Fan tail pigeons

Question
Dear Sir/Madam,
I was given two fan tail pigeons from a friend. I would like to know how long am I to keep them locked up in their dovecove that I had built for them and how can I tell their sex.

Answer
Hi, Lindsay,

I'm sorry for responding late to your question(s).  I was hospitalized and trying to catch up.

Pigeons live in dovecotes or lofts.  Fantail pigeons are fancy pigeons and aren't usually found in the wild flying free.  I'm not sure why you have them "locked up" as they need an area where they can live/fly freely for exercise, etc.  A dovecote or loft is supposed to be a housing area providing plenty of room for flight, exercise, etc., with areas inside where the bird(s) can sleep, eat, drink.  Therefore, can't really answer that question since I don't know size of this dovecote.

With fantails, the male will usually "court" his female by chasing after her fanning and dragging his tail on the ground, cooing after her, possibly pecking at the back of her head/neck.  Watch their behavior together and if you have a male/female pair, you should be able to guess the male by the way he behaves with his female (if one is female).

Chrys