How to Tell Male and Female Pigeons Apart? A Few Practical Identification Tips

Pigeon meat is nutritious, with tender flesh and an especially fine flavor. Its nutritional value is higher than that of other poultry, and it has always been regarded as a top-grade meat, with the saying "one pigeon beats nine chickens." It is both a precious delicacy and a premium tonic, with medicinal effects such as replenishing qi and enriching the blood. It also has a certain auxiliary therapeutic effect on hair loss, eczema, and premature aging, and is especially suitable for postpartum women, children, the elderly, surgical patients, and those weakened by long illness. The market potential for squab consumption is enormous. The appearance and form of male and female meat pigeons differ only very slightly. Identifying males from females is an important step in introducing and breeding meat pigeons and pairing them up, and meat pigeons are also a typical "one mate for life" breeding species. If the sex ratio is improper, not only will the loft be restless, but the egg-laying rate will also be affected. Several identification methods are introduced below for reference.

I. Embryo identification method for pigeon eggs

After a fertilized egg has been incubated for 4-5 days, observe it under a light. If the blood vessels on both sides of the embryo's baseline are symmetrical and appear in a spider shape, it is a male embryo. If the blood vessels on both sides of the embryo are asymmetrical, with one side having long and numerous vessels and the other side having short and few vessels, it is a female embryo.

II. Methods for identifying male and female squabs

1. Identification by comparing appearance: Among squabs in the same clutch, the one that grows faster, has a larger body size, a short and thick neck, a large and flat nostril cere, sturdy legs, a long and wide beak, and a forked tip of the uropygial gland is the male. After 10 days of age, extend your hand in front of the squab; the one that reacts quickly and pecks at your finger is male. When it can walk, the one that is lively and active, often leaves the nest, has a large and thick head, a broad and thick but slightly short beak, and rushes to eat first when the parent pigeons feed it is male; the opposite is female.

2. Cloaca identification: Before 4-5 days of age, turn the cloaca over and observe its shape to distinguish male from female. Slightly spread the cloaca open. Viewed from the side, if the lower edge of the cloaca is shorter, the upper edge covers the lower edge, and the upper edge protrudes slightly, it is a male pigeon; if the upper edge of the cloaca is shorter, the lower edge is longer, and viewed from behind both ends tend to curve slightly downward, it is a female pigeon.

III. Methods for identifying male and female young pigeons

Pigeons from 28-30 days of age that have already been separated from their parents up to sexual maturity are called young pigeons. This is for identifying males and females to keep as breeding stock. Squabs not intended for breeding are marketed for meat at 22-28 days. The male pigeon has a large, thick head with a rounded arched top, a relatively large but slightly short mouth, a thicker and shorter beak, a large and prominent nostril cere, thick and hard neck bones, and thick and large leg bones. The female pigeon has a compact body structure, a small round head with a flat upper part, a smaller nostril cere, a long and narrow mouth, a thinner and longer beak, a thin and soft neck, and short and thin leg bones. The male pigeon's keel is long and curved. When handled, the male pigeon resists strongly and makes a "coo coo" sound. The female pigeon's keel is short and straight, and she is gentler, sometimes making a "wu wu" sound. Hold the @#@247@#@ neck facing toward the light, and you can see that the male stares with both eyes, bright and spirited, with the nictitating membrane flickering rapidly; the female's eyes appear gentler, with the nictitating membrane flickering more slowly. In pigeons 3-4 months of age and older, when the male pigeon's cloaca is closed it protrudes outward, and when opened it is hexagonal; when the female pigeon's cloaca is closed it is concave inward, and when opened it is flower-shaped.

IV. Methods for identifying male and female adult pigeons

The identification methods for young pigeons all apply to adult pigeons, and adult pigeons display them even more prominently. In addition, you can also refer to the following:

1. The male pigeon often chases the female, circling around her, with the neck feathers and back feathers raised, the tail feathers spread and occasionally dragging on the ground, the head nodding up and down frequently, and making a coo coo sound. The female behaves more gently, walking slowly or crouching with her head half lowered. During estrus she often nestles close to the male's side, and her call is lower and deeper.

2. The male pigeon's tail feathers are dirtier, while the female pigeon's back feathers are dirtier.

3. When a paired couple kisses, the male pigeon opens his mouth, and the female extends her beak into the male's mouth. After kissing, the female naturally crouches down and accepts the male's mating.

4. Generally, male pigeons mostly incubate the eggs from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., while female pigeons mostly incubate from 5 p.m. to 9 a.m. the next day.

5. During the laying period, the male pigeon's pelvis is narrow, with the distance between the left and right pubic bones about one finger wide; the female pigeon's pelvis is wide, with the distance between the left and right pubic bones about two fingers wide.