How to Identify Pigeon Gender
Determining pigeon gender can be challenging, especially if you are a beginner. Although some experienced pigeon breeders also get fooled.
There are many different methods for determining pigeon gender. But none of these methods can ensure 100 accurate results. And only DNA testing method can provide 100 percent accurate result.
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| 10 Ways to distinguish Pigeon male and female |
Different Ways for Determining Pigeon Gender
As we have mentioned above ‘there are no ways for determining pigeon gender with 100 percent accuracy (except DNA testing)’.
You need to learn the basic system for determining male or female pigeon, if you are raising pigeons.
However, here we are describing about the common methods for determining pigeon gender.
Appearance of the Birds
The male pigeons are generally larger in body size and appearance than the females. Head of the male pigeon is round.
On the other hand, the female pigeons have generally flattened head. Eyes of the female pigeons are round, while the eyes of the male pigeons are not so round like the females.
In case of body weight, the male pigeons are pretty heavier than the female pigeons.
Monitor their Behavior
Monitoring the behavior of your birds is also a great way for determining pigeon gender. The males generally become very angry in nature, and the females become calm. Both male and female coo.
But the male’s coo generally come with a dance and fanned tail scrapping the ground. The males generally like to chase other pigeons.
And the males tend to hold more property than the females. A female pigeon accept a male by dropping it’s wings.
Pigeons generally live in pairs and they mate for life. They share the care of their eggs and young.
If the pigeons have eggs, the male will generally sit on the nest in the morning (until around mid-afternoon). And the female will take over the nest later in the day.
Listen to Their Sound
Both males and females generally coo. But the male pigeons ‘bow and scrape’ (bowing their heads, while scraping their tail feathers along the ground). The females are generally less vocal than the males.
Monitor the Toe
Back finger of the pigeons is generally smaller in both males and females, but the differences in their side finger.
The side fingers of a female pigeon are not equal to the front fingers. While the males have side fingers which are equal to the front fingers.
Hold their Wing
Hold your bird’s two wing by two hands and shake it in air. If the tail of the bird is straight, then it’s a male pigeon.
But if you notice the tail is in upward position, then it is probably a female.
Vent System
Some experienced pigeon breeders use this system for determining pigeon gender.
The male pigeons have bones which are closed together under their tail. While the bones in female pigeons are wider.
DNA Testing
None of the above methods can ensure 100 percent accurate results. You can only get 100 percent accurate result by DNA testing system.
DNA testing determines the gender of a pigeon by analyzing a sample of a bird’s blood or feathers.