- Mar 26, 2015
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I have two sets of birds paired up. This is my first group of homers.
One pair seems to clearly be male and female. One looks undoubtedly female and the other undoubtedly male. They feed each other and I have witnessed them copulating.
The other pair, one is undoubtedly a cock bird, but the other it is a toss up. Both coo quite a bit, and both puff up their necks when they coo. I know females coo, but do females puff up their necks? I thought males are the only ones that puff up their necks? They have built a nest, but nest goes back and fourth in terms of how well built it is (sometimes they build it up, and then the next day it will be sort of undone. I have caught both of them sitting in the nest bowl, no eggs though. I have even caught both of them in the nest bowl at the same time. They have appeared to be paired up for a few months now, but I have not witnessed feeding each other, copulation or eggs.
First, do you think they are both males?
Second, if they are, is there a way to pair them up with known females and break up their apparent relationship? Is it as simple as building nest box fronts/doors and locking them in together for some period of time until they are paired? Do you have to make the nest box constantly dark for 24+ hours, or is that something I misunderstood when reading about breeding?
I do not want gay pairings because I only have 9 birds and want more, and these two particular birds are very nice birds, and the one I am certain is a cock is a very nice bird, excellent looking and has been on many trips and homes very well. He's at the top of the pecking order in my loft.
Any advice is greatly appreciated.
One pair seems to clearly be male and female. One looks undoubtedly female and the other undoubtedly male. They feed each other and I have witnessed them copulating.
The other pair, one is undoubtedly a cock bird, but the other it is a toss up. Both coo quite a bit, and both puff up their necks when they coo. I know females coo, but do females puff up their necks? I thought males are the only ones that puff up their necks? They have built a nest, but nest goes back and fourth in terms of how well built it is (sometimes they build it up, and then the next day it will be sort of undone. I have caught both of them sitting in the nest bowl, no eggs though. I have even caught both of them in the nest bowl at the same time. They have appeared to be paired up for a few months now, but I have not witnessed feeding each other, copulation or eggs.
First, do you think they are both males?
Second, if they are, is there a way to pair them up with known females and break up their apparent relationship? Is it as simple as building nest box fronts/doors and locking them in together for some period of time until they are paired? Do you have to make the nest box constantly dark for 24+ hours, or is that something I misunderstood when reading about breeding?
I do not want gay pairings because I only have 9 birds and want more, and these two particular birds are very nice birds, and the one I am certain is a cock is a very nice bird, excellent looking and has been on many trips and homes very well. He's at the top of the pecking order in my loft.
Any advice is greatly appreciated.
Upon reintroduction a mating frenzy would take place, and hens were frequently more aggressive than the cocks. And upon reintroduction their courting was frequently more aggressive than the cocks. I don't anthropomorphize animals, but their reactions looked to me like sheer joy at being back together. Generally established pairs would remate. Hens will also top cocks. Some hens will cheat on their mates as will cocks. All in all pigeons are intriguing creatures.
