animakt on Tue Mar 30, 2010 5:36 amHello guys! Its the first time ever am posting here and I just felt like I have to tell you this. I have reared pigeons since I was 10 and now am 29. I have a pair of white fantail pigeons as pet, the hen's been with me for over a year while the male joined her about 6 months ago. Thing is they finally got to mate and yesterday the one egg the female laid got hatched and a beautiful cute baby is in the nest now. BUT the hen's behaviour is really strange. For one, when she was on her own she took me as her mate and would constantly coo and turn in circles and lay eggs, all infertile ofcourse! Then when i put her in with the male fantail, she took to him almost immediately but she behaved like a male, she would go in the nest bowl, coo n bring nesting materials and would even want to go on top of the male!! Poor boy! 
But the male never let her and so she kept laying infertile eggs for a while. Then one fine day the male managed to go on top of her after much persuasion and they did this a couple of times before she finally laid her fertile egg. Now here's the strange part, she would never EVER let the male approach the nest or sit on the egg. Day and night she would keep sitting on it, taking very brief breaks to eat and drink and come back quickly. Now that the baby is here its even worse, she fights and pecks the male not allowing him to even come near the nest or feed the baby. She does everything, feed, keep it warm and sit on the baby 24hrs!! Am a bit anxious with this behaviour. Anyone came across this kind of behaviour?? The pair is alone with their baby in the loft by the way and they are not disturbed or anything.
But the male never let her and so she kept laying infertile eggs for a while. Then one fine day the male managed to go on top of her after much persuasion and they did this a couple of times before she finally laid her fertile egg. Now here's the strange part, she would never EVER let the male approach the nest or sit on the egg. Day and night she would keep sitting on it, taking very brief breaks to eat and drink and come back quickly. Now that the baby is here its even worse, she fights and pecks the male not allowing him to even come near the nest or feed the baby. She does everything, feed, keep it warm and sit on the baby 24hrs!! Am a bit anxious with this behaviour. Anyone came across this kind of behaviour?? The pair is alone with their baby in the loft by the way and they are not disturbed or anything.
I have a lone female pigeon that does exactly what yours does, sit on her infertile eggs all by herself, around the clock. 
) Their baby is doing just fine with Fluffy doing all the feeding and looking after it, I must say she's doing a fantastic job all alone, if she were human she'd probably say "who needs a man anyway 
Animakt!!
Dom 
to the forum!!!! I'm afraid I cannot throw any light on the behaviour of your hen as my experience is limited to the feral pigeons nesting on my balcony for the last 5 years or so. I can only say that they have all behaved very "conventionally" so far as their female/male roles are concerned. This supports my theory that birds that become pets and/or share their existence with humans tend to lose their natural instincts and get somewhat confused as to their roles in nature. Hope dad will be able to play his role if only to show the youngster to fly when the time comes.
Have any pics to share of Fluffy, Groggy and new baby? 
Oh my, Cyreen!! Ya just gotta love the little monst....er, darlin's!! 
... whatever she is. From the sound of it, other house raised pigeons tend to develop their own unique quirks.
