Content
The Pouting Pigeon is one of the species of pigeons that received its name due to its ability to inflate its crop to a significant size. Most often this is characteristic of males. The unusual appearance allows these pigeons to be classified as decorative species. The flight qualities of the bird are very poorly developed.
History of the breed
The poking pigeon first appeared among breeders at the beginning of the 18th century. The country of origin is considered to be Belgium or Holland, where pigeon farming was a popular activity. But information from 1345 has been preserved, which mentions Spanish pigeons that can greatly swell the crop. It is quite possible that puffers came to Europe through the countries of Austria-Hungary.
Description of pigeons
As a result of the work done by breeders, over time, about 20 species of pouter pigeons appeared. Among them are pigeons of various sizes, with and without feathers on their legs, and in a variety of shades. Pouting pigeons look very majestic in the photo.
Main characteristics of the breed:
- the ability to swell the crop to enormous sizes;
- elongated, smooth body, with a vertical arrangement;
- a narrow, long tail and wings lying on it;
- small head with a high frontal part;
- poor flight qualities.
The population of pouter pigeons is widespread in the West and in Russia. The cold season is spent in the warm countries of South America.
They live near bodies of water – where there is damp grass cover. During wintering they group in small flocks of up to 6 birds. There are also solitary birds. They fly for a short time and are extremely reluctant. Pouters are comfortable in enclosures. Males are very aggressive and often get into fights. Therefore, it is better to keep this breed separately from other birds. They have poor health and require careful attention when kept in captivity.
Types of pouter pigeons
Pigeons of the pouter breed differ from each other depending on the place of breeding. All varieties have certain standards and differences. The common thing is that the breed is difficult to care for; the breeder will require a lot of effort and attention to his charges. Culling when working with blown eggs is quite common. Pigeon breeders carefully select chicks for breeding purebred individuals. This is a rather complicated process, since poulters are not fertile. Sometimes it takes at least a year to breed a pouter with a special plumage color.
A video of pouter pigeons is shown below.
English
The breed was developed by crossing old Dutch poultry pigeons with Roman pigeons more than 300 years ago in England. They are still the most popular breed among pouters.
The back and tail form an almost straight line. Quite large in size, the bird is about 50 cm long. The head is small, smooth, without a crest, and oval-shaped. Multi-colored pigeons have yellow-red eyes, while white pigeons have dark eyes.The goiter in an inflated state has the shape of a ball, tapering towards the chest. The wings are long, their ends lie on the tail. The legs are covered with feathers. The color can be varied. There are individuals in white, black, blue, and red. Colored pigeons have a white chest, belly, wing tips, and a crescent on the chest. The wings have epaulettes made of several small feathers. There are pigeons of this species without a pattern - pure white birds.
Czech saddlebacks
The breed of pigeons comes from the Czech Republic, but lately interest in it has been somewhat lost due to the hobby for other bird breeds. Therefore, the second homeland of Czech pouters has become Germany, where the good productivity and grace of these birds are highly valued.
They differ from their closest relative, the Moravian pouter, in their pattern. There is an oblong colored spot on the bird's forehead. It is the same color as the crop, tail, and saddle. A pigeon with a characteristic color, long plumage and abundant feathering on the legs. The bird has very good flight qualities, it is quite resistant to adverse weather conditions and various diseases.
It is distinguished by its beauty and is valued by breeders as a decorative breed for exhibitions.
Brno
This is the smallest and neatest pigeon of all the pouters. It is narrow in shape, with a developed goiter. It has a small head, eyes are often orange in color. Narrow feathers lag significantly behind the body, legs are long and slender. The plumage can be white-striped, black-striped, brindle or spotted.
They are usually fed barley, wheat, and millet. During the molting period, it is better to introduce oats, flax seeds and rape into the diet. Birds should be fed more often, but in small portions.Excess fat is deposited in the body of pigeons when corn, peas, and beans are added to the feed, so it is not advisable to feed them.
Norwich
This pout is a decorative show breed. Stands straight on long legs, as if on tiptoes. The goiter is round in shape, located at a right angle. The bird is medium in size, without forelock and feathers on its legs.
Typical feather colors are black, white, gray, brick, brown, beige. All colors are bright, rich shades. The defects are the discreet colors and weakly expressed patterns on the bird’s plumage.
Usually the pattern is smooth, in the shape of a crescent. It starts on the crop and ends on the sides.
Wurburgskie
A very calm, friendly, playful bird. Attentive to people, loyal. Stands and walks in an upright position. During courtship, a pair of pigeons beautifully fan out their tails and bounce in front of each other. In flight, pouters flap their wings loudly.
The plumage is quite dense and fits the body well. The main color of the pigeon is white except for the tips of the wings. Colors should be bright and clear. Pigeons of this breed always keep their beaks up due to their large crop.
Dwarf
They can be called dwarf when compared with other pouter breeds. Their size is about 35 cm in length.
They first appeared at the end of the 19th century; their ancestors were the Brno and English pouter pigeons. Externally, dwarf pigeons are very similar to their ancestors with the exception of size. They are kept only in enclosures, but can also live quietly in apartments.
The crop of pigeons is spherical in shape, the body is smooth and neat. The color of the eyes depends on the shade of the plumage. Pigeons are very diverse in color. They can be silver, with a blue tint, and there are also black and white individuals.
The breed is easily vulnerable and requires careful care.
Pouter Gaditano
A medium-sized pigeon with a very lively disposition. The crop is neat, spherical in shape. The head is elongated, with a small cere. The beak is short and rounded. The wings are strong, lie on the tail, the tips do not cross.
The bird can come in a variety of colors. The plumage is quite dense. There is a pattern in the form of spots, stripes and other marks.
Individuals with a very swollen crop, a too narrow body, short or long legs and a pronounced cere are subject to culling.
Hall blower
They give the impression of an elegant, small, very active bird. The body is positioned horizontally, the head is strongly tilted back. The crop is wide, round and, in combination with the body of the bird, resembles a ball with a tail. The plumage is short and brightly colored. The standard color is one-color, but there are pigeons of variegated and brindle colors.
Disadvantages may include a narrow body, a small goiter, irregularly shaped legs, an uneven tail, and lack of a horizontal position when walking.
Pomeranian
Larger birds than the English Pouter, with a powerful body. The color of the plumage can be pure white, white with a black or gray tail. There are colored individuals with a white crescent on the crop. Of the colored pigeons, brick, yellow, and bluish shades are more common.
Pomeranian pouters have a smooth head, without a tuft, and a medium-sized beak (in white and colored birds it is beige, in others it is dark). Large crop, wide chest. The wings are dense, the tail is wide, slightly rounded at the end. The legs are long with abundant feathering.
Content Features
Breeding pigeons of this breed is a troublesome task and requires a lot of effort and special attention from the breeder. Poulters are often susceptible to various diseases because they have a weak immune system. In addition, males are pugnacious and often injure each other’s crops. Therefore, this breed of pigeons should be kept separately from other birds to avoid punctures.
Requirements for a dovecote
The main requirement is to keep the premises clean. Daily cleaning is required. Clean feeders, drinking bowls, and baths every day. Disinfect the premises twice a year. The dovecote should be built only from natural building materials. The room should be warm, dry and light. Additional lighting is necessary, especially birds need it in winter. In summer, you need to ventilate more often and shade the dovecote in bright sun. The temperature in the dovecote is as follows: 20 degrees in summer, down to -6 in winter. One of the prerequisites is the presence of dry natural litter.
Feeding the pouters
The feeding diet is not particularly different from the diet of other species of pigeons. They also need protein, carbohydrates and fats. We must not forget about vitamins and mineral supplements. It is imperative to provide the bird with green food, vegetables, fruits, fish oil, and ground eggshells. Since the immunity of pigeons of this breed is weakened, many breeders strengthen it with the help of decoctions of various herbs.
On average, pigeons consume from 40 to 50 g per day; in winter, the norm is doubled, as well as vitamin and mineral supplements.
Pomeranian pigeons drink a lot of water, so they must have free access to clean, fresh liquid.And since they often drink from bathing suits, they need to change the water and clean containers for liquids every day.
Breeding pouters
2 weeks after mating, the female lays a clutch. The adult lays 2 eggs. Hatching time is about 18-20 days. Usually the female and male take turns sitting in the nest. The male is largely involved in arranging the nest, and the female completes the construction. The breeder can help a little: throw branches and straw into the enclosure.
On the 4th day after laying, you need to check the eggs for fertilization. To do this, you need to carefully take the egg and hold it up to the light: in the fertilized egg, a dark spot of the embryo and red vessels of the circulatory system will be visible. The unfertilized egg is transparent; it is replaced with an artificial dummy so that the parents do not abandon the clutch.
Conclusion
The Potting Pigeon is an unusual bird in terms of external characteristics and behavior with a touching attitude towards humans. Her peaceful disposition more than compensates for some difficulty in maintenance and care.
