Altai Territory is famous for several breeds of pigeons. All birds are dominated by distinctive features hiding in their appearance. Each breed requires special care and nutrition. Birds are kept for decorative purposes, because their beautiful plumage, stately figures attract the attention of others.
Peacock dove
Origin of name. The pigeons got their name due to the presence of an unusual and chic tail, outwardly similar to the tail of a peacock.
Behavioral features. In addition to the fact that the pigeons are beautiful and graceful, they are highly fertile. Also, peacock pigeons are very neat and elegant, periodically show their skills: they throw their head back, stick their chest forward, open their tail completely, stand and do not move.
History of appearance. It is impossible to determine the exact origin of peacock pigeons, but for the first time people of ancient India heard about them.
Productive qualities. Pigeons cannot fly for a long time, covering kilometers of distance. They tend to move on the ground, revealing the tail, showing beautiful feathers. Many pigeon breeders are desperate to teach their wards how to fly in a circle. Occasionally, results exceed all expectations, so birds are sent to various exhibitions.
Features of the exterior. Real purebred male pigeons of this breed have wide and strong legs spread wide. Paws have a red tint. The color of the pen varies from blue-gray to yellow-white.
Doves are the owners of a small head and large dark eyes, a small reddish or flesh-colored beak. The birds have a round, compact body and a concave back. There are a lot of feathers on the nadhvost and podhvost, the more it is, the more chic the bird looks.
The number of feathers on the tail directly depends on the genetic "purity" of the feathers. A purebred pigeon is dominated by 30-35 feathers on the tail. Birds of this breed are practically not amenable to training. Most pigeon breeders speak negatively about birds, calling them lazy and incapable. The maximum that pleases a peacock pigeon is with classic circles above the place of residence.
Maintenance and care. Pigeons are kept in the enclosure, so they spend all the warm season on the street. For one pair of pigeons in the aviary, there is at least 1 square meter of area. The winter dovecote is equipped according to the same principle. The daylight hours should be up to 12 hours. The room should be dry, it must be aired.
In winter, the temperature in the dovecote is maintained at -10 degrees, because the birds differ in average temperature endurance. At this time of the year, the pigeon breeder separates the females and males. In the aviary and dovecote you will need to mount wooden poles - this will allow the birds to safely rest on them with their paws.
Peacock pigeons are undesirable to keep with other breeds. Birds are prone to stress, which can negatively affect their appearance and breeding.
Feeding. The process of feeding peacock pigeons requires attention and a serious approach. At different times of the year, birds are fed differently. A proper diet affects many factors in animal life. In winter, pigeons need to be fed with high-carb food, which will replenish the body's energy reserves. At this time, it is undesirable to feed legumes or chopped vegetables.
Black tailed breed
History of origin. This species of pigeons was bred in the Altai Territory. The history of the appearance dates back to the 19th century, but at first they were not particularly popular. For a century, breeders and experienced pigeon breeders have improved the performance of this species, and today this bird is known throughout the country and even beyond its borders.
External characteristics. The main distinguishing feature of birds is a dense and intensely saturated plumage. It is for the color that black-tailed pigeons are valued. If the bird has unsaturated colors, then they will not be in demand.
Animals have a special exterior:
- graceful and elongated neck, on which is a small and round head with small, round eyes of black color and a rough pale pink beak with a blunt point;
- monolithic wings, tightly pressed to the body (because of this, lethal qualities are poorly developed in birds);
- all over the circumference above the head there is a feather ornament resembling a fan;
- small and short limbs with long feathers;
- a thick mane that makes the bird elegant and stately at the same time;
- a lush, high-standing tail with a blue-black hue;
- snow-white plumage on the body;
- harmoniously folded body, full and wide chest, short back.
Maintenance and care. Such birds are kept exclusively in aviaries. Each enclosure must be equipped with special devices that will help ensure normal conditions of detention:
- Drinking bowls and feeders. Allowed to use those that are used for chickens and guinea fowls. Experienced pigeon breeders recommend the use of pneumatic drinkers arranged so that the birds will not pollute the water, due to which it will be fresh for a long time. It is desirable to make feeders retractable.
- Tanks with mineral feed. You can not do without an additional bath for a period of time.
- The presence of poles. This will allow to place all birds as comfortably as possible. Preferred ordinary tree branches, pre-processed, with no branches and foliage. Poles should not be too much, but enough. They are located at a sufficient distance from each other so that they have the opportunity to fly from one pole to another.
Shalevy Altai breed
History of appearance. Shalevy Altai breed of pigeons is famous for its attractive appearance. Birds began to be actively bred in the 20th century. These are pigeons-performers.
Appearance. Birds look very original and original, due to the combination of body shapes and interesting colors. The shawl pigeon has a small, rounded head with a well-defined high frontal part. A distinctive feature is the presence of a forelock resembling a crown; it is located around the entire circumference of the back of the neck. The pigeon also has a mane that smoothly connects to the forelock.
Animals predominate with a long and correctly set neck, upwards it becomes thinner, which makes the bird even prettier. The pupils are small, dark, and the eyelids are smooth and even. Around the eyes there is no plumage, light pink skin. On the face there is a small beak of pastel shade, at the base there is a small seal.
Birds are secreted by a highly located deep chest. The case is compact, shortened. The body is located on small but correctly set legs. Pigeons have a short back, due to which visually it may seem that the tail grows directly from the neck. The limbs are covered with a dense plumage.
Although the bird looks compact, it has large wings, barely reaching the floor. There are specimens with black, red, yellow, cherry feathers. Any color blends seamlessly with white feathers.
Maintenance and care. Pigeons perfectly adapt to various climatic conditions, differ in endurance, unpretentiousness in nutrition and maintenance. Due to the dense plumage on the limbs, pigeons constantly wet them and pollute them. For this reason, the pigeonhole should always be clean, dry, warm. It is desirable that there are litter in the room, for this use lime and wood shavings.
They can live well in enclosures. One pair of pigeons accounts for one and a half square meters of area. The house must be equipped with feeders and drinking bowls, nesting places, perches without poles. A mandatory attribute in the dovecote is a bathhouse.
Diet. Feeding pigeons of this breed is non-standard. The diet at 70-80% consists of grain, root crops, legumes, minerals and vitamins, green grass.
Today there are several breeds of Altai pigeons. Each bird has an attractive appearance, behavior. Pigeons must be properly looked after so that their performance characteristics are good.
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Ukraine. City: Kryvyi Rih
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