Hi everyone, well my husband and I have one tangerine ringneck dove that we named Patrick. We've had him now for about 6 months. He coo's alot so I always assumed it was a male. When I come by and talk with him he jumps down onto the cage bottom and puts his head against the bottom and coos and flutters his wings alot like he's vibrating them. I have never seen him go up and down with bowing though while cooing. After having him alone for 6 months I figured he would love the company of a female dove. I was going to get him a male friend but figured he would get along much better with a female. We chose a white young one that we were almost positive was a female. She has a smaller head then he does and the only sound she makes it these little tiny coo's which are much softer then the one's that patrick does. She also does it very infrequently. After her quarantine period we tried to introduce them into a neutral cage and Patrick just kept attacking her and even ripped a feather out of her back. I felt so badly and seperated them of course. The cages were side by side for two weeks before I put them together. I've tried a couple more times and he still attacks her. I always read that doves are usually very peaceful, what could be causing the aggression he has towards her? any help would be appreciated!

They could both be female.

i'm wondering that same thing too. I guess time will tell, worst case scenario I will simply keep them in seperate cages.

Two females will not show the (aggressive) actions you have described, whenever keeping 2 Doves of the same sex together, I recommend females.
You have 2 males there, one is older than the other, the oldest one will be the one showing the aggression.
If it where me, I would not house those birds together, unless in a loft set up where one bird can get away from such aggression, or at least try and get away and even within a loft set up there is a pecking order, otherwise, everyone knows there place within the colony and there will always be a dominate male that rules the roost.
If you would like to be absolutely sure, dna both birds.
But for now, keep them separated.

Take Care

Arty

Thanks so much Arty! they are seperated from each other. The white dove is indeed a younger bird and the one that was getting attacked, I felt so badly and took the bird out right away. Thank you so much once again! I love my babies and just want to do what's best for them which obviously is to keep the two of these guys seperated.

Thank you Deb and your mate for offering your heart and home to those Doves.
Females will also fight, (when nest and eggs are involved).
But according to your words this was not the situation.
The Dove is (the bird of peace), this is man kinds label.
They are peaceful in nature (compared to other birds).
When 2 males are competing for space, (the right to breed) even if no female is present, things will become bloody, the lesser (weaker) bird will be beaten down badly if not killed.
Only the strong survive girl....
Good luck!

Arty

Well we got quite the shock this morning when I uncovered the cage this morning and Patrick the one that coo's alot had laid an egg. He's not caged with anyone so it could only have been him, I guess I should start calling him a her and Patty instead of Patrick hahahahaha I am quite shocked that she's so aggressive to the other bird though, I guess that means I have two females and that Patty is just an aggressive girl?

Maybe she was hormonal and not like that all the time.

That's what i'm thinking too. I do believe the other bird (white one) Mrs. Puffs is a female also so maybe when things settle down a bit they can live together in a very large cage. I guess time will tell but I do know I won't put the other bird in danger if she shows aggression again and they will simply live in seperate cages near one another.

This is very interesting, I know 2 females will fight, but mainly due to eggs and such....hmmmmm.
Caged birds act so much differently than loft birds.
Our new bird Pollie a female green Quaker has been meaner than a snake here lately....now we find an egg in the bottom of her cage...
Well....guess I was wrong about your Doves.....
I guess a better response to your issue would be.....keep them separated if they fight.......