pigeon

Question
I rescued a pigeon a baby pigeon after falling from a nest and now lives in my house with my family. He/she is now 6 months old and is spoiled. How do I tell if it is a boy or girl? Does it need another pigeon companion and will it have an egg without a mate? Thanks for your time. Sue

Answer
Hello Sue and thank you for your post.
Kudos to you for taking the Pigeon in.  I had one when I was growing up, and he made a wonderful pet.
The only way to tell the sex of a pigeon is either by a DNA Test, which is not really that expensive and you'll get the results back in about a week, or to wait and see if it lays an egg (which would be around 2 years of age), or if it starts masterbating (which is a sign that it is a male).
If it is female, then yes, she can lay an egg without a mate.  The egg just won't hatch.  As long as enough time is spent with this bird, (s)he shouldn't need another companion.  If you got it a comapnion, it might only want to be with the ther bird, and would actually reject human companionship.
If you're going to keep it as a pet (which it sounds like that's what your intention is), then just keep the ine bird and work with him/her.

Good luck and God Bless.
Dianna