Out of nine vices in pigeons’ behaviour and expression through vices or bad habits were scientifically described. Within these there were food related vices 2=22.22%, nervousness 1=11.11%, fight and sexual both 3=22.22%. Devoid of original pair mating its male partner tries to mate with another squab or female of different pair which considered great vices in pigeons for losing its purity. Fighting vices are related to sexual characteristics and that is why result suggests that in both cases the occurrence of the percentage is same. Food related vices are in second position and nervousness is psychological. All bad habits come in pigeons due to maladaptive or abnormal environment and some from their abnormal physiology. From the above vices pigeon keepers face food losses, inbreeding depression and purity, and their fighting causes injuries of chicks. Careful and keen handling of pigeons is the precursor for avoiding such vices.

Keywords: chicken, pigeons, rearing, vices

Pigeons need light and fresh air. Dark and less ventilated places are bad for pigeons’ health. Strangers in the farm should maintain strongly. If rearers give more times with their pigeons, they will show more taming behaviour and will remove bad habits or common vices. Pigeons are very clean and intelligent creatures with a free and full spirit. They spend a lot of time in cleaning, preening, and grooming in spare time. Pigeons and doves chew the end of its feathers when it gets time. This is common bad habits of pigeons. For this, need to cut some feathers. According to Windle and Orr,¹ birds’ behaviour comes from the motor neuroblasts. Kuo² noticed that at the ninth day of squab it first shows it sound sensitivity from the environment. Hand reared birds showed a great social attachment to human.³ Fighting behaviour which is a great fault comes in pigeons and doves at the age of two or more months. Female unwillingly feed its squab so that young first distinguish its mother.⁴ Sometimes non-mating experienced female lay eggs without nest.⁵ Levi⁶ reported that always male pigeons initiate to female for helping egg laying or incubate by its continuous voice and patience. In fact, bad habits or vices in pigeons come for captive rearing. Bad habits are two types-maladaptive which is abnormal environment for its rearing and other is malfunctional could mentioned the abnormal physiology of birds. For captive or complete intensive rearing, its brain development and physiology is shown abnormal. So, it can show a lot of abnormal behaviour which called stereotype.⁷ Limited space, lack of flight and social contact causes severe physical complexicity in birds.⁸ In captivity, for homeostasis, may be lost and abnormal behaviour begins and it leads to abnormal physiology in birds.⁹

Breeds and observation

Local and some exotic pigeons were observed for common vices. Fighting and aggressive behaviour were very common. It was very tough to observe those bad habits for a long time keen observation. Regular basis vices in groups, during feeding, and flying record were remarkable. Separate rearing of a pair and long time non-feeding situation showed distinct vices within and among pigeons.

Fighting

Though dove is the symbol of peace but its fighting is more dangerous. Mainly the males are aggressive to fight in most times. During the time of feeding most males show fight with others. For fighting it takes less feed. This is a common vice of most males. 

Self-pair fighting

In case of Lotan and Kokah or any captive birds due to botherness for a long time in a single cage, it happens. After laying or hatching, this problem increase gradually. Alternative use of those pairs could get rid of this problem. Sometimes, males make huge vocal sound and female is irritated and fight occurs. Some injuries happen for this and if the females are not in heat this fight is must. By applying less energetic feed, this bad situation may avoid. 

Attack another squab

Male pigeons are responsible for this. New feather forming squabs are victimized by adult males. Sometimes squabs are getting fear or injure for this. Mainly this attack observes on the head and eye of the squab. In semi-intensive system when we release pigeons should close each door of the cage. 

Males’ attraction to other pair’s female

This is another bad habit of male. Some males attract to other female. It this case if a female pairs same as other male for misunderstanding mating occurs and ultimately egg losses its purity. For this reason rare breeds lose its purity. Different breeds need to rear separately. 

Self-nesting and incubation in another place

If a hen lay eggs on board or without nest it not allows your desired pots. Intensive or semi- intensive system not allows its own nest; rearers always keep mud nest in the cage. If these problems are being serious, selling pair is the best solution and this is one kind of feral behaviour of pigeons. 

Mating with squab

Newly feather forming squabs are faced sexual assault by dominant male of any pair. 

Excreta anywhere

This is very common in pigeons. When we release pigeon in any new places or out from the chamber it excretes. This is a nervous behaviour. If this happens strongly, rearers feel suffers and after laying eggs very bad odour comes from these excreta. 

Taking water standing on pot

In this case pigeons take water by standing on water pot. So that water runs down and the tray is being watery and easily polluted by huge fungi. Sometimes, pigeons cannot take water properly for this bad behaviour. 

Searching food items

Though you supply mixed food but pigeons always try to search different items. It is a great bad habit in all pigeons. Huge amount of food destroys for this. Deep pots and very well mixed food item can be a preventive measure.

Hand reared pigeons show lots of attachments as well as bad habits and this result similar to Nice 1950. At the time of medium sized squab first it knows its mother but when it laid eggs father’s care to the squab is remarkable and that time mother disallows the squab. The observation is support to Craig in 1908. Sometimes non-mating female lay eggs any places in the chamber. This phenomenon is common by the work of Craig in 1913. Male always initiates for egg laying, introducing new nest, and incubation and this type of result came by Levi in 1941. Maladaptive or abnormal environment is the main cause for all sorts of bad habits. These findings are similar with Garner 2005. Limited space, lack of flying or exercise, poor ventilation, lack of cleanliness is the main source of vices.⁹

All bad habits of pigeons come from maladaptive then malfunctional. Most cases its rearing place or environment is not proper. Poor ventilation is a great problem here. Second is complete captivity and very short space. Due to short or narrow space it cannot breed properly. On the other hand huge foods are destroyed during the feeding time. Cleaning practices were not sufficient in most farmers in the country and after feeding those food granules are rotten and then diseases occur. Rearing of pigeons was found with ancient system. If all farmers maintain the real environment they easily control those bad habits of pigeons. If we control vices in pigeons, our profit will come drastically and pigeons will not be injured. Collection of pigeons from renowned sources, maintain purebred, observe their illness, room and cage size, ventilation, food items, food serving times, flying or exercise, weekly bathe, and cleaning are very important in a pigeon farm for avoiding such vices.

None.

The author declares that there are no conflicts of interest.

1. Windle WF, Orr DW. The development of behavior in chick embryos: spinal cord structure correlated with early somatic motility. Journ Comp Neurol. 1934;60:287‒307.
2. Kuo ZY. Ontogeny of embryonic behavior in Aves I. The chronology and general nature of the behavior of the chick embryo. Journ Exper Zool. 1932;61(3):395‒429.
3. Nice MM. Development of a Redwing (Agelaius phoeniceus). Wilson Bull. 1950;62(2):87‒93.
4. Craig W. The voices of pigeons regarded as a means of social control. Amer Journ Sociol. 1908;14(1):86‒100.
5. Craig W. The stimulation and inhibition of ovulation in birds and mammals. Journ Anim Behavior. 1913;3(3):215‒221.
6. Levi WM. The Pigeon. Levi Publishing Co. 1941.
7. Garner JP. Stereotypies and other abnormal repetitive behaviours: potential impact on validity, reliability, and replicability of scientific outcomes. ILAR Journal. 2005;46(2):106‒117.
8. Mehen CL. Environmental enrichment and development of cage stereotypy in Orange‒winged Amazon Parrots (Amazona amazonica). Developmental Psychology. 2004;44:209‒218.
9. Echols MS. Captive bird welfare and enrichment (part 1‒4). AAVAC/UEPV Annual Conference Hobart. 2010;129‒200.