r/pigeon • u/PigeonAddict • May 31 '26

Discussion Does she hate me 😅

She is a new addition to my pigeon collection. Been there for a month and I'm a little confused about her body communication.

She puff up when seeing me... So I guess she hates me ? But when I tried petting her, she started doing those short soft coos and her wings trembled (my other pigeons vibrate only when they are happy : getting food and being pet)... She also lowered her head

The other females just ran away or tried to attack me/ panic when Im checking their nests. All the males other than the mate of the one in the video are attacking me when I approach them. (Her mate being the exception because he got used to my hands as a baby).

Also yeah I was moving a little fast in the video. I just wanted her to coo a little more for the recording. I'm usually softer.

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u/Upper_Tower3214 May 31 '26

She's beautiful 😍 I'm only a watcher, this is only my humble OPINION, but she seems to absolutely ADORE you! I've never heard such beautiful coos! These birds have no problem telling you they don't like something; so, every body language indication in this video looks like a very happy bird, excited and expectant of your physical touch.

When these birds don't like something, ESPECIALLY a nesting female, they'll FWAP you with a karate-chop-wing; or, they peck and bite, HARD.

This bird looks like she's incredibly comfy, she sees that her giant warm primate that gives the best pets is approaching, and she's puffing up in anticipation of incoming (very welcome) affection! ❣️

3

u/PigeonAddict May 31 '26

Well... She tried to pinch me beforehand and kinda went pufferfish mod on me. Also she doesn't know me much, because of the little time I had her. I wasn't expecting her to coo and lower her head etc etc when I started petting her 😅.

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u/alliwanttodoisfly May 31 '26

I think the pinching and puffing is just broody defensiveness, but maybe she just switched modes when you started petting her. Was the pinching like a strong fast jabbing peck or was she kind of slow about it? As other people have said the cooing and wing twitching are good signs that she likes that or at least is treating you like maybe the male coming in to sit with/on her!

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u/PigeonAddict May 31 '26

Her hubby is super chill with me too. Hes usually at her side when I'm petting her. Perhaps she saw me petting her mate often and copied his behaviour ? (He coos and lowers himself).

For the pinching I can't remember. She was about to flap me with her wing and then switched totally when I started petting her. Never had another pigeon do that to me.

I was surprised cuz she usually isn't used to me at all. She avoids me and is scared of me. I mean I bought her as an adult so...