Domestic pigeons are very common, but each owner breeds them for different purposes. Consider what breeds of pigeons are and how to create suitable conditions for their maintenance.
Pigeons meat breeds
The meat pigeons are raised all over the world, and the variety of breeds is quite extensive. Breeds of pigeons are significantly different among themselves, but they have one common feature - they have delicious and tender meat, from which chefs prepare incredible dishes.
King
This bird is from the United States of America. Its average weight is from 600 to 800 g, and the period of feeding is 45 days. There are also exhibition-type pigeons, whose weight can reach 1.5 kg. King pigeons are quite prolific and can produce up to 18 healthy and large chicks in a year. The percentage of individuals that go to slaughter ranges from 50 to 70 - it all depends on the conditions in which the pigeons were bred. 
Carnot
This breed is the earliest ripening of all existing, whose birthplace is France. The weight of meat that can be obtained from one individual is 700 g. Birds of carnot are raised exclusively in special enclosures. Cooks note that the carcass of young chicks is much more tender than the carcass of adult individuals. 
Monden
Monden is also a French breed that was bred in a small town called Mont-de-Marsan. Birds have a very attractive appearance, and the mass of an adult individual is more than 1 kg. The main culinary feature of this species is the ability to eat the entire individual as a whole, since the index of edibility is more than 80%. 
Roman giant
This name birds received due to the fact that they were bred in Italy, and their weight can reach 1.5 kg. The output of edible meat is 60% of the total mass of poultry. The advantage of this breed is resistance to various diseases. Roman giants are great for breeding new pigeons. 
Strasser
These fairly massive birds can have an impressive weight, which reaches up to 1200 g. Already at the age of one month, the nestling weighs almost 700 g. Experts recommend not keeping individuals older than 5 years in the common aviary, as they contribute to reducing the mass of future offspring. Females can produce up to 10 healthy chicks per season. 
Teksan
Highly efficient breed, which can give in one year to 24 individuals of offspring. Texan belong to massive birds, because their weight reaches 1 kg. The output of slaughter meat is about 65%. 
Did you know? Meat pigeons included in the national cuisine of Egypt. The main course is pigeons stuffed with rice. Also of the pigeons are boiled broth, which is called "Shorba".
Sports (postal) pigeons
Since ancient times, pigeons have been used to transmit various information over long distances. Today, post pigeons are already in the past, and their name has long been changed, now they are called sports.
English Quarry
This breed originates in ancient Egypt and the Far East. Birds reached the territory of Europe already in the 14th century and acquired excellent external and flight characteristics. The quarries have a massive body, dense plumage and a small head. A distinctive feature is the beak, which has growths, the so-called warts. 
Brussels
Brussels pigeons are among the oldest representatives of pigeons that live on the continent. This breed was bred in the XIX century. Birds are distinguished by a large rib cage, a rounded body and head. The tail is narrow, the eyes are dark, and the wings are pressed to the body. Individuals can be painted in different colors: gray, black, gray, and in some cases - red.
Learn more about pigeons: sex determination, mating, life expectancy; how do the pigeon chicks look and where they hide.
Luttih
Luttich pigeons are a variety of European pigeons. In contrast to the Brussels, they have a less massive body, but their flight abilities do not get worse from this. In this breed, the wings are also very close to the body, and the neck is rather short.
Russian carrier pigeon
Russian pigeons have a high level of endurance, which allows them to overcome much greater distances than other species can. In appearance, these birds look a bit like German birds, but at the same time they have more powerful wings with curls at the ends. 
The legs are deprived of plumage, the head is elegant, and the bill is very sharp. Often, Russian pigeons have a white color, but there are individuals of more motley colors.
Find out how the pigeon post used to work, as well as check out the breeds of carrier pigeons.
Flying (breeding) breeds of pigeons
Flight breeds differ from the others in that they have special abilities to fly. Each species of flying pigeons has its own flight style, so that they can be divided into the following types:
- scooters - individuals who are able to flip through the wing during the flight;
- races - can make unusual circular flights;
- martial - do not rise to a great height, but make complicated tumbling through the tail;
- high-flying rocks - rise to a sufficiently large height, which can be up to 10 hours.
Berlin short-eyed turman
Individuals of this species belong to the fighting and are the most numerous. The birds got their name from the place of breeding, which became the city of Berlin in the XIX century. Males are very similar with females and have a small body, small head and a very short beak. The brightest feature of the exterior are the wings that hang below the tail. The character is very fighting and active. 
German monk
Representatives of this species belong to the turman and stand out for their beauty. It was bred, like the previous breed, in Germany, but a little earlier - in the XVII century. 
A distinctive feature is the low altitude and its short duration, but there is an opportunity to attract other birds to the flight. In appearance, there is also a difference - a feather hood on the back of the head.
Did you know? The first documented mention of pigeons appeared more than 5,000 years ago in Mesopotamia. In Egypt, the remains of pigeons were found in ancient tombs of people.
Nicholas
The first presentation of this breed was carried out in the Ukrainian city of Nikolaev. Flight feature is the rise up in a straight vertical line. During the flight individuals do not perform any circular movements. 
The appearance of birds also has its own characteristics:
- small muscular neck;
- big wings;
- short legs.
Read more about the Nikolaev pigeons and their content.
Decorative pigeons
Decorative birds differ from all other species by some external features. Often they have unusual growths, a beautiful shape of feathers, specific tufts and even a special form of posture.
Bohemian Cosmonogue Magic Swallow
These birds were bred in the Czech Republic and always attract the attention of unusual chess color on the wings and legs. Large body dimensions and massive plumage distinguish them from the main mass of pigeons. Experts attribute these pigeons to the group of colored. 
Brno blow
The most unusual species of pigeons, because it has the most non-standard appearance. In appearance it seems that the body is tied up with a belt after the goiter, and the goiter itself is of a very large size. 
The paws of the birds are very long, but when walking they attack only on the toes.
There are more than 20 varieties of poultry - pigeons, inflating goiter.
Curly
In individuals of curly breed, there is a special curly plumage, and the color can be either monophonic or spotty. Especially curly feathers are located on the paws and tips of the wings. Such birds are a dream for many connoisseurs of bird beauty. 
Peacock
Representatives of the peacock species are the most beautiful and tender, because they have a lush tail. The name was chosen precisely because of this tail, which creates the effect of a peacock. In nature, there are different colors of these birds, but the most popular are white pigeons. Representatives of this breed are used in circus performances and at weddings. 
Saxon priest
Representatives of this species of pigeons have a double tuft and a large number of luxurious feathers on their paws. 
In all varieties of color, the crest of these birds is always white. Thanks to this unusual plumage, the birds got their name.
It is interesting to get acquainted with a dozen of the strangest pigeons in the world.
Necessary conditions of detention
When breeding pigeons, it is necessary to understand that these birds are unpretentious to the conditions, but still some factors should be taken into account that will affect their meatiness and egg production.
Requirements for dovecote
To understand the basic principles of arranging dovecot, you need to determine the purpose of keeping birds.
The size of the dovecote directly depends on the type of doves that will live in it:
- for meat individuals need a large space for walking;
- for sports you need a lot of additional equipment;
- for the race - specially equipped places for takeoff and landing.
Important! It is necessary to carefully cover the gaps in the pigeon house so that there are no drafts that adversely affect birds.
During the design of the premises should take into account such moments:
- Birds need a lot of fresh air and natural light.
- Pigeons must walk on soft sandy ground.
- The main materials for the construction of dovecote are brick and wood.
- Do not forget about the ventilation system to freshen the air and pull harmful substances.
- Increased moisture levels that lead to dampness should be avoided.
- In order for the birds to be healthy, it is necessary to install feeders and drinkers in the pigeon house, in which food and water must constantly be. The most convenient for birds are glass or plastic feeders. Such feeders can have sliding elements.
- It is also necessary to equip the room with perches, baths and nests.
- For each individual it is necessary to equip a special place, the so-called perch. There pigeons will be able to sleep and recover their strength. The thickness of the pole should be as comfortable as possible so that the birds can grasp it with their fingers and lock themselves.
- Individuals that are paired must have their own storage box. Such boxes should be installed in several tiers, if there are several pairs in the room.
What should take care in the winter
In winter, pigeons need special care.
Among the important nuances in this period it is necessary to highlight the following:
- In winter, care must be taken to improve health and improve reproduction capacity. Nutrition should be made more balanced and add more vitamins to the diet, as well as various cereals. To improve the processes in the body of poultry, you should increase the portions of corn and reduce the amount of protein consumed.
- During the cold weather, it is important not to forget about cleaning and disinfecting the enclosure.
- To avoid deformation of the plumage, it is necessary to limit the stay of birds in the rain.
- Regarding temperature, under no circumstances should it fall below -10 ° C.
Important! In winter, you need to increase nutrition for females that hatch eggs, but you should not overfeed them. Cold water should be replaced with warm water.
Additional inventory
Additional inventory required for bird care includes items that can improve the quality of life of pets.
Not superfluous in the pigeon breeder farm will be:
- scoop and broom. This inventory will help to better remove excess garbage from the premises;
- scraper. This item will allow you to scrape off litter and traces of pigeons from the floor and other elements of the pigeon house;
- a basket in which you can put a litter and prevent it from scattering throughout the room;
- A broom is necessary for cleaning large dovecotes.
Dove's disinfection
Despite the quality of the designed dove, disinfection is necessary in any case. The procedure helps to get rid of pests that can cause irreparable harm to birds. When choosing a disinfectant, it is necessary to consider what pests it will target. Even if there are no sick birds in the room, experts recommend disinfection once a month.
How to feed a pigeon at home
If these birds grow at home, their diet will differ from the diet of individuals living in pigeon houses. All of them should receive a complete feed, which will contain the necessary amount of proteins, carbohydrates, fats and vitamins. It is also important to constantly monitor the availability of water, which contributes to good digestion and assimilation of food.
Learn more about the nutrition of pigeons and pigeons.
Baby bird
The diet of young individuals has such features:
- Newborn chicks are fed with a syringe of chicken yolk or starter combined feed. The number of meals per day is 6;
- At the next stage, the pigeon’s diet changes and consists of milled and steamed grain. Peas, millet or barley can be used;
- later you can start adding honey and a little red clay;
- at the age of one month, one should radically change the diet, which should consist of a large amount of vitamins. You can feed a variety of fruits and vegetables, and you should not forget about the large amount of water.
Adults
The diet of adult birds directly depends on the lifestyle and on the purposes for which they are raised.
The basis of any diet includes the following elements:
- wheat;
- barley;
- legumes;
- corn;
- sunflower seeds.
Adults need as many vitamins as babies. Therefore, the menu should include chopped greens, cabbage, clover, nettle and spinach. During the periods of molting and reproduction, nutrition must be strengthened, in particular, by increasing the amount of protein. To reduce sexual excitability during the period of molting, wheat should be replaced by oats and barley. 
Vaccination against diseases
Birds, like people, often suffer from various diseases. To prevent diseases of all individuals need to be vaccinated. There are a large number of vaccines, but by looking at and examining each of them, you can be sure that they are all equally effective and can prevent the same diseases.
Mandatory for all birds is a vaccine against salmonellosis. Thanks to this vaccine, pigeons form a strong immunity to the disease. The initial production of immunity occurs a few days after the second vaccination.
Vaccination against smallpox should be carried out exclusively in areas where there is a high risk of disease. Vaccinations against Newcastle’s disease should be performed only by a specialist, as self-administered medication can harm the pigeon.
Video: experience keeping pigeons
From the above, we can conclude that the content of pigeons requires special attention and the presence of certain skills and experience. Pigeons of different breeds have their own specifics, which must be carefully studied.
