Meat pigeons are bred and raised for human consumption. Unlike other breeds of domestic pigeons, they are larger, and their body weight on average reaches 650 g. This group of birds includes more than 50 breeds and many of them are bred on an industrial scale in the USA, Hungary, France and Italy. What kind of breeds is it, how they need to be bred and maintained, we will consider further.
Popular breeds
Breeds of meat pigeons differ in weight, plumage and fertility, so you should read more about their description.
Strasser
The breed was bred in the 19th century in the province of Mahrisher Strasser, which is the reason for its name. External characteristics of Strassers are as follows:
- the head is large with a convex wide forehead;
- the neck is medium in length and slightly curved;
- the beak is strong, medium in size and with a small wax;
- the body is strong and massive, about 40 cm long;
- the back is straight and wide;
- wings are wide and medium length;
- paws bright scarlet;
- the tail is narrow, medium in size.
Separately, it is worth noting the original coloring of the pigeons of this breed: their hips, lower part of the body and neck are white, but the remaining parts are colored, that is, the color can be blue, gray, yellow, red or black.
Some poultry farmers characterize Strassers as fat: the weight of males can reach 1.2 kg, and females - 800 g. As a rule, on day 30, the weight of chicks is 600-700 g. During the season, a pair of pigeons can bring up to 12 doves, which will give up to 7 kg of fine fiber meat. So, the yield of this bird is lethal - 58-62% (the indicator can vary and depends on the conditions of detention).
To get the maximum mass of offspring, it is worth removing birds that have exceeded 5 years of age from the dovecote.
King
The breed was bred in the United States by California poultry breeders in 1890 by crossing several species - Maltese and Roman pigeons, the Roman giant, from whom they got their meat qualities. The goal of the poultry farmers was to obtain a large pigeon that grows rapidly and has high fecundity. So, this bird is for dual use, as it is used for meat production and for participation in exhibitions.
King has a solid and molded physique with the following external characteristics:
- tall and stately figure;
- a large head with a proud landing (adds pigeons of impressiveness, due to which she got her royal name);
- the neck is thick with an almost vertical arrangement;
- the beak is medium in size, powerful and strong;
- the chest is wide and voluminous, slightly falling forward;
- the back is flat;
- wings are short and straight;
- the tail is small and raised (looking up).
The plumage of the King can have a variety of colors. In the classic manifestation, these pigeons are monochromatic - white, black, red or brown. In more original versions, the birds have belts of various colors - brown, blue, silver, ash red, ash yellow. In this case, the most popular is snow-white coloring. In this case, pigeons often have black eyes. If the plumage is colored, then the eyes are often yellow.
These birds have a lively and lively character, so they often show aggressiveness. They are able to fly, but have a poorly developed ability to climb up.
The weight of adult exhibition King's can reach 1.5 kg. If the bird is raised for meat, then it can weigh about 700 g at 45 days of age. Under the right conditions and a full diet, a female will bring up to 18 chicks per year.
It should be noted that pigeons of this breed are more suitable for growing in warm climates. So, they are actively bred in Europe, the southern and central regions of Russia, including in the Krasnodar Territory and the Rostov Region.
Texan
The breed also has an American origin - bred in the last century in Texas. The main difference between Texan is its high fertility. Under favorable conditions, one pair per year can bring up to 22 chicks. On average, this indicator is in the range of 16-20 chicks.
The external characteristics of Texan are as follows:
- medium sized head;
- the neck is short, located vertically;
- powerful body with a small abdomen;
- the chest is fleshy, wide and falling forward;
- wings of medium length and firmly pressed to the body;
- tail is short (up to 15 cm) and raised upwards;
- legs are short, strong and widely spaced, which is a common feature of all pigeons of meat breed.
It should be noted that one can distinguish the sex of chicks of this breed at a very early age. The fact is that the nestlings of males are naked after hatching, and the females are covered with long yellowish fluff, and a few days later a brown speck appears on their beak. Adult males are light-colored, and females are darker, with their wings brown or cream with belts, and their chests blue, gray-smoky or brown.
Texans absorb food well, grow quickly and gain weight. On average, their weight is 700-900 g, and at the age of one month they already weigh about 600-750 g. They know how to fly well, but more often prefer to move around the land.
Texans are characterized by a calm temperament and unpretentiousness to the conditions of detention, so they are often chosen by poultry farmers who want to give their livestock a minimum of attention, but want to get a good meat yield.
Roman giant
The birthplace of the breed is the territory of modern Italy, since it appeared during Ancient Rome. It is believed that the image of the Roman giant was carved on the inner columns of the Basilica of St. Peter in the Vatican. The breed is actively bred in Spain, in the south of France and in the USA.
The Roman pigeon is a big bird - in weight it can reach 1.3 kg. Larger individuals are also known. So, in 1906, a bird weighing exactly 1.8 kg was introduced to the American club of fans of this breed. As for the length of the pigeon, on average it is 50 cm, but the length of the wings can reach 100 cm.
In physique, these pigeons are similar to ordinary pigeons, but they are twice as large, hence the nickname "giant." American representatives of this breed have some external differences from their European counterparts. They are somewhat shorter and more plump, have shorter wings and a tail. European representatives have a small head, a longer neck and a slender body. The color of the Roman giant can be different:
- in red;
- yellow;
- silver;
- white
- black
- in blue;
- red-ashen;
- with or without a belt.
Roman pigeons have a calm and peaceful character, despite its impressive size. So, they rarely arrange fights and are easily tamed. Such individuals practically do not fly. Of the shortcomings, one can note small fecundity - up to 4-5 chicks per season. It is for this reason that this breed is contained in less quantity than more productive modern breeds like the Strassers.
Carnot
France is considered the birthplace of this breed, and in the 60s of the last century it was established in the USSR from the USA. Carnot were bred at a time when the aviary content of pigeon meat breeds became popular with the maximum mechanization of all processes, since it allowed breeders to reduce the cost of meat. So, Carnot is most suitable for aviary.
The external characteristics of the individual are as follows:
- the head is small, not in proportion to the proportions of the body;
- the beak is long, pink, slightly curved down;
- the neck is thick, short;
- the thoracic region is excessively convex;
- paws without feathers, small;
- feathers are thick and wide;
- the tail is short, lowered to the floor.
Carnot coloring can be one-color (brown, white, black) or motley (white with gray, red feathers, or brown with white feathers). In any case, these pigeons are relatively small - their weight is about 600-650 g. Moreover, this breed is the most precocious of meat pigeons - it gains weight in two months. Poultry farmers prefer young individuals, as their meat is more tender.
Monden
The breed was bred by French breeders in the city of Mont de Marsana, which explains its name. Monden pigeons differ in the following characteristics:
- high meat yield, which averages 60%;
- high mass index - about 28.7%;
- a high index of edible parts (in males - 82.6%, in females - 81.3%), so almost the whole bird can be eaten.
Visually, Monden looks like this:
- the head is small;
- eyes are small and brown;
- the beak is average and reaches 0.3 cm;
- the neck is thick and short, almost imperceptible;
- powerful body with a wide and convex thoracic region;
- wings are small and densely pressed to the body, practically do not stand out;
- silver feathers;
- legs are short, dark red, almost black;
- tail is short and raised up.
Monden pigeons can be fed up to 1.1 kg as much as possible, and at the age of one month they weigh on average 500-700 g. The minimum weight of adults is 700 g. The yield of meat with an early weight gain is 60%, and most of the carcass can be eaten .
These birds are resistant to various diseases, grow quickly and gain mass, therefore, it is often used to cross and breed highly productive hybrids.
Prachensky vacation
Czech ancient breed of pigeons, which can also be found in the Crimea. It was bred by crossing several types of individuals - the Czech lapwing and chicken pigeons (Domestic, Florentine and Vienna). Outwardly resembles a blue Kanika, therefore it is also called a “buzzard”. The characteristics of the Prachensky vacation are as follows:
- the head is small;
- orange eyes;
- the beak is strong and orange-red;
- Medium neck
- the body is small, graceful;
- the chest is convex and wide;
- wings are well developed;
- feet are medium in size, without feathers;
- tail pointing up and continuing the line of the back.
Representatives of this breed grow rapidly, gain weight and are resistant to many diseases. Unlike other meat pigeons, they fly well. The live weight of the male is on average 550-750 g, and the female - up to 600 g. During the year, quite a lot of chicks of this breed can be hatched, and they will be well-fed and fleshy.
Polish lynx
The breed is of Polish origin and is often grown on an industrial scale to produce excellent quality meat. It can not be crossed with other species, since in this case there is a high risk of loss of meat quality.
Unlike many of his brothers, such a dove has a large head and a long beak. Its legs are not short, but of medium length and traditionally widely spaced. As a rule, such individuals are monochromatic - black, white, gray, brown or blue, but there are also individuals that have stripes or specks of a different color on the neck, wings and tail.
Polish lynx is unpretentious in care and grows fast. The weight of an adult is on average 800 g. The fecundity of the bird is relatively low - about 8 chicks are bred annually. They are calm and able to fly.
Modena or Modena Pigeon
The breed was bred in Italy in early 1327 and named after the city of Modena. It is considered almost the only true European breed. Its external characteristics are as follows:
- the head is small;
- the neck is large and practically does not stand out;
- the chest is convex, wide and fleshy;
- the back is short and wide;
- wings are short and slightly raised;
- tail is short, narrow and raised up (located at neck level).
The plumage of the Modena pigeon can have a different color, and more than 200 variations have been established by poultry farmers. The most popular is blue, bronze, black, silver, red, cream or yellow. In addition, hiking options and combinations of these colors are possible. The dove can be either one-color or multi-color, scaly and with belts.
Modena has an average size: height - up to 23 cm, length - about 18 cm. The weight of individuals is relatively small - about 350-500 g.
Features of the content of meat pigeons
Many poultry farmers keep pigeons in the attics of country houses or build separate houses for them. In any case, the room should be under a canopy, be protected from temperature changes, suitable for summer and winter maintenance. Equally important is good ventilation and heating.
To ensure acceptable conditions for keeping birds, it is worth equipping the dovecote as follows:
- to make windows that should face south;
- place the nests on the floor or on a small elevation, since most meat breeds fly very poorly;
- provide nests with paths along which individuals can climb;
- spread the floor and constantly monitor its cleanliness (at least 2 times a year you need to disinfect the litter);
- install drinking bowls and feeders that need to be refilled on time.
In the pigeon, it is necessary to maintain the temperature always above 0 ° C.
Pigeons checked by a veterinarian can be launched into a prepared house. Basically, they need to be fed with cereals, but rye, oats and lupins should be completely eliminated from the diet. The feed mixture can be prepared from the following ingredients:
- maize (35%);
- barley (20%);
- peas (20%);
- oatmeal (15%);
- greens (5%).
Be sure to have vitamin and mineral supplements (5%) in the diet, which can be added to the feed:
- lime;
- river sand;
- crumbs of red brick;
- clay;
- charcoal;
- eggshell.
Individual meat breeds per day should consume about 50-55 g of grain mixture. Of course, they should not be given spoiled or moldy food, as it will be difficult to digest.
It is equally important to make sure that the house always has fresh water at room temperature, because without life-giving moisture, birds can not live a day. If feathers, bird droppings or small debris get into the water, it must be immediately poured out and new water should be poured into the drinkers.
In order for pigeons to be completely healthy and have strong immunity, it is necessary to vaccinate them 2 times a year using the services of a certified veterinarian.
Breeding
To breed pigeons in the house, it is required to leave an equal number of males and females so that each individual can find a mate. Under natural conditions, doves do 3 clutches of 2-3 eggs each year. With proper lighting and heating, this figure can grow more than 6 times.
Females can participate in breeding from 8 months, but individuals at the age of 1-1.5 years are considered the most prolific. Mating occurs naturally when pigeons live together in the same enclosure. At the same time, one can resort to forced mating, if it is required to obtain specific qualities from the chicks. In this case, a couple of pigeons should be temporarily put in a separate aviary.
To understand that the mating has already happened, and the birds are ready to return to the common aviary, is quite simple, since the pigeons will constantly sit next to each other and carefully sort out the feathers to each other.
After 11-16 days, egg laying occurs. To make sure that embryo development occurs in them, on day 6 you can put them on spoons and look at the lumen. If a spot is visible, the offspring will probably be. In addition, with the development of the embryo, the color of the shell changes - on the 8th day the egg acquires a matte gray tint.
Pigeons alternately plant eggs for 16-19 days, but in some breeds this period can last up to 29 days. Chicks will be born helpless and blind, but after a few hours they will be able to take food from their parents.During the first 2 weeks they should eat only goiter milk, and then goiter gruel can be introduced into their diet, which parents soften in goiter. Only a month later, good nutrition is permissible.
Growing methods
There are several, and the choice depends on what goals the poultry farmer is pursuing.
Extensive
It does not require special costs or efforts from the breeder, since in this case the birds themselves get their own food, and the poultry breeder gives them food once a day so that they can gain weight over the allotted time period.
This method has several disadvantages. For example, when searching for food, pigeons can run into wild birds or animals that can be carriers of dangerous diseases. In addition, individuals are required to guarantee full protection against predators. Of course, a well-fed bird that does not know how or does not want to fly will become quick prey even for a domestic cat.
Intensive
It involves forced feeding of birds so that they gain 600-800 g and more in a short time. For such purposes, it is better to choose highly productive breeds like King or Texan, since they can increase their mass to a predetermined mark in just 30-38 days. In addition, these birds, due to their high fecundity, can reproduce offspring 5-10 times a year, which will bring 10-20 chicks to the farm.
Individuals at the age of 3 weeks are suitable for fattening for slaughter, since young meat has the best taste. Selected chicks must be put in a dark room. They need to be force-fed every day up to 4 times a day with a porridge mixture, using special equipment or a syringe without a needle, but with a soft rubber nozzle at the end.
As a feed, it is necessary to prepare a mixture of cereals, grains and legumes. It is recommended to throw mineral additives in a small amount. Every day, each bird should eat 50-60 g of such a mixture and drink it with warm water. The optimal volume of a single serving is 15-20 g. If you feed young pigeons for about 2 weeks, you can get pigeons weighing about 800 g at the exit.
The combined or household-decorative method is also distinguished, but it is mainly popular among poultry farmers of home decorative pigeons.
Slaughter of meat pigeons
Slaughter of birds is carried out, whose age is 29-37 days. As a rule, their weight already reaches 600-750 g. Over the past 3 days of fattening, it is necessary to mix fragrant seeds of various cultures, spices or berries in a small amount in the feed of pigeons. With the help of this trick you can give pigeon flavor a spicy taste.
In addition, a day before slaughter, it is worth watering the bird with warm milk and salt, so that the meat becomes juicier and whiter. On the same day, you must interrupt the feeding, so that afterwards it is easier to gut the carcass.
Subject to all aspects of the care and maintenance of pigeons, poultry farmers can grow excellent meat breed. As a result, birds can be put on meat, from which the most delicate dishes and delicacies are prepared. There are various breeds of meat pigeons, so when choosing a specific individual, you should familiarize yourself with their main parameters and features.