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Breeding pigeons has become a popular hobby, but keeping these birds is not just for beauty. There are many breeds of different purposes: pigeons are bred to sell gourmet meat, participate in exhibitions, and also train representatives of flying and sports sports for competitions. The postal breed is distinguished separately, although it does not enjoy the same popularity.
Features of care largely depend on the breed. Birds with different species qualities have different requirements for diet and arrangement of the aviary.
Requirements for keeping pigeons
Before you start breeding domestic pigeons, you need to familiarize yourself with the requirements for keeping these birds. For birds to feel comfortable, their habitat should be like this:
- Spacious cages - an average of 1 m3 of enclosure per individual.
- Open aviary - pigeons do not like the dark.When breeding pigeons on a balcony or in a room, you should not cover the windows with anything - the birds need light.
- After purchase, the young animals are kept for some time separately from the old-timers, but so that the pigeons see each other. This will make it easier for them to accept the move-in.
- Birds of different breeds are kept separately from each other to avoid unwanted interbreeding.
- To avoid outbreaks of diseases, you need to regularly clean the cages. 1-2 times every six months they do general cleaning and disinfection of surfaces with special solutions.
- The room temperature should not fall below +10°C. For the winter, the aviary or balcony is insulated, otherwise the birds will begin to lose weight and get sick.
- Pigeons are sociable birds, so they are not bred in small quantities. Usually they keep flocks of at least 6-8 pigeons.
- It is recommended to keep an equal number of females and males, since in pigeons reproduction is based on the principles of monogamy - they choose a mate once and remain faithful until the end of their lives.
- It will be crowded in one cage or aviary if there are more than 20 birds. If the number of individuals exceeds this number, the cage is divided into special sections.
- The place where birds are kept must be reliably protected from drafts.
Preparing to breed pigeons
The first step towards breeding pigeons at home is landscaping the enclosure. If it is located in a private courtyard, then an arrival window is included in the design of the cage. When creating a dovecote on the balcony, it is important to remember that you cannot put many birds there - the space is relatively small, and pigeons love space.In apartment conditions, it is better to place birds in an empty room.
Regardless of where the cage is located, it is divided into separate cells, especially if the flock is large. The dimensions of the cells are made according to the size of the birds of the selected breed - the pigeon must be free to fit completely in it. On average, a section of 20 x 40 cm is obtained. At the entrance to the recess, a special perch is attached, which will be convenient for the birds to grab onto. Pigeons distinguish bright colors, so you can additionally paint these perches so that each individual remembers its place.
The room temperature should not drop too low during the winter months, so if you decide to place the pigeons on the balcony before starting breeding, you will have to insulate it over time. For these purposes, use polystyrene foam or drywall.
Immediately before moving birds into a new home, you need to thoroughly disinfect the room where they will live. A solution of potassium permanganate or slaked lime is suitable for this.
Choosing a breed for breeding
There are many varieties of breeds. Conventionally, they can be combined into several groups:
- flying;
- sports;
- decorative;
- meat.
Pigeons of these varieties have different grooming requirements when bred at home. Therefore, the choice of a specific breed must be approached with all responsibility.
The purchase of new individuals can be carried out at any time of the year, but it is better not to start breeding pigeons in winter. Before making a final decision, it is important not only to examine the bird for diseases, but also to evaluate its behavior in general.An adequate assessment is impossible during the winter months because the flock is rather sluggish at this time.
Healthy pigeons are identified by the following characteristics:
- even breathing, moderately frequent;
- the pigeon actively moves around the cage;
- the plumage is dense, shiny;
- the eyes have a pleasant shine;
- The chest is well developed, but does not protrude.
Flying breeds
Flight breeds are valued for their unusual flight patterns. They even organize special competitions for these birds, although they are tested not for speed, but for play and combat.
The most popular flying breeds include the following:
- Thurman Berlin;
- Nicholas pigeon;
- Cross (German) monk.
You will have to pay for the beauty of flight with your own time and effort - in order for a pigeon to develop an interesting flight pattern, a lot of training and a strict diet are required. You cannot skip classes - even a small indulgence is enough to disrupt the bird’s development in terms of flight.
Sporting breeds
Sports breeds are bred exclusively for competitions - appearance is of secondary importance. A separate subspecies of carrier pigeons is distinguished in this category, but they are no longer as common as before.
What distinguishes flying pigeons from other breeds is their extraordinary endurance - they are able to stay in the air for many hours and cover enormous distances at a time. The physique of representatives of the flying breed is, as a rule, light, even graceful, the head is slightly elongated.
The most popular sporting breeds include:
- English quarry;
- Belgian postman;
- Russian postal.
In racing pigeon competitions, the winner is the one who flies the greatest distance in the least amount of time. Shortly before the start of the competition, the individual participating in it is transferred to a special diet, supplied with sufficient quantities of vitamins and minerals.
Decorative breeds
Decorative pigeons are kept for pleasure. They are distinguished from other species by the specific structure of their feathers, which sometimes gives them an outlandish appearance.
Decorative breeds are usually small, have bushy tails, tufts, forelocks and eyebrows, and are famous for a wide variety of colors, as well as special “boots” made of feathers on their legs.
When purchasing decorative pigeons, they are guided by their health, behavior and personal preferences. The most popular varieties:
- Barb Doves;
- Bohemian swallow;
- Brno blower;
- Curly pigeon;
- Peacock Dove;
- Saxon priest.
The flock does not fly significant distances from home.
Meat breeds
Few people know this, but pigeons are still bred for their meat. For some time there was a widespread belief that their meat was eaten by the poor and homeless, but this is not so - now a high-quality poultry carcass on the market costs quite a bit. This is due to its usefulness (it is leaner than chicken), relative rarity and cost of care.
The meat breed is distinguished from other varieties by its weight. Birds of this species weigh about 800 g, which is why they fly with difficulty.The color can be very different, but the distinguishing feature is the heavy build. In the photo, domestic meat pigeons have a short tail and neck, a small head, a protruding chest, etc.
The most popular meat breeds:
- Carnot Chunky;
- Modena English;
- King;
- Roman pigeon (giant);
- Monden;
- Strassen.
The main rule for keeping meat pigeons is proper feeding.
How to breed pigeons
Reproduction of pigeons at home is carried out in two directions: artificial and natural. The second method, which is also called “random,” is, of course, dominant in nature. It is not suitable for home breeding of birds. Healthy and strong offspring of pigeons are obtained using one of the following breeding methods:
- linear;
- inbreeding (related mating);
- by external signs;
- unrelated.
Immediately after selection, the pair is transferred to a special box or cell overnight. You can determine how the mating went by the behavior of the selected pigeons. If the male has covered the female, they inseparably follow each other around the enclosure.
But this is only half the success. It is important to create ideal conditions for the couple to reproduce and help with the construction of the nest. To do this, dry twigs, straw, woolen threads, dry leaves, etc. are scattered around the enclosure. Additionally, 1-2 small baskets or boxes are placed inside where the pair will nest.
5-8 days after mating, the female lays a pair of eggs. Both parents hatch the offspring, sometimes at once, sometimes alternating so that the partner has time to rest and eat.
Inbreeding
Inbreeding is the crossing of related pairs of pigeons. Conventionally, this method of breeding is divided into 2 more types: mating of parents with offspring and mating of brothers and sisters. This also includes cousins.
The main advantage of this form of pigeon breeding is the increase in the quality of breeding. In addition, inbreeding allows you to preserve all the positive qualities of your parents. In this way, several generations of pigeons can be bred.
Breeding pigeons according to lines
Breeding pigeons along lines is considered a purebred form of breeding, where a line is the offspring of an outstanding parent who has absorbed the best qualities of the breed. Through selection, selection and methodical training of the desired traits, the qualities of the ancestor accumulate and over time the breeders end up with something like a micro-breed within the main breed.
This method of breeding pigeons differs from inbreeding because the parental individuals are more distantly related.
By external signs
The method of breeding pigeons based on external characteristics is the most common. It is based on the assertion that parents pass on all their positive qualities to their offspring. With good heredity, such reproduction gives excellent results.
Unrelated
Mating of unrelated pigeons is the opposite of inbreeding. It is generally accepted that the influx of new blood, new genetic material, enriches the gene pool of the breed and thereby improves the qualities of each next generation.Over time, the variety may develop new characteristics.
Natural
This type of mating is typical when pigeons of the same breed are bred in one cage. In this case, human intervention is minimal - the male independently chooses a female from the pack and begins to court her.
How to care for pigeons at home
Caring for pigeons must be the most thorough, since they are kept exclusively in flocks, which means that there is always a threat of mass infection. If one bird catches the infection, the disease can spread to the entire flock in a matter of hours. Therefore, it is important to follow all preventive measures: clean enclosures on time, change drinking bowls and disinfect the place where pigeons are kept. Preventing a disease is much easier and cheaper than treating it.
Feeding the birds
The diet is of great importance in caring for pigeons. The flock is fed strictly according to a schedule, since poultry is prone to obesity, but the dosage largely depends on the species: sporting breeds are additionally fed with vitamins during competitions, meat breeds by default consume a large amount of feed to gain weight, etc.
In the summer months, birds are fed 3 times a day; in winter, food consumption is reduced and they switch to feeding twice a day. Recommended schedule for three meals a day: 4 a.m., noon, 8 p.m.
The basis of the diet of domestic pigeons should be the following cereals:
- wheat;
- corn;
- sprouted grain;
- barley;
- pearl barley;
- peas;
- buckwheat grain;
- millet.
Additionally, the bird's diet is diluted with fresh herbs (dill, parsley, etc.) and vegetables. You can also give pumpkin and sunflower seeds. Sports and flying breeds are fed with mineral mixtures and vitamin supplements. Crushed eggshells, broken shells or clay can be used as a mineral fertilizer for ornamental and meat species.
Diseases
The first thing to do if you suspect a disease is to isolate the unhealthy bird from the rest of the pigeons. This way, in most cases, it is possible to reduce possible damage to a minimum.
Self-medication is not recommended; all medications should be prescribed by a specialist after examining the sick bird. He also determines the dosage. If it is not possible to quickly call a doctor, first aid can be provided using folk remedies:
- chamomile infusion - helps with diarrhea, bloating and inflammation of the gastrointestinal tract;
- garlic decoction - used as an anthelmintic;
- beebread - serves as a kind of immunomodulator that improves the health of exhausted birds;
Serious illnesses such as psittacosis and salmonellosis are treated with antibiotics prescribed by a veterinarian.
The set of preventive measures for caring for pigeons when breeding at home includes the following procedures:
- regular ventilation of the room;
- renewing water in drinking bowls in the morning or evening of every day;
- replacing bedding every 2-3 days;
- cleaning the floor from feces, feathers and food debris;
- treating all surfaces with bleach or its analogues;
- irradiation of the enclosure with ultraviolet light.
Breeding pigeons as a business
To make a profit, they usually use meat breeds, the maintenance of which is based on the methodical feeding of birds. They do not need additional training, like representatives of flying or sports breeds, and they do not need to be carefully looked after, like decorative breeds. The only significant difference in breeding this breed, besides supplementary feeding, is the decoration of the enclosure - nests or separate cells for pigeons should be located lower to the ground. Due to their heavy weight, it is difficult for meat breed birds to fly high.
King pigeons are among the most popular meat breeds: the birds are fertile, quickly gain weight and have a fairly calm disposition.
Conclusion
Breeding pigeons is not only a hobby, but also a profitable business if you approach the matter correctly. Of course, as a hobby it has always been in the first place - from time immemorial pigeons have been bred primarily for pleasure and communication, although postal breeds are no longer as popular as before.Decorative pigeons, represented by a wide range of breeds, are especially loved by breeders, but caring for them requires increased requirements for sanitary conditions and reproduction.
Pigeons rarely get sick, so with proper nutrition and cage arrangement, problems with breeding birds usually do not arise.
You can learn more about the features of breeding pigeons at home from the video:
