Pigeon size?

[Tim Kelly]

Had a nice afternoon yesterday and got a dozen pigeons, some various and a fox. While breasting the pigeons this morning I was pondering on the different sized chests the pigeons have. Some huge wide breasts with lots of meat while others are much thinner. Aside from the obvious ladies chesticles analogies, I wondered whether there was a difference between the sexes that accounted for the different size and shape of the pigeon's chests?

[oscarsdad]

Were they all mature birds I.e had the white wing bars? I shot yesterday and half the birds were youngsters and a lot smaller (and harder to hit - that's my excuse anyway!).

[Bleeh]

They'll be youngsters.

The big meaty breasts takes time to develop. I learnt this lesson the hard way after plucking two Canada geese that ended up having breast meat about 1cm think.

[Tim Kelly]

All had white wing and neck bars. Do you think the larger breasted birds were older then, over a year old? Hadn't thought they'd grow after reaching adulthood.

[motty]

Were they all mature birds I.e had the white wing bars? I shot yesterday and half the birds were youngsters and a lot smaller (and harder to hit - that's my excuse anyway!).

All young birds have white wing bars.