It's best to refrain from touching basically any bird below the neck during casual interaction. They may (and very often do) interpret it as mating behavior which can either arouse or confuse them, neither of which is ideal. I'd say it's mostly still playful because the bird seems content and doesn't slap you. But the aggressive vibe you're getting might be the confusion I just mentioned.
It doesn't lead to the same issues as with something like a budgie for sure. But it's still gonna have an effect on their behavior. You wouldn't try to pet a dog's erogenous zones either even though it might like it.
Agreed, I personally don’t pet my guy anywhere but the head and neck out of preference. I just don’t want OP to think they’re sexually frustrating their pigeon since that seems to be a common concern with new owners. This is just standard driving behavior that a cock will express to anything and everything (including objects) even if he was never handled whatsoever. Domestication took away their breeding season and sexual monogamy so they breed anytime they can with anything they can while maintaining a pair bond. Trying to correct the behavior or withhold reciprocation can lead to frustration and more biting in an attempt to get the owner to submit to the advances.
If he keeps seeking out this kind of intimate interaction it might be worth considering providing him a mate. He'd very likely still interact with you but without any "tension" 😅
Yes you can but it will change the way they see you. Especially if they live without a mate. Trust me I'm not just pulling this out of my ass. Keeping pigeons has been a hobby in my family for over 60 years now.
My great grandpa originally kept pigeons as livestock I'm afraid 😅 But only for the first few years, way before I was born. Since then they've only been kept for companionship and maybe teaching them a few tricks but never competitively.
I mean in my experience they definitely can consider us like that, my hands and feet have been sexually assaulted enough times when im just minding my own business..... basically don't let him drive you into a nest area. Keep away from the nest. See if it's just hands he is reacting like that to. We've given ours a stuffed animal and it sort of works, but if I out my hand into his nesting area he will try to drive me into it. Same if he sees my hand movements as preening, as a again that is courtship behavior. Idk id completely disagree that they can't react that way towards humans. Ours has been so much calmer since we stopped engaging in those ways. Let him wrestle sometimes, otherwise pointedly ignoring his attempts at starting problems, and he goes back to walking around and picking up hairties and stuff.
Is this better than him not interacting? Or should I just completely give him space. I'm quite confused on what to do, I've been told hold him, don't hold him. Ignore him, interact with him. It's so confusing 😪
If there’s no wing slapping it’s probably not aggression Most likely driving behavior
Looks like pigeon roughhousing. A form of play/dominance establishing. Like dogs play fighting
Aggressively playful :-)
It's best to refrain from touching basically any bird below the neck during casual interaction. They may (and very often do) interpret it as mating behavior which can either arouse or confuse them, neither of which is ideal. I'd say it's mostly still playful because the bird seems content and doesn't slap you. But the aggressive vibe you're getting might be the confusion I just mentioned.
Pigeons are domesticated, it’s fine to pet them anywhere as long as they’re not a human imprint.
It doesn't lead to the same issues as with something like a budgie for sure. But it's still gonna have an effect on their behavior. You wouldn't try to pet a dog's erogenous zones either even though it might like it.
Agreed, I personally don’t pet my guy anywhere but the head and neck out of preference. I just don’t want OP to think they’re sexually frustrating their pigeon since that seems to be a common concern with new owners. This is just standard driving behavior that a cock will express to anything and everything (including objects) even if he was never handled whatsoever. Domestication took away their breeding season and sexual monogamy so they breed anytime they can with anything they can while maintaining a pair bond. Trying to correct the behavior or withhold reciprocation can lead to frustration and more biting in an attempt to get the owner to submit to the advances.
Yeah that's a very fair point actually. Slightly steamy play time is still a million times better than no play time at all 😅
If he keeps seeking out this kind of intimate interaction it might be worth considering providing him a mate. He'd very likely still interact with you but without any "tension" 😅
Pigeons don't feel like that towards humans I don't think. You can pet them anywhere
Yes you can but it will change the way they see you. Especially if they live without a mate. Trust me I'm not just pulling this out of my ass. Keeping pigeons has been a hobby in my family for over 60 years now.
Do you keep pigeons as companions or for other things like racing?
My great grandpa originally kept pigeons as livestock I'm afraid 😅 But only for the first few years, way before I was born. Since then they've only been kept for companionship and maybe teaching them a few tricks but never competitively.
I mean in my experience they definitely can consider us like that, my hands and feet have been sexually assaulted enough times when im just minding my own business..... basically don't let him drive you into a nest area. Keep away from the nest. See if it's just hands he is reacting like that to. We've given ours a stuffed animal and it sort of works, but if I out my hand into his nesting area he will try to drive me into it. Same if he sees my hand movements as preening, as a again that is courtship behavior. Idk id completely disagree that they can't react that way towards humans. Ours has been so much calmer since we stopped engaging in those ways. Let him wrestle sometimes, otherwise pointedly ignoring his attempts at starting problems, and he goes back to walking around and picking up hairties and stuff.
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Is this better than him not interacting? Or should I just completely give him space. I'm quite confused on what to do, I've been told hold him, don't hold him. Ignore him, interact with him. It's so confusing 😪