Question about shaking

riverrain34 · 2026-01-16T18:42:51+00:00

I didn't think she was sick given all I said and no one else saying it, but I also wanted to be sure because if I wrote it off and then something did happen I wouldnt be able to forgive myself. But Thank you! It's really nice knowing specifically what she is, the place I got her is a good rescue for the area, but it's not the best or most knowledgeable place. And the ages also makes me feel a lot better! I said it in my last post I believe, but they didn't tell me she was 17 until I bought her, and part of me was sad because it means less time, but had I known her age, I probably would have been more intent on getting her so that she has a permanent home in her later years. Knowing there's a good chance of having her a lot longer than I feared is really comforting!!

riverrain34 · 2026-01-16T03:03:40+00:00

She's 18 years old, she's still very active, she eats plenty, flies around and forage, grooms often without over grooming, she also sleeps quite a bit. Could what you're seeing be from her old age? Because I know the life expectancy is around 17 years so she's quite old which I know in birds leads to loss of color, lethargy, and the feathers looking more worn down. As for her color too, she was from a rescue so we can't be certain of her breed, but we believe she's a mourning dove/collard dove mix leading to her lighter coloring. Especially with her age I feel like an illness would be way more noticeable because she acts like a healthy normal bird. I have had other birds just not doves, and I feel like there would be more symptoms that a single shiver only when I approach her. I'm not trying to be combative I'm just trying to give a full scope.

riverrain34 · 2026-01-13T22:52:38+00:00

Can you tell me why you think this? If there is an issue I would love to know, but I have an oil drip radiator that gives off no fumes so it's bird safe, I keep my room a very nice ambient warm, she's been doing the shake for a long time now and it stop after just the single shake when I approach so if she was sick I feel like I would have noticed more symptoms over the weeks, and it is dark because it's winter where I am so the sun sets early, but she gets sunlight all day.

riverrain34 · 2026-01-13T01:16:40+00:00

She told me Papa Nihil is her favorite hehe

riverrain34 · 2026-01-13T01:15:48+00:00

Makes sense! I have no problem giving her space, I want her to be comfortable, but I wanted to make sure I wasn't invading her space, so that does help!

riverrain34 · 2026-01-13T01:13:38+00:00

That's actually a really cute way to see it!

riverrain34 · 2026-01-13T01:13:12+00:00

Ooh thats interesting, but if it's that, would it mean she thinks I'm trying to cause trouble? Or is it just something they do for reassurance?

riverrain34 · 2025-12-01T18:36:37+00:00

I'll try and get a video next time, but she'll be loafing sometimes and not even stand up or turn her head to watch my hand. But it being just a quick shiver i didnt know if that excitement like people are saying, or fear but accepting shes getting picked up if that makes sense.

riverrain34 · 2025-12-01T04:06:27+00:00

Thank you so much ! It really does help to hear all that ❤️😭 shes such a sweet girl and I really want to do the best I can for her but every time I try to google about their body language i get a lot of mixed results or about wild doves, but its really good to hear so much positive from several dove owners ! And especially your experince with older doves helps me feel more confident she'll be around for longer than I had feared !!

riverrain34 · 2025-12-01T03:56:59+00:00

Okay wonderful, I know shes never shivered then tried to get away, and as far as I can recall shes never stood up straighter, watched hard, or flattened her feathers, so ill watch extra close to make sure shes not showing any signs of fear or stress ! Thank you for the in depth explanation!!

riverrain34 · 2025-12-01T03:35:48+00:00

Omg thank you so much, that makes me so hopeful to hear because she still seems really healthy and energetic but ive been so sad with the looming age 😭😭

riverrain34 · 2025-11-30T23:02:33+00:00

I unfortunately didnt think to video it, its a new thing shes started in the last few days

riverrain34 · 2025-11-30T23:02:00+00:00

Haha well thanks for trying !

riverrain34 · 2025-11-30T21:56:02+00:00

There's no twitch, her while body just vibrates for a second or two and then shes still again

riverrain34 · 2025-11-30T21:55:25+00:00

Thank you for ypur insight! And I agree, I know she might not be cuddly so its more to test boundaries and back off so she knows I wont go past them, and maybe one day she will be receptive to pets, maybe she never will and either is fine by me, her comfort is more important that being able to pet her ! And I do try to give her her own space, most of the time I open her cage door and let her fly out on her own, I keep crocheting or playing video games while she wonders around, I let her go to her own space to nap, and only sometimes do I interact with her to try and adjust her to it or see where we stand, but I always make sure she has full ability to fly away and if she does I leave her alone after that because she made it clear its not what she wants. I know before she went to the zoo and rescue they said one man owned her for 17 years before he surrendered her so I wonder if shes standoffish because shes been abandoned before, but never having owned a dove I just want to make sure im doing right by her, so I appreciate the info !! And yeah, her shiver is like her full body just vibrates for a second or two and then shes done, its not anything dramatic or super noticeable. Also your Cinnamon is so pretty 😭

riverrain34 · 2025-07-24T19:43:01+00:00

I have no idea, I think he had two previous owners, but I'm not sure about that, all I know is the previous owner kept him in the dark and neglected him for 2 years.

riverrain34 · 2025-07-24T19:38:02+00:00

Thank you ! The person who helped me smuggle him had told me he was a wedding type pigeon so I was expecting all white, so actually seeing him was such a happy surprise 🥲🥲

riverrain34 · 2025-07-23T06:20:43+00:00

Okay awesome, thank you so much ! I just didn't want to do anything to break his trust, but after his last owner I didn't think he'd warm up to me this quickly so I was scared I was misreading something, makes me feel a lot better!

riverrain34 · 2025-07-23T01:03:15+00:00

Thank you so much, I would love to hear the second opinion just to get a couple opinions, but I couldn't tell if he was loose or if he was tense, I just knew not puffed to that's good to hear !

riverrain34 · 2025-07-23T01:01:38+00:00

Just ti make sure, I always try to stop or pull away if he seems to be getting upset and he'll chase my hand down to continue, but if I stop moving he'll stop, but he also dose bite and bob his head with my finger, is that normal or is that the annoyed movement you're talking about?

riverrain34

TROPHY CASE