Expert: Chrys Meatyard - 7/16/2008

Question
Please answer if you can. I recently got a dove/pigeon from an Arabic festival. She is sorta domesticated. She was played with and socialized but ultimately meant for food. Any ways she was given to me and needless to say im not going to eat her but like she isn’t really eating any of the the food I provide and heard they love to fly but when I let her out she just sits and looks at me. Also im note sure if she is a dove or what. And i cant tell her sex therefore cant get her a friend without risking she will have babies which is a major no no.

Answer
Hi, Annie,

I picked up your question from the question pool this morning.

I would have to see a photo of this bird is order to tell you if it is a dove or pigeon.  

What type of food are you offering this bird?  You need to be feeding a dove/pigeon wild bird and/or pigeon grain, depending on the age of the bird (if it's a baby, it may still need to be handfed).  If the bird is old enough and can't fly, perhaps it is malnourished and too weak to fly.  Could also be other reasons why this bird can't fly (injury to a wing, too young, the bird is sick, etc.).

Doves/pigeons can't be sexed visually unless you have experience with these types of birds and can sex by behavior (especially when the bird is with other birds).  A person with experience with doves/pigeons might be able to sex by looking a certain traits of the bird.  Otherwise, try DNA sexing.  

I would need more information from you, as well as a picture, in order to help further.

Chrys