprtant too. Different perches of different woods and diffirent diameters are best. But, no matter the kind of tree or where you happen to obtain the branches, THEY MUST BE CLEAN!
Here are some ideas, suggestions and recommendations for "DIY Toys" made from general materials (and some suggestions for store-bought). And since, for a dove, many times, "toys" are the simplest items and materials found in any wood-land or park, they can be made from the same materials as perches. So both are covered here, together.

  Generally:
 "Free-flight" time and space are integral to ALL aspects of health. Birds, of ANY sort, are NOT "decorations" and should NEVER be confined to small cages.
  Sun-shine is absolutely integral to proper health. The placement of the house (cage) should be where sun-shine reaches in but with a shaded area as well.
  A house/cage should be large enough to provide space for movement, wing-stretches.
  A smaller cage could be used for time out-doors, but this should be light enough to carry (best to be in the cage BEFORE heading out-side!), but large enough so that it's not confining.
  If the in-door house has sufficient space, you can place a glass casserole or pie dish ("Anchor Hocking"/"Pyrex") in a corner, fill with water that's replaced completely, at least twice daily and more frequently if there are "poops" in the water. Remember, birds drink water where-ever it is. As stated else-where on this site, general rule:
  If you wouldn't drink it, it doesn't belong in the pool.
  Little "garden pumps" are available from various sources on the internet and setting a small "fountain" in the pool is easy and recommended. Doves will be attracted to the moving water more than they will to static/still water. And the moving water aerates the water, keeping it fresher, longer.
  Introduce toys with caution, especially "birds". "Play" with them, talk in a "happy" tone and WATCH the response. Remember: this is something "new" and doves, generally, prefer "familiar". And a toy that appears to be another bird might be perceived as an "inturder", "competition" for your attentiona and affections. You may have "bonded" and a "new bird" might not be appreciated. Carefully notice the response. If, at first, the response appears to be "competitive", remove the new toy, out of sight, try again at a later time.
  New toys enhance mental and physical stimulation but should not disrupt a dove's "territory".
  Clean, natural twigs and grasses (for nesting) are perfect additions for natural behaviours.
  "Dove-Specific" toys should be tailored to a dove's softer beak, foraging instincts and preferences.
  Why "Dove-Specific" Toys? Doves are less playful than parrots but engage deeply with foraging, pecking, and manipulating objects that mimic their natural behaviours.
Unlike parrots, they have softer beaks, so toys must be made of safe, soft materials like cardboard, paper, or soft wood, avoiding hard plastics or metals that could harm them. Toys should encourage foraging, provide tactile stimulation, or mimic nesting activities, as doves don’t typically “play” like parrots but enjoy exploring and rearranging their environment. They should be simple, safe and engaging with-out over-whelming space.

 Dove-Specific Toys to Buy:
There are some commercially available toys suitable for doves, focusing on their needs and preferences:
Foraging Toys:
  Description: Foraging toys are ideal for doves, as they tap into their natural instinct to search for food. These toys have compartments to hide seeds or treats, encouraging mental stimulation.
  Recommendations:
Planet Pleasures Foraging Pinata (Small): Available at pet stores like Petco or online (e.g., Amazon), this toy is made of soft, chewable materials like palm leaf or paper, safe for doves’ softer beaks. You can stuff it with millet, small seeds, or bits of his favourite treats (e.g., canary seed or hemp seed). Doves enjoy pecking and pulling to get the treats out. Approximate cost: $5–$10.
Kaytee Forage-N-Play Ladder (Small): A small ladder with attached shreddable materials (paper or soft wood) where you can hide seeds. It combines climbing and foraging,though doves are not, generally, "climbers" like parrots. Available at PetSmart or Amazon, ~$8–$12.
  Why Suitable:
Foraging toys mimic wild dove behaviour. They’re safe and engaging without being too complex for a dove.
  Tip:
Introduce one at a time in the cage or near a pool to see if your Companion takes to it. Rotate every few weeks to keep it fresh and prevent boredom.

 Swinging Perches or Ladders:
  Description:
Doves enjoy perches that move slightly, like swings or ladders, as they provide physical exercise and a sense of exploration. These should be made of soft wood or natural materials, not hard plastic or metal.
  Recommendations:
Prevue Pet Products Small Bird Swing: A simple swing made of soft wood or natural fiber, available at Petco or Amazon (~$6–$10). It’s gentle enough for a dove’s feet and encourages balancing.
Living World Nature’s Perch: A natural branch perch with varying textures, available at PetSmart (~$10–$15). It can be hung to create a slight swing effect, appealing to a dove's prefernce for natural twigs.
  Why Suitable: Outdoor cage time (if/when possible) and free-flight allow for necessary activity, and a swing or ladder adds variety to perching options without taking up much space.
  Tip: Place the swing in the indoor cage or near a favourite perching spot to encourage use. Avoid placing it over a water dish to keep it clean.

 Soft Wooden or Paper Toys:
  Description: Doves enjoy pecking and re-arranging soft materials. Toys made of balsa wood, cardboard, or paper are safe and engaging, as they can be shredded without risk.
  Recommendations:
Planet Pleasures Shredders: Small, soft balsa wood or paper-based toys designed for small birds, available at Chewy or Amazon (~$5–$8). These can be hung or placed on the cage floor to peck and shred.
Super Bird Creations Paper Party Toy: A hanging toy with colourful paper strips, safe for doves to tug and chew. Available at pet stores or online (~$7–$12).
  Why Suitable:
These mimic the grasses and twigs, adding variety to other activities. They’re safe for soft beaks and encourage natural manipulation behaviours.
  Tip: Sprinkle a few seeds from the usual food/seed mix (e.g., millet) into the toy to encourage interaction.


 Bells or Noisy Toys (Simple):
  Description: Some doves enjoy pecking at objects that make gentle sounds, like small bells or rattles, though they’re less interactive than parrots. The toy must be safe, with no small parts that could be swallowed. BELLS AND TOYS MADE OF LEAD SHOULD BE AVOIDED AS REPEATED PECKING CAN CAUSE THE SMALLEST BITS OF LEAD TO BE INGESTED AND CAN, ULTIMATELY, POISON A DOVE.
  Recommendations:
JW Pet Activitoy Bell: A small, lightweight bell toy designed for small birds, available at Petco or Amazon (~$4–$7). Doves like Booth and Snow (from owner reports) enjoy pecking bells for gentle noise.
Prevue Pet Products Naturals Coco Rope Mini: A small rope toy with a bell at the bottom, made of natural fibers, available at Chewy (~$6–$10). The rope can double as nesting material.
  Why Suitable:
The gentle noise can intrigue Little Guy without overwhelming him, and the rope aligns with his nesting interests. His territorial nature suggests he might enjoy “claiming” a noisy toy.
  Tip: Hang the bell low in the house (cage) or place it on the floor near twigs to see if there's any engagement. Remove it if there's ANY indication that s/he's stressed by the noise.

 Mirrors: Description:
Doves can recognize their reflections and may treat mirrors like “TV” for entertainment, especially "solo" doves. Mirrors should be bird-safe, unbreakable, and free of sharp edges.
  Recommendation:
Prevue Pet Products Small Bird Mirror, a lightweight, acrylic mirror designed for cages, available at PetSmart or Amazon (~$5–$8). It’s small enough for a dove’s cage and safe for pecking.
  Why Suitable:
A mirror might provide visual stimulation without introducing another bird.
Tip: Place the mirror in a corner of the house or near a pool, but monitor reactions. If s/he becomes aggressive or overly fixated, remove it to avoid stress.

 Dove-Specific Toys to Make:
Home-made toys are cost-effective and can be tailored to a dove’s love for twigs, grasses, and “mayhem.” Here are DIY ideas using safe, household materials, inspired by dove owner experiences and care guides:
  Foraging Box:
Materials:
A small cardboard box (e.g., a clean tissue box), clean straw or shredded paper, and seeds from food mix (e.g., millet, canary seed).
How to Make:
Cut a few small holes (1–2 cm) in the box, fill it with straw or shredded paper, and sprinkle in some favourite seeds. Seal the box lightly with tape or fold it closed so s/he can peck through the holes or tear it open.
Why Suitable:
Mimics foraging in the wild, engaging pecking and exploration instincts. The cardboard is safe for a dove's soft beak, and the straw aligns with nesting interests.
Tip: Place it on the cage floor or near a pool during supervised playtime. Refresh with new seeds every few days to keep it interesting.

  Twig Bundle Swing:
Materials: Clean, pesticide-free twigs (which can be taken from fresh trees as listed for perches), natural jute or sisal twine, and a small piece of soft balsa wood.
How to Make:
Bundle 3–5 twigs together with twine, leaving some ends loose for pecking. Tie the bundle to a short length of twine to create a hanging swing. Attach a small balsa wood piece (available at craft stores) for added texture. Ensure the twine is tightly knotted to prevent unravelling.
Why Suitable:
Combines love for twigs and nesting with a gentle swinging motion, similar to commercial perches. It’s natural and safe for a dove's beak.
Tip: Hang it low in the house or other space, ensuring it’s stable but movable. Check regularly for wear and replace twigs as needed.

  Paper Strip Mobile:
Materials: Unbleached paper (e.g., brown packing paper or plain newsprint), natural twine, and a small stick or dowel.
How to Make:
Cut paper into 1-inch-wide strips, about 6–8 inches long. Tie the strips to a stick or dowel with twine (cotton string is recommended but NOT thread), creating a hanging mobile with dangling strips. Optionally, tuck a few seeds into the strips to encourage foraging.
Why Suitable: The paper is soft and shreddable, perfect for a dove’s beak, and the dangling motion mimics grasses s/he enjoys.
Tip: Hang it in the house or near a perch during indoor playtime. Supervise to ensure s/he doesn’t ingest large paper pieces, though doves typically don’t swallow toys.


  Seed-Stuffed Grass Ball:
Materials:
Clean, dried grasses ("Timothy" grass, sold as bedding for rodents and can be used), natural twine/cotton string, and small seeds (e.g., millet or hemp). How to Make:
Gather a handful of grasses into a loose ball, tucking a few seeds inside. Tie the ball together with twine/cotton string, leaving some grass ends loose for pecking. Ensure it’s compact but not too tight, so it can pull at.
Why Suitable: Directly builds on love for grasses and nesting, adding a foraging element. It’s completely natural and safe, mimicking wild instincts.
Tip: Place it in his house or outdoor cage to be re-arrange. Replace weekly to keep it fresh and clean.

  Cardboard Tube Puzzle:
Materials: Empty toilet paper or paper towel tube, clean and free of adhesive, plus seeds or small treats.
How to Make:
Cut the tube into 2–3 pieces, fold one end of each piece to partially close it, and place a few seeds inside. Leave the other end open or loosely fold it so s/he can peck to access the seeds.
Why Suitable: The cardboard is soft and safe, and the puzzle aspect encourages foraging. It’s simple and aligns with exploratory nature.
Tip: Place one tube in the house (cage) or near the pool during supervised time. Watch to ensure s/he doesn’t eat the cardboard, though doves typically just shred it.


 SAFETY CONSIDERATIONS 
 Materials:
Always use bird-safe materials (unbleached paper, *untreated wood, natural fibers) and avoid plastics, painted items, or small parts that could be swallowed. Check that twigs and grasses are pesticide-free and cleaned thoroughly, as you’re already doing.
* Do NOT use "pressure treated" lumber, check carefully if/when considering dowels to make sure they're not "treated", general "lumber" should be avoided.

 Supervision:
Introduce new toys during supervised playtime, especially home-made ones, to ensure your Companion interacts safely. Territorial nature suggests s/he might be possessive or stressed by new items, so monitor behaviour.
 Cleaning:
Clean toys regularly with a bird-safe cleaner or 3% bleach solution (rinsed thoroughly) to prevent bacterial build-up, especially since he’s near his pool.
Some plastics can be soaked in white vinegar to clean them BUT NOT WHEN THEY'RE METAL. Soaking 10 minutes to an hour, depening on the type and amount of soiling is recommended. RINSE THOROUGHLY!
 Avoid Overcrowding:
Keep toys to a minimum (2–3 at a time) to avoid overwhelming space. Rotate them weekly to maintain interest.

 Why These Toys Suit
Foraging Focus:
Doves have a love for twigs and grasses indicates an enjoy manipulating natural materials, so foraging toys and grass-based DIY options align with this.
Territorial Nature:
Simple, non-intrusive toys like swings, paper mobiles, or mirrors avoid introducing “competitors” (unlike another bird) and respect his/her bond with you.
Active Lifestyle:
Swings and ladders provide gentle exercise, while shreddable toys satisfy a bit of a "gentle mayhem” tendencies.

 Bonding with You:
If your Companion enjoys spending time on your shoulder and/or travelling around the house with you, interactive toys (e.g., a foraging box you present during play) can enhance your shared activities.

 Additional Tips:
 Introduce Gradually:
Place one new toy in his/her cage or near his/her pool and observe his/her reaction. If s/he ignores it (as some doves do), try sprinkling seeds on or in it to spark interest.
 Rotate Toys:
Swap toys every 1–2 weeks to prevent boredom, as doves can lose interest in static items. Twigs (natural, from local, safe trees, cleaned) can provide novelty in their location and arrangement or disarray.
 Enhance Pool Time:
If you have a "pool" in the house (cage) where your Companion can splash around, consider adding a floating toy (e.g., a small, clean cork or a paper strip tied to a twig) to peck at while bathing. Ensure it’s safe and removable to keep the water clean.
 Mimic Nesting:
Nesting behavior with twigs and grasses is a strong instinct, so toys like the grass ball or rope with loose ends will keep him/her engaged in rearranging the environment.
 Music or Sounds:
Interact often, try playing soft music or cooing sounds during "cage time" to mimic social interaction, which doves enjoy. This can complement toys like bells.
An inexpensive "MP3 Player" dedicted to bird-songs with a small speaker (or "sound bar") with a collection of various birds that can be played all during the day will provide an environment that mimics the "natural world". Vary the birds, collections of "songs" in your local area can be found on-line.
Remember: Athough doves might not be fond of LOUD NOISES, birds, generally, do not like complete silence for exceptionally long periods of time. "Silence" is an indication of threats, predators, danger. Birds go silent when threatened so hours of silence can be perceived as a lingering predator. Soft music, various birds, and various dove coo'ing provides a sense of "company".

 Addressing Territorial Nature:
Territorial behaviour and raucous response to other toy birds suggest that you're seen as the "flock" and that some toys, especially those that resemble other birds, may become members of the "flock" as well. TEST responses to toys that resemble birds or are too complex, as they might trigger aggression. Stick to neutral, natural items (twigs, paper, soft wood) that blend with existing setup. Mirrors can work but should be tested cautiously, as some doves become possessive or stressed by reflections.

Where to Buy, A partial list to begin from but in now way exaustive:
Petco/PetSmart: Carry Planet Pleasures, Kaytee, and Prevue toys suitable for doves. Check their bird toy sections online or in-store.
Amazon/Chewy: Offer a wide range of small bird toys (e.g., JW Pet, Super Bird Creations). Search for “soft beak toys” or “foraging toys for small birds” to filter dove-safe options.
Etsy: For handmade foraging toys or natural perches, search for “bird toys for doves” or “soft wood bird toys.” * Ensure sellers use bird-safe materials. Check the manufacturer on-line, see what else the company makes (house-hold cleaners aren't promising if they're making these AND pet products), look for reviews of the toys and manufacturer. Write to the company if you have ANY concerns about safety. Remember: birds are not as resilient against toxins as humans or other animals. You can't possibly be "too safe".
Local Craft Stores: For DIY materials like balsa wood, jute twine, or unbleached paper, check stores like Michaels or Hobby Lobby.

 TIPS FOR PERCHES AND "DIY" TOYS