When Can I let them Out?

[jak2002003]

Hi. I bought 2 King Pigeons 2 weeks ago. I let them out for the first time yesterday and they enjoyed flapping and jumping about in my garden and I was able to herd them back into their cage easily.

Today I let them out again and they were more adventurous. They now realise they can fly! They mainly flew from my back wall back onto their cage, back and forth. Then I noticed them exploring further away, one flew onto my house roof, then back down. I got a bit nervous then and called them back into their cage with some peanuts. They don't seem to be paired up yet, the female often pecks at the male if he tries to get the food before her.

How long is it until its safe to let them out without fear of them flying off and getting lost? Also how long till they form a 'loving' pair? Does my red male look too young to pair up yet?

Thanks for any information. Here is a photo of them. The male bird is a youngster and not yet breeding age, but the white female has just started laying eggs, but not making a nest.

 

[fowlsessed]

I wait one to two weeks 'fore letting them out (I'm impatient and have done sooner), so you should be good. I wouldn't worry so much about them getting lost, it rarely happens unless people start taking non-homers out places and then letting them go, but themselves coming to and fro from their cage, that's alright. I would be more worried about predators, so watch them close. Yes, because they are young it could take some time before they really pair up, be patient. Sometimes it seems like forever before they go on their first round of eggs, usually about six months. Before you know it you'll have more babies than you know what to do with. I don't think the cock looks to young from the pic though, it's hard to tell once they get to a certain age.
And a thought just dawned on me, you say the cock is young, do you even know for sure if it's a cock? Does he "sing" and dance around the hen? Although they do this once mature.

 

[jak2002003]

I wait one to two weeks 'fore letting them out (I'm impatient and have done sooner), so you should be good. I wouldn't worry so much about them getting lost, it rarely happens unless people start taking non-homers out places and then letting them go, but themselves coming to and fro from their cage, that's alright. I would be more worried about predators, so watch them close. Yes, because they are young it could take some time before they really pair up, be patient. Sometimes it seems like forever before they go on their first round of eggs, usually about six months. Before you know it you'll have more babies than you know what to do with. I don't think the cock looks to young from the pic though, it's hard to tell once they get to a certain age.
And a thought just dawned on me, you say the cock is young, do you even know for sure if it's a cock? Does he "sing" and dance around the hen? Although they do this once mature.

No the cock does not sing and dance around the hen. He is frightened of her! He will wiggle his wing and squeak like a baby if she tried to beak him up! (they are getting on much better now, but still not really lovers). I was told he was a 'he' by an experienced pigeon guy. He is a different shape to the white one......he is taller, longer body and has a lot of shiny colourful feathers on his neck. His legs are longer too - which is indication of a male? The white one is for sure a female as she laid an egg the day after I bought her home.

If they turn out to both be females will they still form a pair? I am not too worried about they having chicks anyway.

I don't have to worry about predators too much as there are very few in my area (due the the farmers shooting everything). I also have bantam chickens that free range and I have not yet lost one to a predator in over 3 years.

Thank you for your advise.

 

[fowlsessed]

Yes, some people say that size and the shiny feathers are indications of a male. If he is still squeeking then he is definitely still to young to really be pairing up. Some people say that they have had two hens(or cocks) pair up and even go on a nest, it happens.