Changing Cocks and Hens

As you may know, I am not racing this year as I have set 2016 aside to breed myself a new family of pigeons, from the stock birds I have.

I had a cock on loan which I put with one of my hens - That has now gone.

I put another cock and hen together which I don't want to breed from again.  Which I took 1 round from and have now separated.

I have also got a few more stock birds.  So now I have a full accompaniment of pigeons -  Six Cocks and Six Hens.

My question is:-

What is the procedure when wanting to swap stock birds around?

I have removed all the first round of youngsters from their parents and put them in a different area until my new young bird loft is finished (in a couple of weeks time).

I have two hens in a big crate, these are the two I want to Re-Pair.  How do I go about it please?

I have the two cocks I want the hens to go with, in their boxes - not locked in and the two hens waiting in the crate.

Where do I go from here?

I know you guys always have good advice and I await your replies.

Many thanks in anticipation.

Phil (blueskylofts)

hi phil, its always awkward when repairing pigeons when they are going to be in the same loft......(I think so anyway) I think you've done the right thing by separating them so that hopefully when you re-pair it should be easier.....I think what I would do is keep them separated for maybe a week or so (cocks and hens) then put the new hen in the box with the new cock........I would keep the cocks in the same box, and change the hens over......if you are using the plastic widowhood fronts I have sometimes used a spare plastic front as a divider so the cock and hen can see each other and not get into a fight, this might be what I would do first......alternatively put half a brick or a block of wood for the hen to get out of the way of the cock, if he becomes aggressive towards her.

let each pair out into the loft in turn, giving them chance to relax and get to know each other, and to know their box.


maybe someone with more experience than me can advise.

blueskylofts wrote:

As you may know, I am not racing this year as I have set 2016 aside to breed myself a new family of pigeons, from the stock birds I have.

I had a cock on loan which I put with one of my hens - That has now gone.

I put another cock and hen together which I don't want to breed from again.  Which I took 1 round from and have now separated.

I have also got a few more stock birds.  So now I have a full accompaniment of pigeons -  Six Cocks and Six Hens.

My question is:-

What is the procedure when wanting to swap stock birds around?

I have removed all the first round of youngsters from their parents and put them in a different area until my new young bird loft is finished (in a couple of weeks time).

I have two hens in a big crate, these are the two I want to Re-Pair.  How do I go about it please?

I have the two cocks I want the hens to go with, in their boxes - not locked in and the two hens waiting in the crate.

Where do I go from here?

I know you guys always have good advice and I await your replies.

Many thanks in anticipation.

Phil (blueskylofts)

I consider your trying to achieve too much too soon Phil your birds to me are in a continual shock mode     with all thats happening there in such a short time in your new loft. Could I suggest you just cut your losses & frustration for the time being & let them all well & truly settle in for next years breeding there & maybe just consider buying in a small team to give you an interest.

did it earlier this year, did all that david says and more so just take your time and let the hen get "sexy" for that particular cock, I personally locked the hen in cellar overnight by herself, the nxt day presented her to cock who was locked in the box and left her to start showing, gotta take care of hen tho so don't rush it, hope it works out fella

Knackered wrote:

blueskylofts wrote:

As you may know, I am not racing this year as I have set 2016 aside to breed myself a new family of pigeons, from the stock birds I have.

I had a cock on loan which I put with one of my hens - That has now gone.

I put another cock and hen together which I don't want to breed from again.  Which I took 1 round from and have now separated.

I have also got a few more stock birds.  So now I have a full accompaniment of pigeons -  Six Cocks and Six Hens.

My question is:-

What is the procedure when wanting to swap stock birds around?

I have removed all the first round of youngsters from their parents and put them in a different area until my new young bird loft is finished (in a couple of weeks time).

I have two hens in a big crate, these are the two I want to Re-Pair.  How do I go about it please?

I have the two cocks I want the hens to go with, in their boxes - not locked in and the two hens waiting in the crate.

Where do I go from here?

I know you guys always have good advice and I await your replies.

Many thanks in anticipation.

Phil (blueskylofts)

I consider your trying to achieve too much too soon Phil your birds to me are in a continual shock mode     with all thats happening there in such a short time in your new loft. Could I suggest you just cut your losses & frustration for the time being & let them all well & truly settle in for next years breeding there & maybe just consider buying in a small team to give you an interest.