Need some help. New with pigeons.

[waterfowl rocks]

I just got my first pigeon and I have know idea how to take care of him! He is a barn pigeon an is living with quail in a 8x16 pen. And is eating scratch'n grains. Any suggestions would be great!

 

[quackers57]

Feed it water it give it some space to fly. A mate would be grate. What your doing sounds brilliant. Good look.

 

[waterfowl rocks]

Also I was wondering how to sex pigeons?

 

[quackers57]

The males usually coo and display, whearas the hens don't usually coo or display and are smaller and more feminine. Try posting some pics on here of the bid/s you need sexing and maby the people on here can tell you.

 

[laughingdog]

Males more go to n herd others to tight corners etc, bobbing down real low cooing ending in kinda higg note, and at times spin very fast as do tight circles in corners. females don't drag tails as much when nesting n courting, coo low n deep, n tend to grunt n stay lower when you bother. some with ferals and homers, fold head behind wing, and place on back, premise being that males with stronger neck muscles, will push n roll right off, females just lay there.
Necks thicker stronger thicker cere or caruncling on face etc.. but all depends if feral from how many generations ago, as all ferals in usa are from homers/racers, meat pigeons, tumbler/roller breeds, n many others I'm sure, but mostly from first two for old blood ferals. quail feel maybe too rich so it'll get fat and poops, but be extremely healthy other than mess of poo dander and feathers, but quail hundreds times worse for. lol. that look just grey feral wild color. finding it a friend regardless of breed etc, though other feral homer meat n plain looking (no foot feathering head creasts, fantails etc) tumbler/roller breeds will mix best. all not great fliers usually and can be free flown with it if desire and fly basically same n stay around after kept up for week to month of home acknowledgement n feed etc trainin n taming.

 

[waterfowl rocks]

mine are feral my friend just wanted them gone. Do pigeons get juvenile colors then adult colors or do they stay one color there entire life? thanks!

 

[laughingdog]

Pigeons go through a moult at six months for most, and can change color and pattern completely. same at year old moult, but year old usually not as much as six month old moult.

 

[laughingdog]

Great of you to take them in, good job.
Some ferals show homing n or rolling, from pet parents and or ancestors.

 

[HeritageGoose13]

Hope you enjoy your pigeon! The feral ones are extra-hardy.

 

[Hokum Coco]

Also I was wondering how to sex pigeons?

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).

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