Is my pigeon a cock or a hen: the sequel

[degunuts]

Hey there! Got another bit of confusion over a new bird I got a couple days ago. It's a racing pigeon, and the guy said he was a bit unsure but he thinks its a hen. Well, I've been watching her, and I'm not as sure. The supposed hen is decently beefy for a hen (though not quite as beefy as the cock,) and has a lot of iridescence- just as much as the cock I bought with her. "She" also has been mussing about in one of the nest boxes, making a low growling sort of noise while she moved some hay around. She also did that coo that you normally hear with a cock trying to impress a female, complete with some head bobbing. Frankly, I'm just not sure. Any help would be appreciated!

 

[backyard pigeons]

It's a male. If it goes to a box, and grunts, I think it it's a male. I have never had a hen to to a box and grunt. are there any free hens? If not, that is probably why it isn't cooing. I hope this helps!

 

[degunuts]

It's a male. If it goes to a box, and grunts, I think it it's a male. I have never had a hen to to a box and grunt. are there any free hens? If not, that is probably why it isn't cooing. I hope this helps!

I thought as much. I ran all those "tests" people do to pigeons to sex em (hold their beak, turn them on their back, toes, whether their tail feathers go up with wings out or stay in line, etc) and THEY say its a hen but at the same time those things are about as anecdotal as you can get. Here's a video of the hen in question doing the grunting sort of thing, its a bit quiet in the video though. as far as the free hen thing, no, there are not- one hen is too young and the other is expecting eggs. My other two cocks don't do this though, they just chill out. Pigeons are weird like that, I guess. Would a cock try to court another cock? When I was bringing that bird home, it was with another from the same loft, and that bird tried to court the hen/cock in question, though to no avail!

I suppose I gotta ask though, regardless of whether its a guy or girl, what do those growling noises mean?

 

[backyard pigeons]

Yes, they sometimes court another cock, but, it often is just simply one showing another it's dominance.

those growling noises, that's what mine do when trying to call a mate to the nest. It is only done by males, that I have seen.

what strain of racer is that? It's pretty.

 

[degunuts]

Yes, they sometimes court another cock, but, it often is just simply one showing another it's dominance.

those growling noises, that's what mine do when trying to call a mate to the nest. It is only done by males, that I have seen.

what strain of racer is that? It's pretty.

Well thanks! I’m not sure what type of racer it is, actually! I know it’s got some featherfoot in it, but I didn’t ask what bloodline it’s from. The guy I bought my birds from has some high quality stuff and he sold to me for a discount, so I didn’t pester him with the details haha. I know this particular bird placed top 10 or 20 in a 460-ish bird race, though. As for him being a cock, I suppose I’ll just either buy another hen from this guy or wait until the local swap meet comes around.

 

[Peskypigeon]

Wait- I wouldnmt be too sure. Pigeons don’t have very strict gender differences. I get VERY masculine hens every time, and yet the cock I have is sleek and small. My hen is a big beefy girl who flirts and fights like a cock. But I did a DNA test, and she is for sure a girl. The growling around the nest may be a territorial/broody hen. Pigeons are very good parents! Do you know how old she is?

 

[backyard pigeons]

What breed @Peskypigeon ? I am experienced with racers, so that's why I made a guess. But I could always be wrong, just gussing based on what I have observed with my 60 pigeons.

 

[Peskypigeon]

What breed @Peskypigeon ? I am experienced with racers, so that's why I made a guess. But I could always be wrong, just gussing based on what I have observed with my 60 pigeons.

Even educated guessing is always difficult, I always think I’m positive and then get duped! So I don’t blame you. My first hen was a racing homer of some sort (though comparing her to bigger cocks I could see she was small and sleek), and my current one is a homer/fantail. She’s bigger than most homer cocks! The cock (nonbreeding pair) is a white genuine homer. They’re both under 4 months.

 

[degunuts]

Wait- I wouldnmt be too sure. Pigeons don’t have very strict gender differences. I get VERY masculine hens every time, and yet the cock I have is sleek and small. My hen is a big beefy girl who flirts and fights like a cock. But I did a DNA test, and she is for sure a girl. The growling around the nest may be a territorial/broody hen. Pigeons are very good parents! Do you know how old she is?

She’s(or he) only about 6 months, just finished its molt, so it’s ready to breed.

 

[Peskypigeon]

Hmm, if she was hand tame I’d say pet em- if she’s a girl she’ll bend over and spread her shoulders, if it’s a boy he’ll hump your hand... As for the growling, that’s a common nesting pigeon noise and both cocks and hens make it.