What is a pigeon’s mating habits?

For thousands of years, pigeons have been performing many functional tasks for humans. They differ in forms and colors. And not only are they beautiful creatures but also possess some great skills. Since they easily adapt to all kinds of environment, they can certainly be kept in areas with dense population. They can be tamed and can live in small spaces. They do not smell, make very less noise and are inexpensive when it comes to caretaking.



Pigeons are loving creatures and are usually a monogamous lot. They mate for life and live life in pair. The mating process usually occurs as an organized ritual. Once the pair goes through the courting stage and mate, they start to build a nest and make cushion-like squabs using feathers. The pair remains faithful to each other for their entire life or until some external element separates them. If either of the mates dies, the other one will mate again with another single pigeon. Usually long distance does not affect the bond between two birds unless there is some influence from an unmated pigeon around it.

In general each pair of pigeons have two nests. The pigeons usually lay two or more than two pair’s offspring’s and two nests are a sufficient space to care for each offspring. The nests are eleven to twelve inches in length. Usually the nest is made out of hay or straws but tobacco stems are best as they prevent the nest from insects.

Pigeons have unique mating habits. Once the male pigeon has singled out his interest for a certain female pigeon, it begins to show off. It coos in specific ways to entice the female partner, it starts an arrogant gait to interest the other one and tries to show off its manly features. If interested, the female becomes friendly with the male thus giving an invitation to mate. The pair then selects a place to make a nest and build a nest together. Once the nest is built, the pair mates and prepare themselves for the birth of their brood. When the female lays the egg, it sits on the egg for more than 24 hours after which the male takes its mate's place on the eggs so that its partner can eat and rest.

Their offspring’s grow quickly so the parents continuously have to provide nourishment. They feed their young ones with 'pigeon milk' that secretes from the parents' gullets and later on the nourishment comes in the form of partially digested food eaten by the parents.

In some unfortunate cases, pigeons might be barren or infertile so they may not be able to produce young ones. In this situation the pair must be separated so they can find new mates and resolve their infertility issue.

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