Male or Female
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How old are they? If they are under 2/3 months, it may be a little difficult for the untrained eye, but once they start interacting with each other as they mature you will see.
The males are usually more aggressive and defensive of their territory. They have deeper voices, are larger, have bigger crops and coo loudly and will proudly walk and display themselves with dances when they find or think they have foud a hen. With hens it can be a little more difficult as they are softer spoken and not as aggressive, they can be bullies too, when they are young, but you know you have a hen once they lay that first egg.
The males are usually more aggressive and defensive of their territory. They have deeper voices, are larger, have bigger crops and coo loudly and will proudly walk and display themselves with dances when they find or think they have foud a hen. With hens it can be a little more difficult as they are softer spoken and not as aggressive, they can be bullies too, when they are young, but you know you have a hen once they lay that first egg.
I bought them both at a small livestock auction. One has a leg band "IF 2007 A 9902", the other is not banded.
The unbanded bird struts alot and coos very loudly, the banded bird does coo but not as often or as loud.
I have them in an outdoor pen that measures 4'w x 12'l x 6'h. They have a flight area and a closed in area where I put perches and nesting shelves.
Should I put nesting material in the pen? What kind and where do I put it?
Thanks
The unbanded bird struts alot and coos very loudly, the banded bird does coo but not as often or as loud.
I have them in an outdoor pen that measures 4'w x 12'l x 6'h. They have a flight area and a closed in area where I put perches and nesting shelves.
Should I put nesting material in the pen? What kind and where do I put it?
Thanks
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How long have you had them, and were they sold as a pair? They just may need more time to adjust.
You could build them a nice nest box, with a front, so they have privacy. Get a nice nesting bowl such as the ones available from a pigeon supply house or even a dog food bowl will do, if it is spill proof, and that it won't tip over.
You can give them scraps of paper or clean pine needle twigs, or tobaco stems.
However, if they don't mate, or you have two hens, or two males, you won't have any eggs at all..or eggs that aren't fertile.
Make sure their coop is weather, wind and predator proofed. Any openings larger then 1/4 inch should be closed off with 1/4 inch hardware cloth.
You could build them a nice nest box, with a front, so they have privacy. Get a nice nesting bowl such as the ones available from a pigeon supply house or even a dog food bowl will do, if it is spill proof, and that it won't tip over.
You can give them scraps of paper or clean pine needle twigs, or tobaco stems.
However, if they don't mate, or you have two hens, or two males, you won't have any eggs at all..or eggs that aren't fertile.
Make sure their coop is weather, wind and predator proofed. Any openings larger then 1/4 inch should be closed off with 1/4 inch hardware cloth.
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Generally, it's the male who makes the most noise, dances, fans their tail, etc.
From your description, it sounds like your unbanded bird is a male.
But then I have a blind pij who lays eggs and coos, dances and fans her tail when one of the aviary birds stops by to visit with her.
Cindy
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