Mary Allen
Doves represent loyalty. It is not always clear why this is so and what conclusions can be drawn from this for the pigeon fancier. Because in practice, pigeons are not always faithful. With serious consequences.
In spring, cock and hen get to know each other, maybe they were a couple of last years, court each other, lay eggs from which chicks hatch, which come as close as possible to the breeding goal. So far the theory and mostly also the practice. But it is also interesting for pigeon fanciers to take a look behind the scenes. Knowing why some things are the way they are. The term “loyalty” in particular has an important meaning and function here.
Pigeons live in monogamy. A male animal forms a pair with a female animal. Loyalty is indispensable for this or the consequence. Thanks to evolution, this has happened. In the case of pigeons, that is Columba livia, the rock pigeon. She is the primordial mother of all pigeon breeds. It doesn’t matter whether it’s show pigeons, racing pigeons, racing pigeons, or street pigeons. As a chick, the pigeon sits on its nest and is therefore naked and helpless. In the course of evolution, pair formation or monogamy was the best solution for reliably raising young animals, since cock and hen take turns in caring for the brood.
Battle for Territory
However, monogamy only works if the hen joins the cock without reservation. It uses its territory, which it has conquered and, above all, defended. The two rely on each other completely, they are loyal to each other. In inbreeding practice, the area of the cock means first the nest cell. It is the room in the loft that belongs only to the pigeon. He vehemently defends this against other cocks by flapping his wings and pecking with his beak. Very vital cocks will therefore only rest if they have been able to fight for territory.
The aspect of fighting for oneself is particularly important. It is part of the mating behavior, even if you don’t notice it as a pigeon fancier at first. From this, it can be concluded that there can only be peace in the loft if there are no more cocks than nest cells or if every cock can assert itself in a district.
This safety in the cell has positive effects on the hen. She can lay her eggs in peace. In addition, loyalty to their partner has the decisive advantage that their offspring can grow up protected. Unfaithfulness would not benefit them because the number of their cubs would still be the same. Because pigeons always lay two eggs with two possible young animals.
Cocks are Open to Side Jumps
The firm bond to the partner or loyalty, therefore, needs a firm territory. If this is not the case, a hen is receptive to foreign cocks. Or to put it another way: She looks for a cock that has a territory, a safe breeding ground. A territory makes a cock really attractive for a hen.
With a pigeon it is different. He’s not averse to a fling. From a developmental point of view, this also has a decisive advantage for him. Its offspring is increased and that of a conspecific is decreased. However, this behavior is not the same for every cock. While one uses every opportunity for infidelity, the other is rather quiet here. Each cock is therefore committed to a breeding or life partner. That gives him security.
The mating partner can vary quite a bit. There are several reasons why the cockers mostly stay with their hen – even for years – i.e. keep the pair going. In a permanently mated barn, there are no “single” hens or the joint brood care of young animals. Under these conditions, a closer bond and also greater fidelity can be observed on the part of the cock.
This is all quite theoretical and perhaps confusing. But this knowledge can be used in daily practice. Especially now, when it comes to mating the pigeons. At least two weeks before the intended date, the cocks should be brought into the breeding loft, and only they. Now they have enough time to conquer their nest cell. It is an advantage if the same cockers were in the loft in the previous year. Then it will be quicker for everyone to have their own cell.
If each cock sits in his cell for a week, you can add a hen to the nest cell. Of course, this can also happen elsewhere. But the basis must always be that the cock only takes care of this hen. Under certain circumstances, it can be advantageous to separate the hen from the cock from time to time in order to increase the attractiveness again.
Tempting Unpaired Hens
Cock and hen then sit together. Ideally, if they have already kicked in the nest cell, they can be let out with the other pairs. Before that, it makes sense to only let single pairs fly. There is a reason for that. In the beginning, the pair bond, and thus the loyalty of the cock is not particularly strong. Hens that are not yet firmly mated are a great temptation. This is also the reason why cross-pollination occurs almost exclusively at the beginning of the breeding season. If this happens in a loft that only has one breed and one color, it is hardly noticeable. Otherwise, it can lead to a big mess. At the latest then the pigeon fancier realizes that the loyalty is not so pronounced.
Calmness in the loft due to intensive mating and few cross-pollinations are directly related. It is particularly interesting that this can be explained in terms of developmental history. Show pigeons are still wild rock pigeons, albeit in a different guise. It makes sense for a pigeon fancier to use this knowledge. Breeding progress is easier to plan and the breeding year is smoother. Both aspects that one likes to experience in his pigeon breeding.