They mate for life, but damn cocks still want some hens. But the cock will not allow that hen to go inside the nest box from my experience.

 

I do wonder if pigeons in an 'enclosed world' behave differently as regards pairing, to free-living birds. In our aviary it's more like most pair up for life. We have had a few cases where a hen has left one cock and taken up with another. Recently, a young cock ousted one of our older birds and took up with his mate .. and I think it was the hen who made the running. No accounting for pigeons

John

 

Pigeons do mate for life, but some breeds are of different temperament, and mating may be a very sensitive issue. Also, are they secure within their nesting box?

Are either bird handicapped and/or hindered from completing the act of mating???

I also have a male that actually was responsible for breaking up a pair also, and ended up dominating the hen until he won her over, but most of my birds are also contented with their mates.

 

Well, the only thing i can think of is she is to tiny to stay on while mateing. she may be a small hen, but he is at least the size of a large indian cock. So maybe size is not all that. lol. I did notice that he never sat on egss when she did lay. dead beat husband