What gender are these doves?

[Patriot1672]

For those with the knowledge, could you give me a rough idea on what gender you believe these doves are?(Note that birds B and C are about 2 months old)

 

[backyard pigeons]

I have never raised doves, and don't know much about them. But I do know that @nchls school has had them in the past. He is a very knowledgeable source!

 

[nchls school]

For those with the knowledge, could you give me a rough idea on what gender you believe these doves are?(Note that birds B and C are about 2 months old)

Visually, doves are hard to sex as there are too many exceptions. Males are a bit bigger and broader. The male's head is a bit squarer; not as delicate looking.

Courtship behavior is more accurate. The male's coo is louder and more frequent. The male will lower his head, tail upwards, and coo to the hen. I see you have doves nesting. Like pigeons the male will bring nest material to the hen who arranges it into a nest. When brooding the female does duty at night and the male will take over during the day. Doves are quite similar to pigeons in their nesting habits and can even hatch and raise pigeon squabs. There is no positive way to sex young doves. The pelvic bone test is unreliable. There are companies that sex birds through DNA test, but I doubt you want to do that as it costs.

 

[nchls school]

I have never raised doves, and don't know much about them. But I do know that @nchls school has had them in the past. He is a very knowledgeable source!

Thank you for the kind words. How are your homers doing? You and your family??

 

[Patriot1672]

Visually, doves are hard to sex as there are too many exceptions. Males are a bit bigger and broader. The male's head is a bit squarer; not as delicate looking.

Courtship behavior is more accurate. The male's coo is louder and more frequent. The male will lower his head, tail upwards, and coo to the hen. I see you have doves nesting. Like pigeons the male will bring nest material to the hen who arranges it into a nest. When brooding the female does duty at night and the male will take over during the day. Doves are quite similar to pigeons in their nesting habits and can even hatch and raise pigeon squabs. There is no positive way to sex young doves. The pelvic bone test is unreliable. There are companies that sex birds through DNA test, but I doubt you want to do that as it costs.

Thanks for the insight. Also do the two lighter colored doves like like the Eurasian doves to you?

 

[backyard pigeons]

Thank you for the kind words. How are your homers doing? You and your family??

They are doing great! Lots of babies due to hatch soon. My family is doing well. We enjoyed the long spring TN had. Lots of walks and hikes. How are you and your birds?

 

[nchls school]

Thanks for the insight. Also do the two lighter colored doves like like the Eurasian doves to you?

Sorry, that I do not know. Looking online may answer that question for you.

 

[nchls school]

They are doing great! Lots of babies due to hatch soon. My family is doing well. We enjoyed the long spring TN had. Lots of walks and hikes. How are you and your birds?

We are fine. People that are close to us have the virus-truly scary. No squabs for me yet. Snakes were raiding the nests. Have now used snake repellent and three pair have eggs to hatch soon. Had the same problem with all the birds. Many of the critters are suffering from the heat and humidity.

 

[backyard pigeons]

Many of the critters are suffering from the heat and humidity.

although I love the hot weather, the birds do not. Mine enjoy a bath every other day with some ice. Just a tip.

Pigeons seem to thrive in TN winters. As long as the coop is dry and well ventilated.

Snakes were raiding the nests.

I had that problem. It was terrible. I had 10 eggs vanish over a several month period. I finally found the snake living in the storage shed next to the coop. It was a three foot long garter snake. He went to the end of our property, and no more problems.

 

[nchls school]

although I love the hot weather, the birds do not. Mine enjoy a bath every other day with some ice. Just a tip. And a good tip; one i have been using.

Pigeons seem to thrive in TN winters. As long as the coop is dry and well ventilated. You have seen pictures of my loft-definitely well ventilated. But dry? Nearly impossible to keep anything dry right now.

I had that problem. It was terrible. I had 10 eggs vanish over a several month period. I finally found the snake living in the storage shed next to the coop. It was a three foot long garter snake. He went to the end of our property, and no more problems.

The snake had been raiding the loft and both coops (possibly more than one snake). I haven't been able to locate the snake. Kimmi bought some snake repellent; horrible stuff, but it seems to be working. There has been no missing eggs or dead birds since we started using it. 10 eggs? I wish I could say that-many more than that and three dead brooding birds to boot in just a couple months. I think it bigger than a three foot garter snake as at one point it took turkey eggs.