Baku pigeons: description of the breed, types and names of colors, how to treat and maintain

Every dovecote owner knows Baku high-flying pigeons, famous for their endurance, exciting games in flight, and non-capriciousness in keeping. The term "combat" is not equal to the concept of "combat". The pigeon breed is not intended for fighting, it is decorative, adapted to perform exciting tricks. Its representatives, playing in the air, "beat" their wings, that is, they make a flapping sound.

Origin of Baku people

Fighting pigeons were bred by the Persians. Initially, the northern regions of Azerbaijan were Iranian lands, at the beginning of the 19th century they became part of the Russian Empire.In this area, pigeons, outwardly similar to the modern breed, began to be bred in the 1950s. The first fighting birds were unattractive, with a humpbacked body and short limbs.

When pigeons were brought to Baku, local poultry breeders bred the current breed. Several generations of Azerbaijani breeders tremblingly bred birds, considered them their pride. Today, the Baku breed is common throughout Russia, especially popular in the Caucasus region.

If earlier Baku people were valued solely for their flying qualities, now noble birds are often bred as decorative ones.

Bird exterior

Baku pigeons are medium-sized, but strong, harmoniously built. The breed description is given in the table.

Head	the crown is flattened, the top of the head can be decorated with a forelock about 2.2 cm long, with a smooth, slightly pronounced cere (base) elongated, spindle-shaped, with well-developed muscles, gradually tapering from the shoulder girdle to the tail, the neck is not long, slightly curved long, lying tight on the body, flight feathers connected at the tail
tail	closed, neat, tail up to 16 feathers
limbs	naked or densely covered with short feathers, red skin, translucent white claws
plumage	voluminous, dense, feathers smooth and evenly lying, the neck casts purple
colors	variety hot, solid and motley, according to flight performance (height and duration), white individuals are considered the best

Pros and cons

Before starting Baku pigeons, the owner of the dovecote should familiarize himself with the characteristics of the breed.

Pros and consbeautiful flight variations, exciting games in the skyendurance;undemanding to the conditions of detention;low susceptibility to most avian diseases;decoration, variety of colors.genetic susceptibility to external defects;the need for long-term training;the cost of feeding to ensure a long flight;the probability of not returning to the dovecote of young untrained individuals.

Types of Baku slaughterhouses

Baku pigeons are broad-tailed and multi-feathered high-flying birds that differ in colors. Baku residents of all stripes are intended for flight competitions. Gray pigeons are less sought after because their tricks in blue-gray skies are hard to see. Varieties of Baku pigeons:

1. Marbles are brightly colored, speckled birds with a wide tail. The mottling of each bird is unique, and, as it ages and molts, the dove acquires a more intense color. Thanks to this feature, experienced poultry farmers are able to approximately determine the age of the bird by color. Mating is only intrabreed, the offspring receives maternal color genes.
2. Chile - such an exotic name is given to Baku pigeons of black or red color with a head covered with light speckles, a tuft on the crown and short brush-like feathers on their paws. The breed is highly valued for the beauty of high, straight flight and the ability to perform complex somersaults while hovering in the sky.
3. Hryvnias (they are necks) are extraordinarily beautiful birds of a light (white or milky) matte color. The back of the neck under the back of the head is decorated with a spot of black, red or gray. Tail feathers can have a similar contrasting color. A feature of the breed is a non-curved neck.Some individuals wear a crest on their heads.
4. Red-tailed and black-tailed Baku pigeons are elegant snow-white varieties, distinguished by the corresponding color of tail feathers. In many individuals, the crown is decorated with a crest.
5. Broad-tailed - Baku pigeons, gaining an amazing flight height, characterized by high endurance, physical strength, and the ability to fly for a long time. The color is varied, but always light (white, beige, light gray). The peculiarity of the breed is the peacock-shaped shape of the straightened tail feathers.
6. White - representatives of all Baku varieties of the corresponding color, leading in flight performance.
7. Uzbek - crested Baku pigeons. There are individuals with a double crest, with a crest above the beak. They have excellent tumbling ability.
8. Mirror - pigeons with a symmetrical pattern along the spinal column.
9. Chubate - representatives of Baku varieties with a tuft on their heads.

Flight Features

Baku pigeons rise high, moving away from the viewer, beautifully enter the “pillar”, give out a “fight”. The breed is not a flock, each individual gives out separate pirouettes. For example, black Baku people are capable of entering the "pillar" at 12-15 m with 5-6 somersaults. Moreover, a ribbon “battle” is possible, in which the bird goes horizontally with somersaults, and a “pillar”, when the dove goes vertically, flapping its wings.

Baku pigeons have excellent orientation in space. The bird finds its way home hundreds of miles away.

Standard flight parameters:

• maximum altitude - 1500 m;
• duration of stay in the sky - up to 12 hours;
• maximum travel distance - up to 600 km.

During the competition, the judges evaluate the cleanliness of the performance and compliance with the technique. The following "battle" options are distinguished:

1. Entrance to the "pillar". The dove rushes vertically upwards, suddenly falls head over heels, while making flapping noises with its wings.
2. "Screw pillar". The bird moves like a propeller while flapping its wings.
3. "Fight" with freezing. A slow movement during which the bird hangs in order to rise, to make somersaults. This is accompanied by beautiful wing flapping.

Basic training rules

The training of Baku pigeons starts quite early, usually by the 35th-40th day of the chicks' life. But it all depends on the he alth of the birds and the conditions of detention, in some cases, chicks that have reached 2 months old begin to train.According to experienced poultry farmers, it is advisable to start training earlier, since it is more difficult for older pigeons to acquire game skills.

Classes begin with learning how to use wings. Next, the birds are taught to sit down and flap their wings. Young Bakunian individuals often experience difficulties in performing somersaults, sharply decrease, falling on their tail. But after 2-3 months, the pigeons already perfectly perform tricks. The final formation of the "fight" style occurs at 1-2 years of age, but the most gifted ones take several months.

If a young bird began to “beat” after 15-20 days from the start of the flight, then after molting, the game is likely to change.

In training, it is supposed to release 6-8 birds at a time. But usually up to 20 young individuals are released. Females do not touch 2 days before laying eggs and within a day after. The chicks stay with their parents for a week.

For 3-4 days before departure, the birds are kept half-starved so that they return. An hour before the game, they are intensively soldered. Males and females are allowed separately. Pigeons are not released during the winter months, as there is a high probability of loss of orientation due to bad weather.

Rules of maintenance and care

Baku pigeons are not capricious in care. Females sit remarkably on the masonry, they have a developed maternal instinct. Since pigeons are birds that are unfavorable from a sanitary point of view, they can carry diseases dangerous to humans, the poultry breeder must obtain permission to breed birds from a sanitary supervisor. The dovecote must be constructed so that cats and rodents cannot enter it.

Dovecote size

Because fighting pigeons train not only in the sky, but also in the dovecote, it must be spacious. The optimal size is 15 m^{2 for 10 individuals. The height from floor to ceiling must be at least 2 m.}

Temperature, ventilation

In summer, the dovecote should not exceed +22 °C. During the cold months, the temperature should not fall below +5 °C. Sharp temperature fluctuations are unacceptable. It is not necessary to install heating equipment, but there should be no gaps in the walls. It is desirable to cover the floor with insulation, in the off-season the bedding should be changed more often, as it dampens faster.

Ventilation should be good, and in the upper part of the building, since ammonia fumes from bird droppings accumulate under the ceiling.

Perches and nests

Perches are made of wood, according to the number of birds. Pigeons rest on them after the flight. They can be made in the form of poles and shelves. Nests are made in the form of small wooden boxes, hay or straw is placed inside. If the owner has not made a nest for the pets, then the people of Baku build them themselves from what they find.To prevent this from happening, the dovecote must be kept clean, all unnecessary must be removed from it. The female Baku breed lays eggs throughout the year.

Drinker, feeder, swimsuit

So that the pigeons do not fight for food and water, there should be several feeders and drinkers in the dovecote. There should always be water in the drinkers. It is desirable that the feeder be made of natural material. The design should be with a lid so that dirt does not get into the feed, and the birds do not row the grain with their paws. The bathing suit is made double. Sand is laid in the first half, water is poured in the second.

Litter and cleanliness requirements

You can use hay or sawdust as bedding. Change the bedding once a week. The dovecote is disinfected monthly, the surfaces are washed with soapy water. It can also be used for disinfection by burning with a blowtorch.

Letok

This is the name of a take-off square with a side of 15 cm. It is convenient for birds to take off from it, sit on it, returning to the dovecote. 2 individuals should account for the area.

Meeting plan

Many owners agree that fighting pigeons should be underfed to be more docile and return home. Some owners do not offend birds in their diet. But overfeeding is clearly unacceptable. Pets must be taught to a strict diet from the first days of life.

Basic feed for Baku pigeons:

• wheat;
• millet;
• oats;
• barley;
• rice;
• corn.

Grain feed is supplemented with seed (hemp, flax, sunflower seeds). In the summer months, pets are treated to chopped greens (dandelions, lettuce, spinach). In winter, vitamin complexes must be included in the diet to maintain immunity.

About being next to another bird

Baku pigeons live as an intrabreed family. But if you want to have birds of different breeds and even species, then there are no problems with this. It is advisable to buy the chicks at the same time, then they will quickly get used to each other. Baku residents are not inclined to fight with their neighbors.

How to treat Baku residents

In good conditions, the Baku pigeon lives up to 30 years. With poor maintenance, the bird gets sick, its life span is reduced by 2-3 times. Sharp temperature fluctuations, both upward and downward, negatively affect the well-being of Baku pigeons. Overheated birds breathe with difficulty, opening their beaks. To save the pets, the roof of the dovecote is poured with cold water, so the temperature inside will drop.It is strictly forbidden to release birds in the heat, their body may not be able to withstand it.

Juveniles are most susceptible to hypothermia. They grow more slowly, their digestive tract is disrupted, and their he alth worsens. A frozen chick becomes numb, then dies. To prevent this from happening, in cold weather, parent birds need to be kept in the nest, they will warm the offspring.

Pigeons can be attacked by lice and other parasites. Sick birds should be bathed in a solution of a veterinary antiparasitic drug.

The lack of ventilation negatively affects the he alth of pigeons. The breath of many birds increases the concentration of carbon dioxide in the dovecote, and the decaying droppings release ammonia. Birds breathing accumulated poisonous gases do not eat well, their skeleton becomes thinner, becomes fragile, minerals are washed out of it. This is why good ventilation is so important.

Recommended