dove sexing?

Question
I have had a male white dove, snowflake, for 6 years. Previously, he had been a classroom pet.  He is very friendly and extremely easy to handle.  I assume he is a male because he bows his head puffs up and coos.  
I went to a pet shop who had just acquired a pair of white doves.  The store assured me that they could tell the difference between the 2 doves by the separation of lower pelvis bones(groin area)-being larger in the female for egg laying.  It all made sense and I took the dove home.  I kept them in separate cages at first to see each other and then introduced them outside the cage.  Well, snowflake attacked it with wing-like punching.  Snowflake's cage is large, so after more days of trying and handling outside the cage together, I tried to introduce them inside Snowflake's cage.  It never worked.  And then over a week later, the new bird started to bow and puff and coo.  I thought maybe this bird is a male also.  
I returned this first dove and took home the other dove whose pelvis bones are closer together.  Snowflake seemed much less aggressive to this second dove.  They have been together in the large cage for 2 weeks.  Occasionally, Snowflake punches this new one.  
Yesterday, this second dove started to puff up, bow and coo.  It does make another sound-a very small hoot-hoot.  Snowflake and the first dove never made this sound.  
Should I return this second dove because it is also a male and just give up?  Is there a way to tell the difference between male and female doves?  Is Snowflake better off alone for the rest of his life?


Answer
Hello Rita,

Although their method of sexing can be accurate, DNA testing would be the only absolute way to determine sex. Your avian veterinarian can perform this test.

As for introducing new birds you have to take several things into consideration. First, Snowflake has not been social with a bird for at least 6 years. Has he ever learned appropriate bird behaviors from other birds? Without experience with other birds I would expect it to take time for Snowflake to learn to accept and understand a bird as a companion.

As for introducing new birds together, it's best to do it on neutral territory. By introducing a new bird into Snowflakes territory you set up a situation where Snowflake was going to be aggressive.

The most important aspect for housing two birds together is providing enough space. The minimum space that I would consider housing two doves together would be a cage that is at least 36" wide by 24" in length. Anything less in my opinion is too small. And this would be a minimum - a small amount of space in my opinion.

As for your specific question to give up. I am not clear as to what your goals are. If you are simply seeking a companion for Snowflake, and assuming you are providing the minimum amount of space then I don't see a reason to relinquish the responsibility of caring for this dove that you choose to take in and provide a home for. More time is needed to let them establish their friendship. If need be they can be housed separately and still benefit from the companionship.

Jennifer
www.feathersandscales.com