Strasser Pigeon: A Big, Meaty Pigeon
If you’re looking to breed a fancy pigeon with a unique appearance, you must check out the Strasser pigeon.
This domestic bird is beautiful, easy to raise and has an outstanding friendly demeanor, making it an ideal project for fanciers.
Truthfully, the Strasser pigeon has been around for centuries, first originating in Austria and then spreading worldwide. But is that all there is to this pigeon breed?
No, not at all.
For this article, we’ve compiled every little detail about the Strasser pigeon.
Join us as we explore everything about this bird, including its history, physical appearance, its purposes and how to breed it, among many more fascinating details.
Strasser Pigeon Profile
| Name | Strasser Pigeon |
|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Columba livia |
| Common Names | None |
| Origin | Austria |
| Size | Medium to large |
| Weight | 700 to 750 grams |
| Lifespan | 6 to 15 years |
| Physical Features | Large head, black eyes, short beak, medium-sized neck, strong wings, smooth feathers, short tail, medium legs |
| Temperament | Calm |
| Behavior | Docile |
| Special Features | Slightly triangular head |
| Breeding and Maintenance | Easy |
| Common or Popular Varieties | Different colors |
Want to learn more about pigeon breeds:
Overview of Strasser Pigeons
The Strasser pigeon is a fancy bird breed developed after years of using selective breeding practices.
As we know it today, the Strasser is a medium-sized bird with colored head, neck and wings, while the rest of the body is white.
Known to be calm and gentle, Strasser pigeons make for excellent pets. However, breeders also raise this bird for exhibition and utility purposes, like squab production for consumption.
Strasser pigeons are popular birds due to their unique appearance, outstanding flying skills and friendly temperament.
They prefer to spend the day outside and the night in a dark room due to light and noise sensitivity.
History And Origins of Strasser Pigeons
The origin of the Strasser pigeon is a reason for debate. Some claim this pigeon comes from Austria.
In fact, the pigeon got its name because of its breeder, a fancier named Baron Franz Strasser.
According to records, Mr. Strasser developed the Strasser pigeon by cross – breeding the field pigeon, cropper and Florentine breeds in 1875.
The goal of crossing these pigeon breeds was to develop a pigeon of large size and meaty body.
After years of this selective breeding practice, the efforts resulted in the creation of what we know as the Strasser pigeon, a globally popular utility bird.
Physical Characteristics And Features
The Strasser pigeon is a beautiful bird with a medium to large size body. Let’s review the features of this pigeon breed to identify them with ease.
| Physical Characteristics Name | Descriptions |
|---|---|
| Head | Relatively large head kept high and with a wide forehead. |
| Eyes | Black eyes with red rings around them. |
| Beak | Short, dark-colored beak with pale cere. |
| Neck | Medium-sized neck. |
| Wings | Strong and wide wings. |
| Plumage | Smooth, glossy feathers. |
| Tail | Short with narrowly-arranged feathers. |
| Legs | Medium in length, red in color. |
| Weight | Between 700 and 750 grams. |
Unique Features
The most particular characteristic of the Strasser pigeon is its triangular head, which has a very prominent frontal.
This feature makes it relatively easy to identify the breed when you look at it for the first time and know about its other traits.
Some Common Variations
The body color of the Strasser pigeon is white, but coloration in other parts of the body may vary.
For example, the head, wings and tail can be blue, blue barred, blue checkered, black lace, black barred, lark, or yellow checkered.
While the color may vary, the body parts with different coloration compared to the body are the same.
Distribution And Habitat
But where can you find Strasser pigeons and what habitats do they prefer? Let’s talk about that now.
Geographic Distribution
Typically, you can find Strasser pigeons in many parts of the world. Still, breeders of this pigeon are more active in Germany, the United Kingdom, the United States and other parts of Europe.
Habitat Preferences
Strasser pigeons are better raised in rural or suburban habitats, preferably.
In these areas, the pigeons will have plenty of space to roam, socialize and fly if they want to. These activities will keep the pigeons motivated and entertained, which results in better breeding performance.
Threats and Conservation Status
The Strasser is a common pigeon breed that does not face conservation threats. This pigeon is available in many parts of the world and you can acquire one or more from renowned farms.
Behavior And Traits of Strasser Pigeons
Raising Strasser pigeons is satisfying because these birds have unique personalities, often being playful and relaxed around humans. They are confident, curious about their surroundings and also bold.
All these traits contribute to their incredible flying skills, which require the Strasser to be a fully confident bird.
Differences Between Wild and Domesticated Pigeons
The Strasser pigeon can survive in a wild habitat, but these are not the most suitable environments for this pigeon breed.
Indoors, the birds are more likely to live longer and achieve their standard weight. Also, the eggs laid will hatch in a safe environment, preserving the breed population.
Diet
Fortunately, Strasser pigeons do well with standard pigeon food. You can feed them a balanced diet consisting of cereals, grains, nuts, seeds and other nutrients.
Fruits and fresh vegetables are also good food for this pigeon breed, which they enjoy thoroughly. Additionally, water and grit are other necessities you must provide.
Flight
The Strasser pigeon is not known for its flying ability. Still, these pigeons have an average flight capacity. Strasser pigeons enjoy flying and will do it quite often, whether to exercise or socialize.
As such, setting up perches is necessary to allow them to fly and enjoy their time.
Nesting, Breeding and Courtship
The Strasser pigeon is a very fertile bird. Typically, hens lay a couple of eggs per clutch. Also, the females can lay two eggs approximately twelve times yearly.
This process begins with the usual courtship performed by the male to seek the female’s attention. They mate and the hen lays the eggs after a couple of weeks.
As for nesting, you can use a nesting box with plenty of space for each mating pair. This type of nesting provides the comfort needed to incubate the eggs, which the parents will do responsibly.
Breeding And Maintenance
Strasser pigeons are delightful, but they can be really messy. You can save yourself some problems by covering the floor with a layer of hay or wood. For maintenance, you can clean the area once weekly.
Some Tips and Considerations for Successful Breeding
- Select pigeons based on their body features. They must have a well-developed physique and an upright posture. Likewise, check if the birds have vibrant colors and defined markings.
- Avoid inbreeding as possible. Introduce new and unrelated pigeons to the flock to ensure the genetics remain strong.
- The mating pair must have matching features to achieve the desired results.
- Check the pigeons regularly to monitor their health. Keep track of the feather quality and keep an eye out to notice odd behaviors. Removing ill birds from the flock will guarantee healthier offspring.
- If you notice non-fertilized eggs, remove them from the nest.
- Similarly, monitor the fertilized eggs and the chicks after hatching. Young chicks are ready to leave the nest after a few weeks, allowing you to separate them from their parents.
Housing and Feeding
The preferred housing option for Strasser Pigeons is a loft. This building must have plenty of space per pigeon and a ventilated setting to keep them cool.
Furthermore, properly ventilated lofts are healthier and easier to clean in due time.
Remember that while Strasser pigeons are fine in a loft, they enjoy outside more. So, allow them to come outside for some time to entertain themselves.
Feeding
Provide your pigeons with their daily amount of pigeon feed over a tray or baking sheet. Additionally, make sure they have fresh water nearby and grit to digest food faster.
One thing to consider is that the Strasser pigeon can consume more food than other pigeon breeds. For this reason, it’s advisable to feed them at least two handfuls of feed per bird and include greens and grass daily.
Final Word
As a fancy and meaty bird, the Strasser pigeon presents the opportunity to breed a satisfyingly multipurpose pigeon.
Whether you want a pet, utility, or decoration bird, this pigeon can do all that. Besides some regular cleanup, everything else about raising Strasser pigeons is a rewarding experience.
The Strasser pigeon is one of our favorite breeds, but not the only one.
Check out our other articles and keep in touch with us on Facebook, Twitter and Pinterest to find more insightful articles related to pigeons and the bird world. We’re here waiting for you!