MATING AND SELECTION OF BREEDING STOCK 139 



HOW TO TELL MALE FROM FEMALE 



With most breeds of pigeons, the male is a little larger than 

 the female. He has a coarser look, thirker neck and larger legs 

 and feet. These differences can only be readily noticed by com- 

 parison or by those who are not only familiar with pigeons, 

 but with that particular breed. The age of the birds must be 

 ccrsidered. An old female is apt to be taken for a young male if 

 one is judging by looks only or comparing two males or two 

 females of different age. In such a case they are apt to pick 

 the old bird for the male and the younger for the female: As a 

 rule the male is more muscular, stronger and masculine. The 

 best method to use, however, to tell the sex is to watch the birds 

 in their everyday life. 



There are many ways that I can lell the female from the 

 male that it would be difficult for mc to fully explain. For in- 

 stance, they drink and eat differently. The difference is so slight 

 that you ran only learn it by experience in watching them. A 

 male will fly a little different than a female on special occasions. 

 Their general carriage and actions in the fly pen and loft are 

 different, all of which is hard to describe, but can be 'detected 

 if you will give the matter careful study and attention. 



Here are some of the most common ways of distinguishing 

 the sex'es: the female bird can be found on the nest when she 

 has eggs or small squabs early in the morning, late in the after- 

 noon, or at night. The male is on the nest between 9 or 10 

 o'clock and 3 or 4 o'clock, except during the laying period, when 

 the female is apt to be on the nest any time during the day. 

 The male carries the straws to build the nest with, and the 

 female sets on the nest and arranges them in order. The male 

 will usually get in the nest box and call its mate by long, 

 cooing, monotone sounds, when they are mating up, or just 

 prior to building a nest. A male will fight quicker and harder 

 than a female. A male will whirl clear around when he is 

 cooing on the floor or in the fly pen, while the female, if she 

 coos at all, will not turn over a quarter or half way round. A 

 male will strut along after another bird, coo and drag his tail 

 ■on the ground, walking around in a proud, prancing way, with 

 his head up and neck swelled out. A female will do very 

 little strutting and will carry her body more horizontally as she 



