Double D
78 posts
Nov 12, 2005
4:37 PM
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Again, my birds are 3 1/2 to 4 1/2 months old.
I was observing them after I fed them and started watching two birds in the same cage, supposedly both cocks. The one wouldn't leave the other alone and acted as if it was trying to kiss the other bird. At first the one bird didn't want to participate but then finally gave in. Once he did, it looked more like he was feeding the other one than kissing to me. It appeared the one bird was regergitating into the mouth of the other bird. This went on for a couple minutes, and then the one "getting fed" squatted down and the other mounted it, tails went their different directions and it appeared they tried to mate.
Question: First of all, does kissing look like feeding or are they distinct actions? When I raised pigeons as a teenager I don't remember kissing looking like that. It looked like feeding to me. And second of all, will young birds like this "go through the motions" even though they are both cocks?
I have two other birds, supposedly hens, who will pick at each other's feathers and clean each other and be all lovey dovey but I had never seen what I described above.
Thanks for the help guys.
Darin
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rollerpigeon
Site Moderator
408 posts
Nov 12, 2005
5:04 PM
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I have seen it 1 time in young birds and kind of surprized me when they went through the entire breeding routine!
Except no eggs. They did not pair after that, just went on thier way. I think that they were just playing house and "you show me yours and I'll show you mine". LOL
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FLY ON! Tony Chavarria
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Double D
79 posts
Nov 12, 2005
7:41 PM
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It sure took me by surprise when it happened. Anyone else have any experience with this.
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MCCORMICKLOFTS
260 posts
Nov 12, 2005
8:19 PM
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D, pigeons are friskly little critters. In fact, the main thing that makes them so unique in the bird world is the ways they bond with one another. Much of what you see in a juvenile stage is just instincts playing out.
The species Columbidae which consists of doves and pigeons is the only species where a pair will show effection in a variety of ways, some of which you mentioned seeing. Pigeons will court one another and "kiss" which is that feeding act just before copulating. Few other species of birds carry on this way which again, is what makes pigeons so unique.
With pigeons you will see very young birds acting like mature birds, carrying out what their instincts and personality are inspiring them to do. The list runs the full gamut of actions when it comes to pigeons. Cocks will pair up with cocks if they have no other choice, as well as hens with hens.
Brian.
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Double D
80 posts
Nov 12, 2005
10:13 PM
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Thanks Brian,
That's what I'm seeing with the two cocks and the two hens. I have two 8-compartment breeding cages and I have two birds in most every cage, hens with hens, and cocks with cocks, so that is all that is available. I'm wanting to keep them separate until they are old enough and the time comes to pair them up.
I have four cocks that are really starting to show themselves and two hens that really show interest any time the cocks start strutting their stuff. They are all acting as if they are ready to truly mate. I'm wanting them to be ready because I want some birds I can fly!!! LOL!
I'll tell you what, everyday's a learning process and I'm loving it!
ONE FINAL QUESTION BRIAN: When their instincts are playing out like you talked about, would it be normal for a cock to act like the hen though? That's where I'm a little confused. I think I could understand it a little more if they were trying to mount each other but the one cock seemed to play the role of a hen to perfection. Maybe "HE" is a "SHE"! LOL! Would one of the cocks act the part of a hen like that?
Darin
Last Edited by Double D on Nov 12, 2005 10:17 PM
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MCCORMICKLOFTS
261 posts
Nov 12, 2005
10:30 PM
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Go sit on a park bench in San Francisco and you'll find the answer to that question..lol
If you have cocks locked in a pen together, the two that decide to play gayball somehow figure out which one gets to be the pitcher and which one gets to be the catcher..lol. You'll see similar antics with a pair of hens too.
If you think one of those cocks is a hen, then it will lay eggs if it is a hen. Throw that henny cock in with some hens and that should pretty much tale the tale of what the sex of the bird is.
Brian.
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