What methods are there for identifying male and female pigeons?
Methods for identifying male and female pigeons differ depending on the growth stage of the pigeon, and are mainly divided into identification during the squab stage, the young pigeon stage and the adult pigeon stage. The details are as follows.
Squab identification
1. Cloaca identification method: 4-5 days after the squab hatches, in the male pigeon the upper edge of the cloaca covers the lower edge and protrudes slightly; in the female pigeon the lower edge protrudes and covers the upper edge.
2. Feeding identification method: among squabs in the same nest, those that scramble to be fed by the parent pigeons are mostly male pigeons, while the opposite indicates female pigeons.
3. Behavior identification method: among squabs in the same nest, male pigeons grow faster and are larger in body size, while female pigeons grow more slowly; when the head of a squab is touched by hand, the male pigeon reacts sensitively, raises its feathers and is lively and combative; the opposite is mostly seen in female pigeons.
Young pigeon identification
1. Look at appearance: the male pigeon has a large, broad head shape, a large but short beak, a large and prominent cere, and large, thick shank bones; the female pigeon has a more compact body shape, a small round head, a smaller cere, a long narrow beak, a thin soft neck, and short thin shank bones.
2. Grab: when a young pigeon is grabbed by hand, the male pigeon resists strongly and can make a “coo-coo” call; the female pigeon is more docile.
3. Touch: when feeling the abdomen and pelvis by hand, the male pigeon has a relatively thick and long keel, a narrow and tight distance between the pubic bones, and thick round shank bones; the female pigeon has a relatively wide distance between the pubic bones (about 4-5 cm), a slightly shorter keel, and thin flat shank bones.
4. Cloaca examination: when the cloaca of the male pigeon is closed, it protrudes outward, and when opened it is slightly hexagonal; when the cloaca of the female pigeon is closed, it sinks inward, and when opened it is cauliflower-shaped.
5. Feathers: observe that the male pigeon's feathers are glossy, and the tips of the primary flight feathers are relatively pointed; the female pigeon's feathers are less glossy, and the tips of the primary flight feathers are relatively blunt.
Adult pigeon identification
1. Male pigeons often chase female pigeons; the male pigeon's neck air sac expands, the neck feathers and back feathers puff up, and the tail feathers spread out like a fan. Female pigeons are relatively gentle and frequently accept the male pigeon's courtship.
2. Because of courtship and mating between male and female pigeons, the male pigeon's tail feathers are relatively dirty, while the female pigeon's back feathers are relatively dirty.
3. When kissing, the male pigeon opens its beak, and the female pigeon extends its beak into the male pigeon's mouth; after kissing, the female pigeon naturally crouches down and accepts mating from the male pigeon.
4. Incubation times differ. Male pigeons mostly incubate the eggs from 10:00 to 16:00 each day, and the female pigeon incubates at other times.