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Breeding pigeons has become a popular hobby, but keeping these birds isn't just for beauty. There are many breeds of different types: pigeons are bred to sell delicious meat, participate in exhibitions, and also train representatives of flying and sports species for competitions. The postage 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 the diet and arrangement of the enclosure.
Requirements for keeping pigeons
Before you start breeding domestic pigeons, you need to familiarize yourself with the requirements for keeping these birds. To make the birds feel comfortable, the habitat should be like this:
- Spacious cages - for 1 individual, on average, 1 m3 of an aviary.
- Open enclosure - pigeons do not like the dark. When breeding pigeons on a balcony or in a room, you should not block the windows with anything - the birds need light.
- After the purchase, young animals are kept separately from the old-timers for some time, but so that the pigeons can see each other. So they will more easily perceive the sharing.
- Birds of different breeds are kept separate from each other to avoid unwanted interbreeding.
- To avoid outbreaks of disease, you need to regularly clean the cells. 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 ° С. 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 numbers. Usually they keep flocks of at least 6-8 pigeons.
- It is recommended to keep an equal number of females and males, since reproduction in pigeons is based on the principles of monogamy - they choose a mate once and remain faithful until the end of their life.
- It will be cramped 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.
Preparation for breeding pigeons
The first step towards breeding pigeons at home is the improvement of the aviary. If it is located in the courtyard of private property, 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 settle many birds there - the space is relatively small, and pigeons love space. In an apartment environment, it is better to place birds in an empty room.
Regardless of where the cage will be located, it is divided into separate cells, especially if the flock is large. The sizes of the cells are made according to the size of the birds of the selected breed - the pigeon should be freely placed in it completely. 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 birds to grab.Pigeons can distinguish bright colors, so you can additionally paint these perches so that each individual remembers its place.
The temperature in the room should not drop too low in the winter months, so if it is decided to place the pigeons on the balcony before breeding, over time it will have to be insulated. For these purposes, foam or drywall is used.
Immediately before settling birds in a new home, you need to thoroughly disinfect the room where they will live. For this, a solution of potassium permanganate or slaked lime is suitable.
Choosing a breed for breeding
There are many varieties of breeds. Conventionally, they can be combined into several groups:
- flight;
- sports;
- decorative;
- meat.
Pigeons of these varieties have different requirements for self-care when breeding at home. Therefore, the choice of a particular 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, in general, to assess the behavior. An adequate assessment in the winter months is impossible, because the flock is rather sluggish at this time.
Healthy pigeons are determined by the following criteria:
- even breathing, moderately frequent;
- the pigeon actively moves around the cage;
- plumage dense, shiny;
- the eyes have a pleasant shine;
- chest well developed, but not protruding.
Flying breeds
Flying breeds are prized for their unusual flight patterns. For these birds, they even arrange special competitions, although they do not test speed on them, but play and fight.
The most popular flying breeds include the following:
- Thurman Berlin;
- Nikolaev pigeon;
- Cross (German) monk.
You will have to pay for the beauty of the flight with your own time and energy - in order for a pigeon to develop an interesting flight pattern, a lot of training and a strict diet are required. It is impossible to skip classes - even a small indulgence is enough to disrupt the course of the bird's development in terms of flights.
Sport breeds
Sports breeds are bred exclusively for competition - appearance is of secondary importance here. Separately in this category, a subspecies of carrier pigeons is distinguished, but they are no longer as common as before.
Flying pigeons are distinguished from other breeds by their extraordinary endurance - they are able to stay in the air for many hours and overcome huge distances at a time. The physique of the representatives of the flying breed, as a rule, is light, even graceful, the head is slightly elongated.
The most popular sports breeds include:
- English quarry;
- Belgian postman;
- Russian postal.
In competitions for sports pigeons, the winner is the one who has flown the greater distance in the least amount of time. Shortly before the start of the competition, the individual participating in them is transferred to a special diet, supplying sufficient vitamins and minerals.
Decorative breeds
Decorative pigeons are kept for fun. It differs from other species by the specific structure of feathers, which sometimes gives them an outlandish look.
Decorative breeds are usually small, have lush tails, tufts, forelocks and eyebrows, are famous for a wide variety of colors, as well as special “boots” made of feathers on their feet.
When buying decorative pigeons, they are guided by their health, behavior and personal preferences. The most popular varieties:
- Barb Pigeons;
- Bohemian swallow;
- Brno dutysh;
- Curly pigeon;
- Peacock dove;
- Saxon priest.
The flock does not fly away at considerable distances from the house.
Meat breeds
Few people know about this, but pigeons are still bred for meat. For some time it was widely believed that the poor and the homeless eat their meat, but this is not so - now a high-quality poultry carcass on the market is worth a lot. This is due to its usefulness (it is more lean than chicken), relative rarity and care costs.
Meat 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 overweight physique. In the photo, domestic meat pigeons have a short tail and neck, a small head, protruding chest, etc.
The most popular beef breeds:
- Carnot Chunky;
- Modena is English;
- King;
- Roman dove (giant);
- Monden;
- Strassen.
The main rule of 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", of course, is dominant in nature. For home breeding of birds, it is not very suitable. Healthy and strong offspring of pigeons is obtained by one of the following breeding methods:
- linear;
- inbreeding (related mating);
- by external signs;
- unrelated.
Immediately after the selection, the couple is transferred overnight to a special box or cell. It is possible to determine how the mating went on by the behavior of the selected pigeons. If the male has covered the female, they inseparably follow each other through the enclosure.
But this is only half the success. It is important to create ideal breeding conditions for the pair, to help with the construction of the nest. For this, dry twigs, straw, woolen threads, dry leaves, etc. are scattered around the enclosure. In addition, 1-2 small baskets or boxes are placed inside, where the couple will nest.
5-8 days after mating, the female lays a couple 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 a related pair of pigeons. Conventionally, this breeding method is subdivided into 2 more types: mating of parents with offspring and mating of brothers with sisters. Also cousins can be attributed here.
The main advantage of this form of pigeon breeding is an increase in the quality of pedigree breeding. In addition, inbreeding allows you to preserve all the positive qualities of the parents. In this way, several generations of pigeons can be bred.
Breeding pigeons along the lines
Breeding pigeons along lines belongs to purebred forms of reproduction, where the line is the offspring from an outstanding parent who has absorbed the best qualities of the breed. Through the selection, selection and methodical education of the necessary traits, the qualities of the ancestor are accumulated and over time, the breeders get something like a micro-breed within the main breed.
This method of breeding pigeons differs from inbreeding by the more distant relationship of the parent individuals.
Outwardly
The method of breeding pigeons on the basis of external traits 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, a variety may develop new characteristics.
Natural
This type of mating is characteristic when breeding pigeons of the same breed in one cage. In this case, human intervention is minimal - the male independently chooses a female from the flock and begins to care for her.
How to care for pigeons at home
Caring for pigeons must be the most careful, 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 cover the entire flock in a matter of hours. Therefore, it is important to observe all preventive measures: clean the enclosures in time, change the drinkers and disinfect the place where the pigeons are kept. It is much easier and cheaper to prevent the disease than to cure it.
Bird feeding
The diet is of great importance in caring for pigeons. The flock is fed strictly on schedule, since poultry is prone to obesity, however, the dosage largely depends on the species: sports breeds are additionally fed with vitamins during competition periods, meat breeds by default consume a large amount of feed for weight gain, etc.
In the summer months, the birds are fed 3 times a day, in the winter food consumption is reduced and switched to two meals a day. Recommended schedule with three meals a day: 4am, noon, 8pm.
The following cereals should form the basis of the diet of domestic pigeons:
- wheat;
- corn;
- sprouted grain;
- barley;
- pearl barley;
- peas;
- buckwheat grain;
- millet.
Additionally, poultry food 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 supplement 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. In this way, in most cases, it is possible to minimize the possible damage.
Self-medication is not recommended, all medications should be prescribed by a specialist after examining a 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;
- decoction of garlic - used as an anthelmintic;
- perga - serves as a kind of immunomodulator that strengthens the health of emaciated birds;
Serious illnesses such as psittacosis and salmonellosis are treated with antibiotics prescribed by a veterinarian.
The complex of preventive measures for caring for pigeons when breeding at home includes the following procedures:
- regular ventilation of the room;
- updating water in drinking bowls in the morning or evening of every day;
- changing the litter every 2-3 days;
- cleaning the floor from feces, feathers and food debris;
- treatment of all surfaces with bleach or its analogues;
- irradiation of the aviary with ultraviolet light.
Breeding pigeons as a business
To make a profit, as a rule, meat breeds are used, the content of which is based on the methodical feeding of birds. They do not need to be additionally trained, like representatives of flying or sporting breeds, and carefully looked after, like decorative ones. The only significant difference in breeding this breed, in addition to supplementary feeding, is the decoration of the enclosure - nests or individual cells for pigeons should be located lower to the ground. Due to their heavy weight, it is difficult for meat birds to fly high.
King pigeons are among the most popular meat breeds: birds are fertile, gain weight quickly and have a rather calm disposition.
Conclusion
Pigeon breeding 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 post breeds are no longer popular. Breeders are especially fond of decorative pigeons, represented by a wide range of breeds, but caring for them implies increased requirements for sanitary conditions and reproduction.
Pigeons rarely get sick, therefore, with proper nutrition and arrangement of the cage, problems with breeding birds usually do not arise.
In addition, you can learn about the features of breeding pigeons at home from the video:
