Description of meat breeds of pigeons
Pigeon meat breeds are popular all over the world. The Mediterranean is considered their homeland. Even the ancient Greeks, Romans and Egyptians raised these birds for subsequent consumption. Meat pigeons were used for meat, which is considered a valuable delicacy, and therefore it was cooked in the homes of wealthy residents.
Meat breeds of pigeons
Later, information was received about the benefits of pigeon meat. Indeed, the product contains up to 22% protein, which makes it an irreplaceable source of energy. Due to its low fat content, the meat is highly digestible and considered dietary.
For a long time already, meat pigeon breeding has been popular in the countries of the USA and Europe. Breeding of meat pigeons has not taken root in the CIS. Here, attention was paid to birds valued for the beauty of flight and appearance. But meat breeds of pigeons fly very little or do not fly at all.
Keeping meat pigeons
Pigeon breeding at home assumes that before you start meat breeds of pigeons for breeding, you need to carefully consider their future place of residence. Many farmers keep pigeons in the attics of country houses or build a poultry house on purpose. The room should have a canopy and protection from temperature changes. It should be suitable for both summer and winter maintenance. You should also build air ventilation and heating.
To get healthy birds, it is recommended to observe all aspects of growing, feeding and quality care. After purchasing pigeons, they must be checked by a veterinarian and only then put into a new poultry house.
Housing requirements:
- The temperature inside the dovecote must always be above 0 ° C.
- It is better if the windows face south.
- Nests should be made low, as meat pigeons fly little.
- It is necessary to constantly monitor the cleanliness of the litter and disinfect the entire room at least 2 times a year.
How and what to feed meat birds
The basis of feeding meat birds should be cereals. Rye, oats and lupine should be eliminated from the diet, as they are dangerous to the health of birds. Barley, wheat, sunflower seeds, peas, corn, millet are well suited for preparing a feed mixture. Protein and minerals are also essential components of the diet. Lime, river sand, red brick chips, clay, charcoal or egg shells are added as minerals.
The feed mixture must be periodically enriched with vitamins A, E and fish oil.
Pigeons must have water at all times. Birds will not live a day without life-giving moisture. Spoiled or moldy feed should not be fed, because the poor digestive system of birds is not able to normally digest spoiled feed. You also need to watch out for drinkers and feeders. Drinking water should always be clean, at room temperature. If feathers or small debris get into the water, you should change it to fresh.
Breeds of meat pigeons
In total, about 800 breeds of meat pigeons are known.
With proper care and maintenance, individuals gain a mass of about 700 g in 1.5 months.Such pigeons are fed according to a certain technology, in the morning they are given a small amount of food, and in the evening - more food. Portions are reduced only when the iris of the eyes of young animals becomes the same color as in adults.
Gigantic breeds
They are also called giant pigeons. Birds of this species are very large, obese, practically unable to fly, even their photos are striking to the eye. Giants are prized for their mass and meat characteristics.
- Strasser. The meat of these birds is most often used in cooking. The weight of Strasser pigeons reaches 750 g in males and up to 550 g in females. The birds are distinguished by good fertility. On average, the female incubates chicks 7 times a year. The main disadvantage of the breed is considered a pugnacious disposition. If you keep weak and strong individuals in the same corral, conflicts and fights are possible. To prevent this from happening, they should be kept separately.
- King. The King breed was bred in the United States in 1890. The result is Kings with long legs, a large body and a raised small tail. The color of the feathers ranges from red and black to white or yellow. If the rearing of the Kings was carried out according to all standards, then the weight of males can reach 850 g, females - up to 650 g. Sometimes there are individuals weighing more than a kilogram. The birds are capable of hatching up to 16 chicks per year, which makes them especially valuable. Pigeons gain more weight when kept outdoors, rather than when reared in a cage. You can see in detail what the Kinga breed looks like in the photo.
- Carnot. The breed was developed during the widespread use of aviary keeping birds. Until now, this housing option is preferable for these individuals. The mass of birds is not as large as that of similar species, but this breed is actively appreciated by farmers around the world. The big advantage is the ability to grow quickly and achieve maximum weight in the shortest possible time. The color of Carnot pigeons can be black, beige or brown.
Chicken breeds of pigeons
Outwardly, the structure of the bodies of pigeons resembles a chicken. Individuals of this group gain weight well and are highly fertile. Representatives of chicken varieties are:
- Florentine pigeon. Italy is considered the homeland. The birds have an elongated neck, short tail, rounded body and long legs. Their weight reaches 900 g. Florentine individuals are distinguished by a beautiful color. The plumage can have all shades of blue, yellow, red, black. The beauty of this species is not quite capable of capturing a photo or video, birds must be seen live.
- Maltese pigeon. The birds are of Germanic origin. This can be distinguished from other individuals by its long, thin neck, bare legs and height. Pigeons make a large number of clutches, but they often crush their eggs or strangle their own chicks. This breed does not build nests, the owners have to make them on their own. The weight of Maltese pigeons is in the range of 500-700 g.
- Hungarian giants. A feature of Hungarian individuals is abundant plumage on the legs. Hungarian pigeons can breed up to 10 chicks per year. This is one of the largest breeds. An adult male reaches a weight of 1200 g, a female - up to 900 g.
Meat breeds of pigeons
The body structure of birds of this group resembles ordinary domestic pigeons, only larger. The weight of birds is mainly more than 700 g. Representatives of this species are:
- Karburgskiy lark. The birthplace of birds with such names was the German city of Coburg. These are large pigeons with a wingspan of 80 cm. They fly well and are caring parents. The breed is sometimes bred as poultry.
- Moravian Strasser. It is a medium sized bird with a wide body. She has good flying ability. The breed is valued for the taste of meat. Moravian pigeons are very popular in breeding, despite the fact that their average weight is only 650 g.
- Prahensky canyk. The breed was bred in the Czech Republic, but now it is bred mainly in the Crimea.Prachensky kanika meat is considered the most elite delicacy and is appreciated all over the world. It is mainly used for the preparation of exquisite dishes by the chefs of famous restaurants.
Breeding
To breed pigeons, it is necessary that males and females be equally divided: each individual must be able to find a mate. Under natural conditions, doves make 3 clutches a year, 2-3 eggs each. Providing birds with adequate lighting and heating can increase this figure by 6-9 times.
Females are allowed into breeding from 8 months. The most prolific are birds aged 1-1.5 years. Mating can occur naturally when the pigeons live together in the same enclosure. The second option is forced mating, which is used when the breeder needs to get some specific qualities. Then a couple of pigeons are planted separately for a while.
It is easy to determine when mating has already taken place and the birds can be returned to the common aviary. They will constantly sit next to each other and gently touch each other's feathers.
Eggs are laid in 11-16 days. To make sure that embryos develop in the eggs, you need to carefully put the egg on a spoon on the 6th day and look at the lumen. If a dark spot is visible, offspring will soon appear. Another sign is a change in the color of the shell. Eggs with developing chicks begin to take on a matte gray shade on the 8th day.
Pigeons incubate eggs in turns for 16-19 days (in some breeds this period lasts up to 29 days). Chicks appear helpless and blind. Only after a few hours do they begin to take food from their parents. The first 2 weeks, their diet is exclusively goiter milk, then they switch to goiter, which is softened into the goiter by caring parents. Only in a month do chicks switch to full-fledged "adult" food.
If you follow all aspects of the care and maintenance of pigeons, then you can grow an excellent meat breed.