Banded Pigeon Found - Assistance Please

[biophiliac]

What is the introduction process like?

I think it should go smoothly with 2 females. Maybe just put the new bird in a cage where they can see each other for a short period before introducing the new bird into Pals cage. Or you could leave the new bird in the small cage while it observes Pals behavior around the gallery, then when it is calm and settled you could let them meet while free in the galery. Pigeons are great observational learners - let her see Pal getting treats and attention ...
Are you picking her up or having her shipped?
How are they sure she is a hen? has she laid eggs?

 

[WVduckchick]

And check out this great vid about pigeons!
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/uk-pigeon-owners.1244157/page-65#post-20487026

Finally got to watch all of that. Very cool!!

 

[WVduckchick]

So if pigeons mate for life, how hard is it for them to accept a new mate when one dies, or like since Pal got lost/hurt/or however he ended up there. At what age do they normally pick their mate?
And if a pair normally hatches 2 babies, i assume the babies don’t end up pairing with each other?

All so fascinating.

 

[Kusanar]

So if pigeons mate for life, how hard is it for them to accept a new mate when one dies, or like since Pal got lost/hurt/or however he ended up there. At what age do they normally pick their mate?
And if a pair normally hatches 2 babies, i assume the babies don’t end up pairing with each other?

All so fascinating.

Pigeons typically mate for life but not always, they can be separated and paired back up with other birds and often are in captivity if a certain pair doesn't produce acceptable offspring. Apparently the nest belongs to the male in the pair, so if you separate a pair, you leave the male the nest he had and move the female.

Birds don't really understand family ties, so if there are only 2 unpaired birds in the loft, siblings very well might end up together.

 

[3bird]

I think it should go smoothly with 2 females. Maybe just put the new bird in a cage where they can see each other for a short period before introducing the new bird into Pals cage. Or you could leave the new bird in the small cage while it observes Pals behavior around the gallery, then when it is calm and settled you could let them meet while free in the galery. Pigeons are great observational learners - let her see Pal getting treats and attention ...
Are you picking her up or having her shipped?
How are they sure she is a hen? has she laid eggs?

Regarding the sex of the possible pal for Pal, the person who rescued her said she took her to a vet tech who sexed the bird. We realize there is uncertainty here. How disastrous would it be if we ended up with two males?

 

[biophiliac]

Regarding the sex of the possible pal for Pal, the person who rescued her said she took her to a vet tech who sexed the bird. We realize there is uncertainty here. How disastrous would it be if we ended up with two males?

I think with 2 males your result could vary quite a bit depending on the individual bird. There is more potential for some bullying or fighting. OTOH they might get along fine and even pair up. Same sex pairs are not so unusual in pigeons. If you did get 2 males the absence of a female to compete for might work in your favor. I can not be confident in predicting what might happen. Someone with more experience may have a better idea...

When you really want to know the gender of your bird, now.....

http://iqbirdtesting.com/order-bird...5pSuF-shgH5qbeMH6sRCfYh-jUbHx1qAaAp_mEALw_wcB

 

[FlyingNunFarm]

I think with 2 males your result could vary quite a bit depending on the individual bird. There is more potential for some bullying or fighting. OTOH they might get along fine and even pair up. Same sex pairs are not so unusual in pigeons. If you did get 2 males the absence of a female to compete for might work in your favor. I can not be confident in predicting what might happen. Someone with more experience may have a better idea...

When you really want to know the gender of your bird, now.....

http://iqbirdtesting.com/order-bird...5pSuF-shgH5qbeMH6sRCfYh-jUbHx1qAaAp_mEALw_wcB

I bookmarked that! $12 to not have months of waiting on a crow or egg! LOL

 

[3bird]

So the plan is to pick-up "Penelope" tomorrow afternoon. She will have a separate, smaller enclosure next to Pal's for the first few days. Fingers crossed!

 

[biophiliac]

Haha - That is super cool! How far away is Penelope?

 

[3bird]

Haha - That is super cool! How far away is Penelope?

We'll each drive about 2 hrs and meet in the middle