CHAPTER VII. 



Age and Sex of Pigeons 



Age. — By making a record of the date of birth, and 

 placing a band on the leg of the squab, as described on 

 page 92 the age can be told as long as the band re- 

 mains in position and the record is not lost. This 

 is the only infallible rule that covers all cases. 



Sex. — On the correct determination of sex depends 

 the proper purchase of birds, and on this hangs the 

 profit of the flock. By the difference in their physical 

 appearance, of say 100 birds, an expert can possibly 

 tell the sex of 90 per cent. In the remaining 10 per 

 cent, in many cases, the resemblance of the birds is 

 so nearly alike that no amount of experience is of 

 benefit in settling the question. Usually the cock bird 

 is larger and with a thicker neck. He struts about 

 more than the hen. The hen is smaller, of neater ap- 

 pearance at the head and neck. The bones about the 

 vent are a trifle wider apart in the female than in the 

 male. When held outstretched, with his head in one 

 hand and his feet in the other, the male will sometimes 

 drop his tail downward, while the hen shifts hers to 

 one side. In many cases the hen is of as masculine ap- 

 pearance as the male. She is sometimes even larger 

 than the average male, and often her actions would 

 stamp her as a cock bird. 



How experienced breeders are deceived. — Three 

 breeders of several years' experience, with flocks of 

 500 pairs, recently wanted 20 hens. They went to- 

 gether and agreed in their combined judgement that 



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