Gay pairing? How to deal with it?

[biophiliac]

Your M/F pair is #4 and #10?

 

[sourland]

I think I will encourage same sex pairings in my loft. To control population and for more harmonious flock dynamics. Some cockbirds are very controlling with their female mates.
LOL.

Good luck with that. I have only ever had 1 male/male pair and when split up they formed strong pair bonds with hens and never returned to one another. Every year when I separated the sexes several hen/hen pairs would form. As soon as I returned the hens to the breeding loft with the cocks they went back to their mates.

 

[barn206]

I think I will encourage same sex pairings in my loft. To control population and for more harmonious flock dynamics. Some cockbirds are very controlling with their female mates.
LOL.

You are hysterical

 

[Granny Hatchet]

Yes, both can, but hens are generally more subtle and will usually not tail fan and drag behind their mate. Every August I would separate hens and cocks. I would reintroduce them to one another Feb. 14 - call me a romantic. 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.

you ol romantic

 

[Hokum Coco]

First, do you think they are both males?

I will say almost every pigeon fancier at one time guess the sex of his birds wrong. One thing is a given if it lays an egg it is female. Time will tell and it is nothing that can not be dealt with and for the most part remedied.

 

[LamarshFish]

Your M/F pair is #4 and #10?

Yes, and what I think may be a gay pair are #6 and #9.

 

[LamarshFish]

Good luck with that. I have only ever had 1 male/male pair and when split up they formed strong pair bonds with hens and never returned to one another. Every year when I separated the sexes several hen/hen pairs would form. As soon as I returned the hens to the breeding loft with the cocks they went back to their mates.

I am not going to be hasty in separating them, but if this pair does not have eggs within 3-4 months I do intend on separating them. For one, I want breeding at this juncture--I'd like to double my loft numbers, and only then administer birth control after I have about 20 birds. Second, these two birds are very nice birds, especially the one I am certain is a cock bird (#6). He is gorgeous, bold, tamed well and is one of my best homers since he is from my original group acquired and has always homed back. He is at the top of the pecking order, and always takes the highest perch.

 

[barn206]

Enjoy your birds Lamarsh, they are like children and everyone of them is different. .

 

[LamarshFish]

UPDATE: I caught #6 (my known cock) this morning sitting in the nest bowl, and his mate, #9, cooing in the nest box, puffing up its neck, and walking in a circle while doing so. My understanding is that this is a cock bird behavior. #6 does the same thing. It is going on 2 months that these two have been apparently paired up, with no eggs, and I have never caught them copulating or billing (one bird nibbling at the other bird's beak).

So, the saga continues, and I am still convinced this is a gay pairing.

 

[barn206]

UPDATE: I caught #6 (my known cock) this morning sitting in the nest bowl, and his mate, #9, cooing in the nest box, puffing up its neck, and walking in a circle while doing so. My understanding is that this is a cock bird behavior. #6 does the same thing. It is going on 2 months that these two have been apparently paired up, with no eggs, and I have never caught them copulating or billing (one bird nibbling at the other bird's beak).

So, the saga continues, and I am still convinced this is a gay pairing.

Sounds like a lot to deal with..
Well the only suggestion I can give you is to throw some hay in the middle of the coop!!!
I didn't realize my pair was gay until they built a beautiful tiki bar in their nest box. Even then I was like hmmmm?