Specific Methods for Sexing and Aging Domestic Pigeons

Nowadays, besides keeping chickens and ducks, many people also keep pigeons. Roosters and hens are easy to tell apart, so how do you sex domestic pigeons? How can you tell their age? What are the specific methods? Let's take a look together here.

1. How do you sex domestic pigeons?

1. Hold the pigeon and use your right hand to bring its three toes together so they are parallel. If the left toe is longer, it should be regarded as male; if they are the same length, it should be regarded as female. Note that the length of a pigeon's two feet is basically the same, so checking both the left and right feet gives a more reliable result.

2. After holding the pigeon in your hand, use your thumb and index finger to gently pull its beak forward, straighten it out, and immediately let go. If the pigeon pulls its head back and jerks backward forcefully, it should be regarded as male. If the pigeon's beak makes two or three “pop-pop” sounds, it should be regarded as female.

3. Hold the pigeon and feel its pubic bones with your hand. If the pubic bones are parallel, it should be regarded as female. If the left pubic bone is sunken inward and feels non-parallel, it should be regarded as male.

2. How can you tell its age? What are the specific methods?

1. Identify by the shape of the beak and the scabs at the corners of the mouth

The older the pigeon, the blunter and smoother the tip of the beak. The beak tip of a squab is sharper, soft, and slender; the beak of a young pigeon is thicker and harder; the beak of an adult pigeon is thicker and shorter, with a harder and smoother tip. Because adult pigeons feed squabs, scabs form at the corners of the mouth. The older the pigeon and the more squabs it has raised, the larger the scabs at the corners of the mouth grow. In breeding pigeons over 5 years old, the scabs on both sides of the mouth corners are jagged.

2. Identify by the condition of feather replacement

A pigeon has 10 primary wing feathers in total. At 2 months of age, it begins to replace the first one, and afterward replaces one in sequence about every 13 to 16 days. When the last one is replaced, the pigeon is about 6 months old and already mature, and can begin pairing for breeding. A pigeon has 12 secondary wing feathers, which are mainly used to identify the age of adult pigeons. The secondary wing feathers are replaced one per year in sequence from the inside outward, and the replaced feathers appear darker in color and clean and neat.

3. Identify by the liveliness of the eyes and the number of wrinkles in the bare skin of the eye ring

Young pigeons have livelier eyes; young pigeons and young adult pigeons have bright, piercing eyes, and the nictitating membrane moves quickly. Older pigeons have dull eyes and poorer liveliness. In addition, young pigeons have very fine wrinkles in the bare skin of the eye ring, and as the pigeon ages, the wrinkles in the bare skin become thicker and coarser.

4. Identify by the size and color of the cere

The cere of a squab is red and glossy, while that of a young pigeon is light red and shiny. In pigeons over 2 years old, the cere already has a thin powdery white color. In pigeons over 4 or 5 years old, the cere is powdery white and has become rather rough, while in pigeons over 10 years old it appears dry and rough. The cere also becomes slightly larger as the pigeon ages.

5. Identify by the size and presence or absence of the bursa of Fabricius

The bursa of Fabricius in pigeons is located above the cloaca. In young pigeons, the bursa of Fabricius is relatively large; in adult pigeons it becomes smaller, and after a few years it becomes very small, or only a trace remains.

6. Identify by the color of the feet and the thickness of the scale patterns

Young pigeons have bright red feet, with inconspicuous scale patterns, soft and flat scales, soft and pointed toenails, and soft and smooth foot pads. In pigeons over 2 years old, the feet are dark red, with fine but distinct scale patterns, and the scales and toenails are somewhat hard and curved. In pigeons over 5 years old, the feet are purplish red, with prominent and coarse scale patterns, protruding and rough scales, white small scales attached to the upper hair, thick, hard, and curved toenails, and thick, coarse, and hard foot pads.