Content
Uzbek pigeons have long won the sympathy of breeders all over the world. Once upon a time on the territory of modern Uzbekistan, which was considered a kind of oasis, there lived ethnic groups, many of whom were engaged in breeding pigeons. The experience and skills of breeders have been passed down from generation to generation, and today Uzbek pigeons are the envy of many lovers of these birds.
History of Uzbek pigeons
Uzbek pigeons are birds with a unique history. True, not the whole history of their breeding was reflected in documentary form. The information that has survived to this day is the memories of pigeon breeders about the emergence of a particular breed. In addition, many breeders did not keep records of breeding work, but orally passed on knowledge to children and grandchildren. Therefore, many information is distorted or completely lost.
Fighting pigeons of Uzbekistan have always been popular in Central Asian countries. Despite constant conflicts, the civilian population was actively engaged in pigeon breeding, the exchange and purchase of birds.
One of the Tashkent pigeon breeders NN Danilov writes that in the eighteenth century, pigeons were brought to the vicinity of the city, which were very different from the usual breeds in their shortened beak and abundant plumage on their paws. Bird lovers from Samarkand, Tashkent, Bukhara showed interest in this species also for their unusual play in flight. Already in the nineteenth century, short-billed pigeons were recognized by all breeders. Further, the emir's pigeon breeders played a significant role in improving the species. They described the breed standard, carried out selection work in terms of flight and play properties. After the Uzbek pigeon came to Russia (Krasnodar Territory), it was mated with turmans and gulls, as a result of which a shaggy short-billed pigeon "Armavir" appeared.
Interesting is the work of the Tashkent pigeon breeders to improve the breed of the two-chubed pigeon in two directions: fighting and decorative. As a result, the quality and exterior performance were improved, and the Tashkent two-fluted flight-playing pigeon was obtained. And to obtain a decorative breed, crosses were carried out with other species and mestizos were obtained in the first generation. Further, an exhibition breed was obtained with an improved appearance: the shape and decoration of the head, unusual plumage of the legs.
The first standards of Uzbek decorative and slaughter breeds were adopted in 1969 in Tashkent. At the same time, a club of amateur pigeon breeders was organized. The approval of the standards was necessary for the international recognition of the new Uzbek species. The highlights of the previously described standards have not changed today.
In 1978, Tashkent breeders decided to call all two-toed, no-toothed, nose-toothed, forelock pigeons Uzbek shaggy-legged. A unifying feature for them is the presence of rich plumage on their paws (shags, spurs) and a common color of the body and wings for them.
Features of pigeons of Uzbekistan
Individuals are subdivided according to standards accepted throughout the world.They are divided into flying and exhibition ones, according to the exterior and according to their belonging to a certain breed.
The main feature for which Uzbek pigeons are so loved all over the world is their cheerful, playful disposition. Almost all types of pigeons in Uzbekistan belong to the group of "fighting" for the sounds they make during the flight. Not all birds are capable of taking off so beautifully, tumbling in the air, flipping their wings.
Lovers are attracted by the unusual plumage on the legs of birds as a sign of noble birth and a variety of forelocks on the head. The color of Uzbek pigeons is also diverse. It is subdivided into color, variegated and belt. The most common colors of plumage are black, red, gray, brown. There are also purple and yellow.
Breed standards:
- body about 30-38 cm;
- color corresponds to a certain subspecies;
- head with a steep frontal part;
- the presence of a forelock;
- beak is short, thickened;
- plumage on the paws of at least 10 cm.
Uzbek pigeons are shown in the photo.
Uzbek pigeons are very demanding on keeping conditions. To date, very few of their representatives have remained. Most often they are kept in aviaries, which is why birds lose their flying qualities.
Fighting Uzbek pigeons
In addition to the unusual sound of the flight, birds are able to soar during flight for a long time, while being quite high. The plumage has about 10,000 individual feathers. Each has its own specific function: some serve as a decoration for a bird, others allow a variety of movements during flight, the rest emit the very sounds in the air, because of which birds are called fighting.
The special arrangement of the feathers allows them to land on the ground at great speed. Ornithologists have calculated that birds can roll over up to 20 times before landing.
The exterior may vary depending on the subspecies. For example, birds may or may not have forelocks, the length of the neck, beak, and body weight may differ.
The absolute leader among the pigeons of this species is the Uzbek Tasmans. Often they can be found at various events, as they lend themselves well to training and look very impressive during performances.
The breed is not agricultural. Its purpose is to delight connoisseurs of wildlife and pigeon breeders. After all, a great creative thought is hidden behind the grace and beauty of these birds.
Decorative Uzbek pigeons
Trying to give the birds as much grace and beauty as possible, Uzbek breeders held many events before the world saw the renewed breed. All ancestors of pigeons, seagulls, turmans participated in breeding decorative Uzbek pigeons.
Decorative Uzbek pigeons are an exhibition breed. Participants are given marks on a 100-point system in accordance with the established exterior standards.
Today, most Uzbek pigeons have a snow-white beak. However, some breeds also have darker shades of beak. It has a slight deflection, a low fit. Sometimes it must match the color of the plumage. The wax is firmly attached to the head.
The size of the individual is average. Representatives of any breed can be called compact and slender. The body is slightly elongated. The tail and back form, as it were, a single line. Feathers fit snugly against delicate, white skin.
The head is round in shape, the eyes are expressive. They have a different shade of the iris: gray, black, mother-of-pearl. The skin on the eyelids is white.
On their paws, there are so-called cosmas - long feathers, which are a distinctive feature of Uzbek pigeons. Spurs should be matched with braids.
The tail has 12 long feathers. There may be spots and stripes on the wings and tail.
Fight of Uzbek pigeons
Uzbek pigeons tolerate heat well and can rise high into the sky under the sun.
Their flight is beautiful and unique. Birds are capable of doing various somersaults in flight, while making sounds resembling clicking. This sound is heard from afar.They gain height up to 20 meters, make a big circle, hover in the air, do somersaults and again rise vertically a couple of meters.
Some species, rising, can turn over in a corkscrew around their axis. This type of fighting pigeons is called screw pigeons. It happens that during somersaults they lose control and die, crashing into roofs or trees. Experienced breeders sometimes trim the tail feathers of pigeons to avoid tragedy.
It looks very nice to hang up dead rocks in flight. During this, the birds turn slowly and flap their wings loudly.
Another type of flight of Uzbek pigeons is ribbon flight. Tumbling of the bird is carried out without vertical take-off and hovering. But many breeders reject pigeons that fly this way.
Birds with an incomplete 360 ° turn or, conversely, with a large turn, are subjected to culling, as well as individuals that miss the clicking of their wings when turning, or flapping their wings, but without turning.
Varieties of Uzbek pigeons
The exact number of subspecies bred by breeders is unknown. This is due to the fact that amateurs, competing with each other, get new breeds, but do not document the process.
Earlier, starting from the 15th century, breeding was available only to wealthy people. They regularly organized competitions, where the pigeon that was able to hold out in the air longer than the others won. Thus, both in those days and now, different breeds are valued for their flying qualities, tricks in the air, flapping wings and flight duration. Among the most famous species that have earned sympathy all over the world are forelock, toothless, two-toed, shaggy-legged, short-billed.
In addition, they are subdivided according to their suit and feather patterns.
Two-lipped Uzbek pigeons
They are the most unique breed of Uzbekistan. It was bred at the beginning of the twentieth century. The ancestors of the breed are some Persian species, Turkish and Chinese birds. They were crossed with local short-billed ones. The standards of the Uzbek two-headed pigeons were adopted in 1990, supplemented with flight characteristics in 2002.
Appearance of two-toed individuals:
- the head is wide, the frontal part is round, the wax is swollen;
- beak miniature, wide, with a slight deflection, white;
- the color of the iris of the eye depends on the color of the bird;
- the front forelock is in the form of a rose, may be curly;
- the back forelock looks like a crown, passes into the mane;
- shaggy legs grow in 3 layers, covering the toes and metatarsus, their length is about 10 cm;
- spurs merge with the plumage on the legs, pass into the undertail.
The color of birds of this breed is white or multi-colored, characterized by uniformity of color. The flight of two-chubby is judged by the duration, height, volume of the battle, and tricks. Usually they fly at an average altitude, stay in the sky for several hours, and go out into a pole on takeoff.
You can watch the flight of two-toed pigeons of Uzbekistan in the video.
Unique specimens of Uzbek pigeons from S.A. Gitalova are presented here.
Individuals that have retained their flying qualities and have not lost their beautiful appearance are especially appreciated.
Chubby Uzbek pigeons
The chubby Uzbek pigeons have another name - chelkari. Their second name comes from the forelock on the back of the head, the length of which reaches 2 cm.
Often before exhibitions, this forelock is combed to show that it belongs to the breed. Because of this, the forelock have a somewhat daring look.
For forelocked pigeons of the exhibition direction, there are more stringent requirements for the appearance and shape of the tuft on the back of the head. For flying birds, the exterior requirements are less stringent, but it still has a certain influence in competitions.
Naso-nosed Uzbek pigeons
Nastochubes are characterized by the presence of a forelock on the beak and wax. At the same time, the short beak hides behind the abundant plumage. It happens that the beak and eyes are completely closed.By breed standards, the beak should protrude slightly from the feathers.
Nose-toed pigeons are the most expensive representatives of all pigeons in Uzbekistan.
Cheekless Uzbek pigeons
This species is characterized by the absence of a forelock. The feathers on the head and body of representatives of this breed are smooth, without rising.
A slight deviation from the standard, that is, the presence of 2-3 raised feathers on the back of the head, is a sign of uncleanness of the bird. Such are subject to rejection.
They have a small head and a shortened neck, long shags on their legs, like other pigeons in Uzbekistan.
Short-billed Uzbek pigeons
This variety has a beak that should not be more than 8 mm in size, otherwise they will no longer be considered short-billed. Pigeon breeders have a special grid of conformity sizes, where standards are indicated. According to it, the belonging of the bird to this species is determined. Often the beak of this species resembles the beak of a parrot.
This breed is considered more decorative. Especially appreciated are short-billed ones with two regular-shaped forelocks.
Shaggy Uzbek pigeons
Uzbek shaggy-legged - a group of breeds that are part of the fighting. Representatives differ from each other by the color of the plumage.
Breed standards:
- the body is slightly elongated, of medium size;
- plumage is dense;
- the head is rounded, can be decorated with a forelock, beard, mustache;
- eyes are round, gray, black or silver, depending on the color of the plumage;
- beak is short, thick;
- the breast is flat;
- the back is straight, in line with the tail;
- wings of medium length, closing over the tail;
- in the tail section there are 12 tail feathers;
- the limbs are short, covered with feathers, the length of which is about 16 cm;
- spurs (hawk feathers) up to 6 cm long, merge with the plumage of the legs;
- flight is high.
The most famous breeds from the group of shaggy Uzbek pigeons are Chinny, Chelkari, Malla, Avlaki, Ruyan, Udy, Gulbadam, and white pigeons.
Dove names by color
Uzbek pigeons have a very diverse range of colors: white, red, marble, ash, brown. Each has a name in Uzbek. For example, beige is malla, yellow is novatty, gray is udy, white with red breast is a trap.
Pigeons of the same color are bred, but after the first or second molt, the individuals acquire a color inherent in a particular breed.
Uzbek pigeons are chinny
Chinns can play in the sky, "pull the pole". The color of the feathers is white. Yellow, red feathers can be found on the head and neck. Sometimes these variegated feathers are on the breast. They have a shortened body, legs are low, well feathered. The head is small, on the back of the head there is a wide forelock, above the beak there are a pair of slightly curved feathers. Pearl eyes.
There are varieties within the breed. For example, the Uzbek pigeons are trap-chinny, novatt-chinny, kyzyl-chinny, karapat-chinny. All of them differ in plumage color. For their unusual colors, they are sometimes called Uzbek pigeons gulbadam (almond flower).
Malla pigeons
Malla - pigeons with black stripes on the wing. Bred by crossing sauces and biys of different colors. They are decorative breeds of pigeons. Their peculiarity is to change the color of the feathers depending on the season. In summer they are lighter in color, in winter they darken.
The mull's body is slender, the chest is wide. Legs with copious locks. The length of the beak is 4-5 cm. They are divided into okmalla (beige color), kyzyl-malla (chocolate with a cherry tint), cara-malla (chestnut color).
Uzbek pigeons avlaki
Avlaki are white birds. From birth, they do not change their color. The wings have a varied color.
Types of avlaks: savzy-avlak (white with a belt on the sides), kyzyl-avlak (white, feathers on the wings are red), kuran-avlak (white with gray-red feathers).
Uzbek pigeons Termez
Origin - the city of Termez (Uzbekistan). Hence the name of the bird. Medium size, solid build. The color is coal black, there are red and malla. Chubatians are occasionally found. Lokhma from 5 to 10 cm. In flight can be up to 2 hours with a very strong game.
Uzbek pigeons ruyany
There are two varieties: direct ruyans (fiery red color of the plumage), kara-ruyan (brown-red, black overflows on the feathers).
Breeding of Uzbek pigeons
Breeding is an ancient and noble occupation. For some breeders this is a business, for others - a matter for the soul.
There are no special breeding requirements. However, it is necessary to provide proper care, feeding, accommodation, to establish reproductive function in order to obtain full-fledged offspring in the future.
You should start with the arrangement of the dovecote. It should be warm, draft-free and well protected from cats. You also need space and light.
It is necessary to clean every day, once a month disinfection is required. Drinkers and baths should only have clean water.
The diet should contain barley (40%), millet (30%), millet (10%), greens (10%). It is supposed to feed 2 times a day in winter, 3 times in summer.
The breeding process takes place in the spring. The female makes a clutch of 2 eggs at intervals of a day. Incubation lasts about a month. The maternal instinct is well developed in pigeons, so the breeder just needs to watch the female every day.
Finely chopped grain mixtures are introduced into the diet of the hatched chicks in a timely manner. They also carry out prophylactic administration of antibiotics, vaccinate and treat against parasites.
Conclusion
Uzbek pigeons are one of the most beautiful and elegant birds in captivity in the world. Their grace, unusual and varied color attracts the attention of bird watchers, pigeon breeders and just amateurs. All breeds are distinguished by their daring character, unusual energy in flight. Any specialist, even from afar, is able to distinguish them from other species.
