Fancy Pigeons: Care, Behavior And More
Pigeons are probably the only bird that is either a thing of joy or a nuisance. There are so many of them, 1100 types including all breeds and varieties, according to Wikipedia.
After discovering their unique qualities and started crossbreeding. Thus, fancy pigeons came into existence.
Millennia ago, people noticed that pigeons were intelligent and their nature surprisingly mimicked that of humans. Maybe it’s because certain areas of human brains and pigeon brains are wired similarly, as per recent research.
Similar to humans, pigeons also maintain social groups and they choose partners for life. And hence, people started treating them less like a source of meat but more like pets.
This article will cover pretty much everything you need to know about fancy pigeons- their types, behavior, eating habits, housing, and more.
Want to learn more about pigeon types:
Fancy Pigeon Profile
| Feature Name | Description |
|---|---|
| Scientific Name | |
| Common Names | |
| Origin | |
| Size | |
| Weight | |
| Lifespan | |
| Physical Features | |
| Temperament | |
| Behavior | |
| Special Features | |
| Breeding and Maintenance | |
| Common or Popular Varieties |
A Short Overview of Fancy Pigeons
They belong to domestic pigeons, selectively bred to achieve unique superficial traits such as colors, shapes, and demeanor.
And with different breeding and experiments, people managed to create hundreds of new pigeon breeds that are now available all around the world.
Because of their special features, fancy pigeons became a point of fascination for people of all classes. These birds were not bred out of man’s need but rather for people’s natural desire to achieve beauty and newness.
As they gradually became a symbol of wealth, status and social class for rich people, fancy pigeons served the purpose of luxury. And that’s why these special pigeons are called “Fancy Pigeons.”
When we call them “fancy pigeons,” we use this name as an umbrella term. Fancy pigeon itself is not a singular breed but a category that has hundreds of breeds of pigeons with special features in it.
Their range of variety in terms of body and demeanor is absolutely incredible. Let’s discuss more about them and their lifestyle in this article.
Types of Fancy Pigeons
Fancy pigeons are of various breeds. Pigeons rank number one in terms of experimentation, beating dogs.
While looking for the perfect pigeon, breeders have created hundreds of types of fancy pigeons. Fantail, Frillback, English trumpeter, Danish suabian, starling, homing, helmet, etc. are the most popular ones.
Below are the most common pigeon breeds –
01. Asian Feather and Voice Pigeons
A group of fancy pigeons originated in Asia. These are some of the most beautiful and desired pigeons. Some popular Asian Feather pigeon breeds are Lahore, Jacobin, Fantail, Frillback, etc.
This group also includes the singing pigeons. They have a distinct cooing capability that is often soft and melodious. Some examples include Jacobin, English Trumpeter, Ghent pigeons, etc.
Some of them do not originate from Asia, but still because they share similar characteristics with the Asian ones, they are placed under one group.
02. Color Pigeons
These pigeons are also called German Toys, as almost all of them originated in Germany. In this category, there are many different pigeons with unique features.
Some of the popular Colour Pigeons are Archangel Pigeon, Starling, Thuringen Field Pigeon, etc.
03. Frills and Owls
As the name suggests, this subcategory includes breeds with feather frills and ornamental plumages. A few examples are Old German Owls, Frillbacks, English Owls, etc.
04. Homing and Hen Pigeons
Homing pigeons, also known as the messenger pigeon, are named for their magnificent instinct to navigate and return home.
Some popular homing pigeon breeds are Racing Homer and the Birmingham Roller. Female pigeons are known as hens.
05. Pouter and Croppers
Includes the pigeons with a large inflatable crop. Some examples include English Pouters, Voorburg Shield Croppers, Brunner Pouters, etc. These breeds can enlarge their crops to puff up the chest.
06. Exhibition Tumblers
Also known as Show Tumblers, they are a subgroup of fancy pigeons famous for their rolling ability in flight. They are used in pigeon shows and competitions.
Some popular Exhibition Tumblers are Parlor Roller, Birmingham Roller, Damascene Tumbler, etc.
07. Flying Tumblers
A category of fancy pigeons that can tumble or roll in the air and possess extraordinary flying capability. For example, American Flying Tumblers, Armenian Tumblers, Iranian Highflyers, etc.
08. Highfliers
Include the breeds with the best flying capabilities. They can fly high and can do so for a long time. Examples of Highflyers are Iranian Highflyers, Indian Highflyers, Budapest Highflyers, etc.
09. Roller Pigeons
They are a special group of pigeons who were specifically bred to achieve the ability to roll in the air. Some of the varieties are Birmingham Roller, Oriental Roller, Parlor Roller, etc.
History of Fancy Pigeon
In the 16th Century, the Italian historian Ulisse Aldrovandi first recorded a practice of breeding fancy pigeons for their appearance.
Plus, in the same Century, Great Mughal Akbar had 20,000 pigeons. Among them, 500 were able to do complicated tricks.
The extensive interest in fancy pigeons occurred in Europe around the 18th Century. The European breeders cross-bred and produced many fancy pigeon varieties.
They imported fancy breeds from the Middle East and South Asia to cross-bred and create fancier breeds.
In 1856, Charles Darwin proved that the primary origin of those species is the Rock Dove.
Fancy pigeons became popular pets among upper and middle-class hobbyists in Great Britain and Ireland during the Victorian Era.
The popularity expanded among the lower classes by the early 1900s. This popularity continued to spread around the world during the next centuries.
The popularity of fancy pigeons is immense in the modern era. In recent years, a record of more than 30,000 fancy pigeons has been shown in the USA and UK’s famous pigeon shows.
Common Physical Appearance And Unique Features
Fancy pigeons are easily recognizable because of their bizarre and elegant appearance. As we have said earlier, fancy pigeons are unique-looking birds because they were, in fact, carefully bred to be so.
The looks of each breed are so different that they can’t be generalized, making it somewhat challenging to describe them. Fancy pigeons differ in many aspects, such as feathers, colors, feet, and wings. One breed looks different than the next one.
In terms of color, some are shiny and colorful, while others are plain white or black. Some have neckbands of feathers, and others have frills on their back.
Fancy pigeons are a diverse group of creatures of 800 breeds, and rightfully so, describing the looks of all of them is difficult. So, let’s just talk about the most peculiar of the peculiars to give you a picture.
Jacobin pigeon has a neckband of lush feathers that look like a cowl. They have a slender body with long legs.
Or take the archangel pigeon, for example. They have the most colorful feathers, giving them an elite look. And these birds were prevalent in Germany for their iridescent body with a metallic gleam.
We must mention the trumpeters. They are famous for their vocalization, which sounds like laughter. On top of that, they have a crest on their head like the plumes of the Roman soldiers’ helmets.
And the Barb Pigeons have wattling around their eyes and beak that, with time, develops into a big pulpy red ring. Their wattling gives them a unique look and makes the breed desirable.
Physical Structure of Fancy Pigeons
Fancy pigeons vary in bodily structure. Again, they are so diverse that describing their physical structure gets complicated, as you can’t really generalize. There is always a possibility that you are missing out on something.
That said, we have found some of the traits that are common in almost all. First of all, fancy pigeons differ from body shape to size, neck to head and beak, and feet to wings and tail.
Body shapes and sizes differ between breeds. Some have lean and long bodies, while others have small and bulky ones.
English Carriers and Old German Croppers have elongated, slender bodies; on the other hand, Fantails have compact bodies with fan-shaped tails.
Fancy pigeons have various types of feet built for different purposes, such as scratching, running, climbing, and wading feet, and that too in different colors.
It’s worth mentioning that some breeds have feathers on their feet, like the Frillback Pigeons.
Bard and Ice Pigeons have one of the smallest faces and necks. Another breed owns a small face, aptly called the English Short-Faced Tumbler. Likewise, some breeds, like the English Trumpeter, possess a large facial structure.
Beaks, unsurprisingly, also vary. For example, The African Owl Pigeons have a short beak. And different types of fancy pigeons’ size and formation of their wings and tails noticeably differ too.
Behavior And Personality of Fancy Pigeons
Fancy pigeons’ behavior changes based on various factors and needs. Once they are tamed, anyone will be impressed by their charming personality.
Though these birds are in general gentle, they can get aggressive real soon if required.
Social Behavior
Fancy pigeons are very social. They live in flocks and feel happy while being around others. Moreover, they greet and cuddle each other to show love and engage in fun games.
You may know that pigeons are the symbol of love. It’s because they are monogamous and typically mate for life. And like humans, they also have a hierarchy in their community.
Territorial Behavior
Fancy pigeons are very conscious about their territory, especially the male ones. They take extensive measures to protect their mating and feeding areas.
When threatened, they become aggressive and start making loud noises and hissing. Even though fancy pigeons aren’t as aggressive as wild ones, they can get pretty hostile when needed.
Mating Behavior
Male pigeons perform to attract mates. He goes before the female, nods his head, and spreads his feathers.
If the female shows interest, the mating process begins. The male usually stomps his feet during mating. Pigeons’ courtship is romantic and sweet.
They even kiss during mating. Both touch each other’s beaks and afterward, the male opens up his beak while the female inserts hers. This is the final phase of the ritual.
Mating is a matter of pride for the male. Upon completion, he shows off by clapping his wings repeatedly.
Feeding Behavior
Fancy pigeons aren’t picky eaters. They will eat whatever they can get. While eating, they peck at the food.
Additionally, fancy pigeons don’t have any particular time to eat; instead, they will eat whenever they get the opportunity. Their good sense of smell and sight facilitates searching for food.
Taming Behavior
Fancy pigeons are good pets as they are social, intelligent, and docile. They have good memories and can remember their owners and homes.
You can tame a Fancy pigeon and earn its trust by regularly giving it food and gently caressing its head and back. However, the process can take time and patience.
So, how would you know whether you have tamed your pigeon?
A tamed fancy pigeon will be comfortable around you and won’t fly away when you approach it. Another sign is the pigeon will eat straight out of your hands if offered.
What Do Fancy Pigeons Sound Like?
Fancy pigeons usually make gentle and soft cooing sounds. However, the sound, of course, differs among breeds.
That said, fancy pigeons typically aren’t as loud as wild pigeons. They make loud noises only when they feel threatened or anxious. Tumblers, a breed of fancy pigeons, are known to whistle while rolling over in the air.
How Do They Sound When Mating?
Fancy pigeons usually make a lot of noise during the mating season. The males make a prolonged cooing noise to attract the eligible females. And during mating, both the male and female grunt and coo.
The sound plays an essential part during the ritual by helping them stay in sync and express emotions. After mating, the male would make noise with its wings to show off.
What Do Fancy Pigeons Eat (Anything Special)?
As mentioned earlier, fancy pigeons are not picky at eating. They will eat anything they are offered. Their primary diet includes grains, seeds, fruits, vegetables, etc.
New pet owners often wonder if there is any special food for fancy pigeons they can give as treats.
Some special foods they are known to like –
- Cheese
- Sprouted seeds
- A mixture of breadcrumbs and eggs
Although not food, pigeons also swallow small pebbles, which help with digestion.
Natural Foods of Fancy Pigeons
Foods that fancy pigeons usually eat –
- Insects & bugs
- Fruits
- Vegetables
- Seeds
- Grains
Commercial Foods
Some store-bought foods fancy pigeons eat –
- Pigeon feed (a mixture of seeds and grains)
- Commercial seeds
- Pellet blends
How Long Do Fancy Pigeons Live?
Fancy pigeons are domesticated. While wild pigeons are known to live up to 3-5 years, domesticated fancy pigeons can live up to 15 years.
They are typically bred and kept in captivity, unlike feral and wild pigeons.
People usually build square-shaped holes that are contained by a structure called Dovecotes.
Pigeons prefer places with access to sunlight, water, and food. Moreover, the site should be devoid of predators and offer a secure ground for breeding and raising younglings.
Stray fancy pigeons in urban areas, build nests on rooftops, abandoned buildings, parks, etc. And the ones living in the wild commonly make their nests on high cliffs and trees, in tree holes, and under fallen tree logs.
Reproduction And Migration
Fancy pigeons start breeding at around the age of 6 months. They don’t have any mating season, either. It can last for the whole year, with spring and autumn being the peak season.
After their mating, usually, female pigeons lay 2-3 eggs maximum. And then, it takes around 18 days before the eggs are hatched.
Unlike other birds, pigeons don’t migrate. Once they build their home, it becomes their permanent address. And they have a very strong memory that helps them always come back to their home.
For their lifestyle and safety, living in one place where they have a source of food and water is a much more sustainable choice than migrating.
Fancy pigeons are domesticated birds that are especially bred with the aim of making them pet animals. So, they have a stronger urge to stay home rather than move to another place.
Geographic Distribution of Fancy Pigeons
As we’ve discussed in this article, fancy pigeons are a descendant of rock doves.
It is estimated that it was Southern Asia where the rock doves originated hundreds of thousands of years ago. And for a long time, they only lived in Europe, South Asia and North Africa.
Around five centuries ago, pigeons plus biology enthusiasts thought it would be fun to breed pigeons of various breeds in Europe.
And that gave birth to fancy pigeons with eccentric features. It’s not hard to imagine how fascinating they must have found this experiment.
Fancy pigeons quickly became a desired possession for the monarchs and elites for their unique beauty and interesting features. It was around the same time the Columbian exchange was taking place.
So, pigeons were also transferred from one place to another.
With time, hundreds of breeds of fancy pigeons emerged and they were distributed all around the globe. Right now, fancy pigeons exist anywhere in the world where water and food sources are available for them.
Popularity And Cultural Significance of Fancy Pigeons
Five hundred years ago, pigeon fanciers, while crossbreeding pigeons, noticed how easy it was to tap into most qualities of this creature.
Subsequently, crossbreeding started with specific end results in mind, mainly beauty. While doing so, breeders created one of the most beautiful creatures ever to exist.
And that’s how fancy pigeons become popular. They were beautiful, intelligent, and could do aerobatics. So, what’s not to like?
Traditional and Cultural Associations
Pigeons have been used to carry messages since the Middle Ages. This is one of the earliest uses of this creature.
They were faster and more effective than humans. After the fancy pigeons came to be, people couldn’t resist their elegance and started keeping them as pets.
Mughal emperor Akbar was so fond of fancy pigeons that he had a massive collection of almost 500. Wherever he went, he took them with him.
Moreover, in the Victorian era, fancy pigeons were regarded as a status symbol of the upper class as only they could afford them.
Gradually but slowly, fancy pigeons crossed the barrier of class and became widely available.
Pigeon Shows and Competitions
As time went by, pigeon fanciers continued with crossbreeding, and pigeon shows and competitions started taking place.
Owners would participate with their fanciest collection, and those birds would amuse viewers with tricks and graceful presence.
Fancy pigeons are so common nowadays that you can buy one anywhere at an affordable price. From sending messages to owning as a pet to participating in competitions, fancy pigeons have indeed come a long way.
Breeding And Care Tips for Fancy Pigeons
As there are hundreds of breeds of fancy pigeons, you have a long list of fancy options to choose from for breeding. And different pairs will result in the creation of different breeds with different qualities and characteristics.
It’s the ultimate fear of indecisive people like me. But trust me, no matter what pair you choose, the outcome won’t be disappointing.
Basics of Breeding
There are mainly two types of breeding methods and you can choose one or both depending on your preference.
01. Single Pair Breeding
Think of it as an arranged marriage. For single-pair breeding, you keep your selected pair of pigeons in a cage with an adequate amount of food, water and a medium to let sunlight in.
In this method, you have the liberty of choosing a specific set of pigeon parents and also more control over the outcome. But the downside to this method is that it’s quite time-consuming and not value for money.
02. Colony Breeding
If you choose colony breeding, you have to keep multiple pairs in a cage. And with time, they will start exhibiting courtship behavior and select their partners. In this way, you can breed multiple numbers of pigeons in a short time and space.
The disadvantage of this method is that you will not have any control over the outcome because the pigeons will select their partners themselves.
Care Tips for Fancy Pigeons
To have healthy and happy pigeons, there are some care tips you should follow.
- Make sure you have a supply of nutritious food and clean water for your pigeons. Fresh fruits, vegetables, grains, seeds, insects, etc are essential for maintaining their health.
- It’s important to have a spacious cage for them so that they can move freely. The female pigeon especially needs a dry area to lay eggs.
- Access to sunshine is also necessary for their good health. The cage shouldn’t be blocked from letting sunlight through.
- Pigeons are quite particular about their hygiene and want to live in a clean environment. So they will definitely appreciate it if you clean their cages every couple of weeks to increase their quality of life.
Maintenance Cost of Fancy Pigeons
Surprisingly, you don’t need a lot of money to raise these special pigeons. You will get an overall idea from below –
Setting up Home: Basic housing costs around 100 dollars. If you want something premium, the price will be higher.
Healthcare: Fancy pigeons rarely get sick; therefore, no need to worry about spending a big chunk of money on them.
Feed: They eat almost anything. You can give them whatever is in your home, such as vegetables, fruits, seeds, etc. However, you will have to spend on feeds on a regular basis, but they are relatively cheaper.
Home Maintenance: Their homes need to be cleaned and bedding replaced regularly. So, you have to buy the necessary supplies, which aren’t expensive.
Similar Birds of Fancy Pigeons
Some similar birds, like fancy pigeons, are as follows –
Dove: Mourning doves, European turtle doves, Streptopelia, Spotted doves, and many more.
Sandgrouse: Black-Bellied Sandgrouse, Spotted Sandgrouse, Namaqua, etc.
Wild Pigeon: Hill pigeon, Snow pigeon, Stock pigeon, etc.
Mesite: Brown Mesite, Subdesert Mesite, White-breasted Mesite
Conclusion
They are great companions and easier to maintain. Moreover, fancy pigeons are more intuitive than other pet birds, so there’s that.
Fancy pigeons have so many variations that it’s hard to cover them all. Check out a great book called Fancy Pigeons by J.C. Lyell to learn more about them.
Anyway, that’s all for the article; we sincerely hope you found the answers you were looking for. We would appreciate it dearly if you could share this content and stay connected with us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and Pinterest. Ciao!
References
- https://www.themarthablog.com/2022/02/my-happy-fancy-pigeons.html
- https://www.mentalfloss.com/article/54844/history-pigeon
- https://stylesatlife.com/articles/types-of-pigeons-names-and-pictures/
- https://www.treehugger.com/most-bizarre-pigeon-breeds-4864175