Pigeon Farming-Management

Animal Nutrition, Blog, Poultry Production

Pigeons are distributed throughout the world and are kept for squabs production, for racing and messengers, and for exhibition. There is a demand for squabs, especially in large cities, to take the place of game. They are also used in training to perform tricks. Pigeon is a versatile bird with four main uses:

The sport of racing pigeons;
Flyers and performers;
Showing fancy pigeons; and
Meat production

History: The bible contain many references of pigeon and doves. Countless painting and carvings showing these two birds have been found in the ancient culture of Europe, Asia, and the Near East. In all cases, man has traditionally associated pigeons and doves with the highest virtues. In the earliest art, many used pigeons to symbolize love, peace, and fidelity. Every one knows the story of Noah and the Ark: how a dove brought back the olive branch to show that the water had subsided. In the Christian tradition, the dove has been used as a sign of the Holy Spirit-a universal symbol of wisdom and understanding.

Rockdove (Ancestor of the domestic pigeon)
The rockdove or rock pigeon is the ancestor of the domestic pigeon and also of the feral pigeon which has reverted to the wild. Domestic and feral rockdoves exist in a wide variety of forms. Their colours range from almost black to almost white or are chequered. Derek Goodwin has distinguished several categories of the rockdove, which are as follows:

Rock pigeons or rockdoves: truly wild individuals.

Dovecote pigeons: pigeons nesting or roosting in dovecotes made by man but not specially bred or fed by them.

Domestic pigeons: pigeons kept under a greater degree of control and selectively bred by man.

Homing pigeons: domestic pigeons kept for their ability to return home when released at a distance.

Flying pigeons: domestic pigeons kept for entertainment by their flying.

Fancy pigeons: domestic pigeons bred solely for their appearance, which is often bizarre and spectacular.

Feral pigeons: pigeons living wild but descended from dovecote or domestic pigeons. Often seen in towns.

Rockdoves are 13 in. long, considerably smaller than wood pigeons, and are distinguished by darker, bluish-gray plumage with no white on the wings. It has two very distinct black wing bars and a white rump.

There is no difference between a dove and pigeon. Both belong to the family Columbidae, some species are called pigeons, some are called doves, and some are called by both names, as in the rockdove or rock pigeon. Which is also sometimes called feral pigeon. Dove is from old English, pigeon is from Old French. Taxonomic classification of the pigeon is as under;

Class: Aves

Order: Columbiformes

Family: Columbidae

Genus: Columba livia

Breeds And Artificial Selection In Pigeons

There is a long history attached to pigeon breeding, as far back as 3000 BC the Egyptians raised pigeons for food. Through the centuries, probably no other bird has under gone more

physical changes from selective breeding than the pigeon. As a result, there are about 200 different breeds, each distinct from the other in behavior, size, shape, stance, feather form, colour, markings, and ornamentation. There are breeds such as the tumbler (3,4) bred for its aerial somersaulting ability; the fantail for its courtship activities; the racing (5) selected for flight speed; the homer (2) for its ability to return to its home; and the fancy show and exhibition pigeons for their ornamental value. The Homer, White king, and Swiss Mondaines are the most popular. Homer is prolific, hardy, active, and quiet in temperament.

Selection Of Breeders: It is difficult to determine the age and sex of pigeons by causal observations. This make it difficult for the buyer to determine the value of the stock. Good pigeons for breeders have a white or pinkish-white skin and light-coloured legs. A mated pair will produce from 1-12 pairs of squabs (young pigeon) per year. Pigeons breeders are most valuable as squab producer when 2-5 years old.

Breeding Facilities: Pigeon houses are called lofts. The quarters should be dry, well ventilated and provided with plenty of day light. A loft 7 ft wide, and 10-12 ft long will provide ample room for 15 pairs of birds; that’s about 5 sq.ft. per pair. Breeder houses should be equipped with nests, bowls, feed hoppers, bathing pans, and a rack for nesting material.

Care Of Breeders : Pigeons are ready to mate at about 4-5 months of age. Pigeon mate in pairs and usually remain with their mates throughout life, although the mating may be changed if desired by placing the male and female in a coop together and leaving them for there for 6-14 days, or until such time as they become settled. Not more than 10-15 pairs of mated birds should be kept in one loft.

Eggs : The pigeon hen lays an egg, generally skips a day, then lays again. A second clutch may be started before the first brood of the chicks is independent and for about 2 weeks the parents may have both eggs and young’s.

Incubation: The male generally sets on the eggs during the middle of the day, and the female the remainder of the time. The incubation period is about 17 days.

Brooding And Rearing : Both parents care for the young. They feed them by regurgitating a thick, creamy mixture, called “pigeon milk”, produced in the crops of the pigeons, into the open mouth of the young. Pigeons usually feed their squabs shortly after they themselves are fed. When 20-40 days of age, squabs may be fed a pigeon feed, because pigeon grow more rapidly than other poultry birds during the first 20 days of life. Squabs exceed the normal adult weight at the time they leave the nest, when 30-35 days of age. Fight and activity soon slim them down, however.

Production : The production of squabs from each pair of breeders varies from 1 or 2 to as high as 10 or 11 pairs a year. Homer squabs generally weigh 8-11 lb. per dozen. They gain two-thirds of their mature weight in 4 weeks. Squabs are fed by their parents until marketed. They are sold when 3 or 4 weeks old, before they can leave their nests. Squabs are in good condition when fully feathered under the wings.

Table 1: Reproduction in Poultry

Species	Age at sexual Maturity(mo.)	Eggs/yr. (no.)	Egg size (gm.)	Incubation period (days)	Fertility
Pigeon	6	12-15	17	16-18	90
Chicken : Light type	5-6	240	58	21	90
Turkey	7	105	85	28	90
Goose	24	15-60	215	28-32	85
Duck (Pekin)	7-8	110-175	80	28	85
Pheasant	8-10	40-60	32	24	90
Quail (bobwhite)	8-10	150-200	9	23-24	85
Guinea fowl	10-12	40-60	40	27	90

Care and management : All young should be banded when about 7 days of age this is requisite to record keeping. Pigeons should not be disturbed more than is absolutely necessary. Pigeons may be kept in most any available building when kept in small groups. The quarters should be dry, well ventilated and provided with plenty of day light. Pigeons are allowed 2.5-3.5 square feet of floor space per bird. Not more than forty pairs should be kept in a single pen. Nearly all pigeons kept for squab production are confined by the use of a yard covered with wire which is built on the south side of the house.

The interior fittings should consist of a double nest for each pair of breeders, nest, bowls, and feed hoppers. Nest compartment should be 12 inches high, 16 inches deep, and 24 inches wide, divided into two parts. A box of straw may be kept in the pen so that the pigeons may build their own nests. The feed hoppers and drinking vessels should be covered with wire in such a way that the birds cannot get in them. Shallow bath pans should be kept in the yards and the birds allowed to use them, except in cold weather.

Diseases

Problem of external parasites (lices & mices).
Pigeon pox (pigeon pox vaccine in pigeons is applied on feather follicles of the thigh at 6-8 week of age, there is a danger with pigeon scab vaccine of contamination with Salmonella). Genus of pigeon pox virus is Avipox, Family is Poxviridae. Fowl pox virus is similar to pigeon pox virus. It is spread by external parasites and mosquitoes.
Disease caused by paramyxovirus. Symotoms are severe diarrhea, neuromuscular disorders (neck twisting, “star gazing”, head posture, circling), High mortality in younger birds than old one. Most outbreak lasted at least 30 days. In laying flocks laid eggs were infertile, inability to fly, anorexia. Gross PM changes were limited to enteritis. HI antibodies to paramyxovirus were demonstrated in 60% of pigeons, and such a virus was demonstrated by electron microscopy in the intestinal contents. ND Lassota vaccine is used for immunizing pigeons against paramyxovirus.
Parent pigeon can be infected with Pigeon herpes virus.
Newcastle Disease virus and aviadenovirus infections.
Coccidiosis

Killing, Slaughtering and Marketting : Many people consider pigeon (squab) to be an Epicurean delight, and a limited demand for pigeon meat exists. Squabs are marketed at 3 or 4 weeks of age , at which time they have gained two-thirds of their adult body weight and are fully feathered under the wings. At 28 days of age, their dressed weight is about 1 lb. At this age, squabs are tender and self-basting due to the fat under the skin.

Squabs should be slaughtered just before leaving the nest-at about 28-30 days of age. Killed and dressed like other poultry. If the young are to be kept as breeders or for show, allow them a few days of flight in the with their parents before moving them to a separate pen for young unmated birds.