Good to know about them having access to soil. I'm not sure if I would have space to design something other than what they have...I thought it was strange that they are called ground doves as mine never come down from hiding in the fake plants at the top of the cage.
I think absolute privacy is best but even when I had the cages lined with blankets (so they couldn't see me in the bird room), they still would freak out while changing seed and water every day. I just don't think they're been bred in captivity enough to fight their instinct to hide when they see a human. I had read some stories of people with exotic doves who have had them die from them violently trying to flee within their cage.
The other problem that I ran in to was finding someone interested in buying the doves. It doesn't seem like there are too many people interested in doves and any that I would breed I would most likely end up keeping, which would lead to me needing more space!
But that photo you put up of their young one is making me want to try again...
