Grit for doves
There are a lot of misconceptions regarding grit and doves (pigeons too). First of all doves do need grit, it's essential for them because that's how they get necessary minerals. Not offering any grit or offering the wrong type of grit will cause health issues in the long term.
What to feed and how ?
They need grit formulated specifically for pigeons/Columbiformes which contains soluble minerals like redstone (essential - the grit has to contain it), seashells, oystershells, coral and limestone.
The grit and eventual vitamineral powder should be offered in a bowl separate from feed and the doves should have unlimited access to it. Calcium supplement should be offered separately if there are males.
This guide applies to tiny species of doves like Diamond doves too, but because of their tiny size they also need the grit to be ground up to smaller pieces, using for example a mortar.
Examples of doves and pigeons grit brands
The following list is an example of grit brands that are commonly used by pigeons and doves keepers:
- Versele Laga Colombine Grit + Redstone
- Versele Laga Neogrit
- Beyers Grit Extra
- Versele Laga All-in-one: Since it contains additives, it needs to be portion fed.
Supplements
Doves also need phosphorus which some grits like Versele Laga Colombine Grit + Redstone doesn't contain so it needs to be supplemented using a pink vitamineral powder for pigeons like Colombine Vita, Beyers Belvimin, Natural Vitamineral or Vanrobaey's Vitamin+. To use it, mix a pinch of it in the grit bowl.
Female doves need extra calcium due to egg-laying, it can be offered either in the form of powdered calcium or pure oystershells. It is better to offer the calcium separately from the grit to prevent your birds, especially the males from overdosing on calcium.
What to avoid when looking for grit
Unlike for example chickens, doves don't use grit for grinding up food so offering them grit with gravel, sand or granite which are insoluble minerals can cause an impaction which can be fatal.
Some commercially available products contain these types of minerals or formulations not adapted to doves and pigeons. Examples include:
- Products marketed for poultry or chickens
- Bird sands or gravels containing insoluble minerals
- High-calcium grits lacking sufficient soluble redstone
These products have been cited to include elements that are not adapted for this specific kinds of birds:
- Versele Laga Prestige Grit with Coral
- Morning Bird Pigeon Grit
- Witte Molen PLUS Bird Grit
- Deli Nature Grit
- Cunipic Grit
- Kaytee Hi-calcium Grit
- RIO Bird Sand and Bird Grit
- Mikros ESO Grit
- Natural High-calcium Grit (it doesn't contain anything harmful but also doesn't contain enough redstone and contains too much calcium)
- Des Moines Red Pigeon Grit & Mineral-Plus Mix
Safe grit alternatives
In Australia it's difficult to get a good grit but an alternative is the Australian Avian Products Pigeon Pink Minerals vitamineral powder.
Certain pickstones can also be used as alternatives to grit:
- Versele Laga Colombine Pickstone Red In Pot
- Versele Laga Colombine Ideal-Bloc
- Versele Laga Colombine Natur-Bloc
- Versele Laga Colombine Pickstone red
NOT adapted grit alternatives
Keep in mind that clay blocks aren't a replacement for proper grit, although they're not harmful. Salt blocks are obviously no good and mineral blocks for other birds like parrots and finches aren't appropriate either.
A good mineral block for doves should contain the same types of soluble minerals like the above mentioned appropriate types of grit.
Cuttle bones also aren't a good replacement for grit because they contain just high amounts calcium, while not containing the other essential minerals, causing doves to easily overdose on calcium.
⚠️ Note
There have been recent cases of people finding sharp pieces of sea glass in various brands/types of grit.
Always make sure there aren't any pieces of glass before replenishing your doves' grit bowl.
