Breeding pigeons: maintenance and care at home for beginners

Recently, more and more people are breeding pigeons. These birds can bring aesthetic pleasure and be a source of real income. There are several types of birds - decorative, meat, sports, flying. Depending on the specific type of birds, the goals of their cultivation and the features of their maintenance depend. For pigeons to develop well, it is important for them to provide proper care.

Why pigeons are bred

People are breeding pigeons for various purposes. In most cases, birds are bred for aesthetic pleasure. Many of the birds are attractive in appearance and have beautiful feathers.There are also breeds that are grown for the sake of competition. Birds are often bred for delicious dietary meat - it contains many vitamins and minerals that are needed for he alth.

Which breed to choose?

In order for pigeon breeding to be successful, it is important to choose the right breed and determine the purpose of keeping birds.

Decorative

This category includes special birds that are distinguished by beautiful plumage. Such pigeons take part in various exhibitions. They are often released at weddings. The most common decorative breeds are peacock pigeon, barb, Saxon priest.

Sports

Previously, these breeds were considered postal. Today, pigeon mail has lost its relevance. At the same time, competitions for the speed of summer are constantly held all over the world. Popular breeds in this group include the Belgian Postman, Russian Postal, English Quarry.

Flying

This species of birds is characterized by certain features of flight. They are bred precisely for the sake of a beautiful summer. Moreover, birds are able not only to fly fast, but also to perform various tricks - falls, somersaults, turns. The most common breeds include the Nikolaev pigeon, the cross monk, the Berlin Thurman.

Meat

In many countries of the world, the meat of these birds is very popular. At the same time, the first breeds were bred specifically for meat production. In pigeons, it has an excellent taste and includes fine fibers. Representatives of meat breeds include king, carno, roman pigeon.

Features of keeping at home

Raising pigeons has a number of features. In order for birds to develop normally and not get sick, they need quality care.

Arrangement of the dovecote

You can't breed birds in an apartment. Birds need to build a special room. It is important to provide everything you need. The poultry house should have perches where the birds can rest.

Birds need nests for comfortable breeding. The structures are used for fallowing and nesting of birds. Each bird must have an individual cell. They are placed in several rows.

The presence of feeders and drinkers is of great importance. At the same time, it is important to ensure that litter or debris does not get into them. The number of feeders and drinkers is selected taking into account the number of pigeons. There should be at least 60 centimeters of feeder length per bird.

Pigeons love to take baths. Swimming is especially important in the warm season or during molting. For water procedures, it is recommended to use small containers.There must be a fly-hole in the dovecote. It is a hole for the exit of birds. Its size should correspond to the dimensions of the birds. As a rule, 1-2 years are made in the dovecote.

Conditions

It is important to properly keep pigeons. To do this, it is recommended to control the parameters of temperature, illumination, fresh air supply. The he alth of birds and their ability to reproduce depends on the temperature regime in the room. In winter, the temperature should be at least + 5-7 degrees, in summer - a maximum of +20. In this case, the humidity parameters should be 65-70%.

In the heat, pigeons should not be allowed to fly, as this will lead to increased stress on their body.

In the dovecote, you should definitely organize a ventilation system.At the same time, there should be no drafts in the room. At a height of 10-15 centimeters from the floor, it is recommended to make an air hole and cover it with a grate. Near the ceiling is to make a hood. Full ventilation prevents the appearance of dampness, infections, mold in the room.

Illumination is of great importance for birds. With a lack of light, a slowdown in the development of young animals is observed. At the same time, birds develop better physically. Daylight hours should be 13 hours. To control this parameter, it is important to provide artificial lighting in the room.

In the dovecote, you should definitely provide bedding. It can be made from hay, straw, dry peat, sawdust. The thickness of the layer should be 5 centimeters. Thanks to the presence of the litter, it is possible to simplify cleaning. It is important to keep the bedding clean. It is recommended to completely change it twice a year - in autumn and spring.This is done during disinfection. If dampness or rotting processes appear, it is recommended to change the bedding immediately.

Meat and decorative pigeons require an aviary for walking. In this place, birds can get used to the street, bask in the sun or enjoy the fresh air. It is permissible to equip the enclosure on the ground or from above by installing supporting structures.

How to care for birds for beginners

For birds to develop normally, they need quality care. In the dovecote, it is important to systematically remove the droppings. It is recommended to pay special attention to this procedure in nests with chicks. It is also important to consider that the eggs must be clean. If they are dirty, the shell will not let air through. As a result, the embryo may die. Light cleaning should be done every day, and more thorough cleaning should be done once a week.

Birds need to be checked daily. This manipulation should be performed during feeding. In normal he alth, pigeons quickly fly up to feed and show appetite while eating. With the development of diseases, birds peck poorly or completely refuse food. Sick pigeons are recommended to be isolated immediately.

Claws of pigeons are often covered with lumps of droppings, which lead to impaired motor activity. These balls are recommended to be carefully removed.

What to feed pigeons

For birds to grow and develop normally, they need a balanced diet. It is important to follow certain rules and take into account the age of the pigeon.

Adult bird

The basis of the diet of birds is recommended to make vegetables, fruits and barley. Birds are allowed to give apples, carrots, potatoes.On average, the daily dose of feed for 1 bird should be 50 grams. If you plan to feed pigeons for meat, it is recommended to include boiled eggs in their diet. They also need chopped peas. To maintain the elasticity of feathers in birds, it is permissible to introduce flax and rapeseed into their diet, in which there are many vitamins. Equally important is the availability of clean water in drinkers.

Young growth

The development of young animals depends on a balanced diet. Young birds are considered to be more susceptible to pathologies compared to adults. If there are enough vitamins and nutrients in the feed, the risk of developing diseases is significantly reduced.

In the first few weeks after separation from their parents, young birds need a lot of food. In this case, it is worth considering the appearance of the iris. When it becomes the same as in adult birds, portions are allowed to be reduced.When compiling the diet of young birds, it is recommended to consider the following:

• in the morning portions should be smaller than in the evening;
• grains should be mixed with fish oil;
• to make the birds grow better, they should be given a composition based on peas, barley and vetch.

Subtleties of reproduction

Reproduction of pigeons is carried out in the spring. To do this, it is recommended to prepare a separate aviary in the house. It should be thoroughly washed and dried. It is also recommended to install sockets.

Feathers breed in the following ways:

• inbreeding;
• random mating;
• linear way;
• crossing similar pigeons.

In nature, random mating dominates. When self-breeding, it is better to use other methods. The mating of related pigeons is called inbreeding. At the same time, parents are crossed with offspring. It is also possible to knit brothers and sisters. With this breeding option, it is possible to improve the quality of the breed and preserve the dignity of birds. Inbreeding is allowed to be used for a long time, mating with each other for several generations.

At the same time, poultry breeders most often use mating of similar pigeons. In this case, 2 he althy individuals are able to transfer their qualities to the chicks.

Crossing unrelated pigeons is considered the opposite of inbreeding. At the same time, foreign genetic material can convey qualities that are not inherent in the breed, which will help improve it. This method should be used very carefully. With the advent of new genes, there is a risk of developing negative characteristics, which will badly affect the genus.

The method of linear breeding helps to accurately assess the consequences of crossing and inheriting characteristics. It differs from inbreeding in the more distant relationship of parental birds.

Possible diseases and methods of their treatment

Pigeons are prone to various pathologies. The most common are:

1. Trichomoniasis - spreads through water. The causative agent of the disease is Trichomonas. The disease leads to the death of birds.
2. Ornithosis - is an acute infection. It often affects young birds, which leads to their death.
3. Campilobacteriosis - is considered a consequence of the activity of bacteria that live asymptomatically in the body. Antibacterial drugs are used for treatment.

Breeding pigeons is considered a complex process that requires a number of recommendations. In order for birds to develop normally, it is important for them to create suitable conditions and choose a balanced diet.

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