Frillback Pigeon Identity Band Troubles.

[Shinshimon]

Sorry if this doesn't make sense, I was in a bit of a rush. Will edit when I have more time.

Hello fellow bird fanciers!
I have a question pertaining to my pigeon's leg band, I hope I can explain my predicament properly.
I have acquired a Frillback Pigeon from a supposed breeder. Peplum (who is supposedly female) is a beautiful red color with some spots of grey and white flight feathers. The breeder said she was about a year, however the band reads: NPA 10 05 HC 569. If I correctly read the band it means she is actually 10 years? So, I'm confused about the lying or unknowing breeder, and I want to know the truth. Is she actually a he? Is she a year old or ten years old?
I've tried contacting the official band people numerous times with my questions, they've always failed to respond.

Ps. This is one my first pigeons so I'm a bit new. She seems deathly afraid of people, how can I get her to understand that I mean no harm? I have a feeling that the breeder mistreated her and was just an a** hole who duped me for my money.
Do frillbacks lay infertile eggs? I don't know how I'd tell if she was actually a he.

 

[Hokum Coco]

I have acquired a Frillback Pigeon the band reads: NPA 10 05 HC 569. If I correctly read the band it means she is actually 10 years?

I would take the word of the pigeon fancier if I were in your shoes. Another possibility is he may have banded the pigeon with a band from one of his birds that passed on. Anyone who is familar with pigeons could give you a good guesstimate of how old the bird is. Feet and eyes are the tell tale place to focus on. The redder the feet the younger the bird. All the fanciers I know are straight shooters.

The best way to determine the sex of a pigeon is to ask another pigeon.
In a perfect world the ♂ pigeon on the right is usually more iridescent and larger than the ♀ pigeon on the left.



That being said no matter which method you choose to sex a pigeon mistakes are sometimes made. I usually can tell the gender of a pigeon just by looking at it (but I have been know to make mistakes too.)

On that note:
If you place your pigeon in the company of a know gender pigeon one can usually tell the gender of the pigeon in question by the reaction taken by the know gender.

(Too many references to gender in tha sentence but I think you can follow).

One thing I know for certain if it lays an egg it is female.

Check out the link the pigeon bowing and circling is ♂ the bird walking is ♀:

Do frillbacks lay infertile eggs? In a perfect world all birds lay infertile eggs. They are only fertile if they have a male that is fertile and able to copulate with the female.

 

[OTTB228]

You are reading the band correctly. Like hocum coco said, some fanciers use & reuse old bands. If you absolutely have to positively be sure of the sex, you can have a DNA test run. Are you planning on breeding? If not, I wouldn't worry about it.

 

[Shinshimon]

Thank you both, I guess that breeder wasn't bad after all. I feel bad for ever thinking so.

And thus the quest for whole unsalted and peanuts [without shells] begins.

Peplum is a bit iridescent around the crop area. Besides being quiet and never seeming to bow or dance, i'm starting to think he's a male.
Every now and then he will "hmm... hmm... hmm." In a soft whisper.
What does that mean?