Aachen Lacquer Shield Owl Pigeon: Breed Guide
Aachen Lacquer Shield Owl is a magnificent pigeon breed that originated from Germany.
Shield-type marking on their wings, and sometimes on their head, makes these pigeons look spectacular, which is why they are widely used for ornamental purposes.
Their short beak and crest around the neck make them very adorable.
If you’re really attracted by the Aachen Lacquer Shield Owl pigeon and want to know more about its behavior, housing, feeding, and breeding requirements, this guide is for you.
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Aachen Lacquer Shield Owl Pigeon Profile
| Name | Aachen Lacquer Shield Owl pigeon |
|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Columba Livia |
| Common Names | Aachener Lackschildmovechen, Aachen Luster Shield, Aachen Shield Owl Pigeon, Aachen Owl, Aachen Shield, Lackschild Owl, Turbit, Aix-la-Chapelle Frill with lacquer shield |
| Origin | Germany |
| Size | Length: 28 – 33 cm |
| Wingspan | 58- 67 cm |
| Weight | 250 – 450 grams |
| Color | Yellow, Black, and Red |
| Lifespan | 7 – 10 years |
| Physical Features | Physical Features Short beaks, featherless legs, round shaped body |
| Temperament | Good |
| Behavior | Calm and well-behaved |
| Special Features | Flies very high and long distances Looks very attractive Can tolerate all climates |
| Breeding Maintenance | Very easy to breed and maintain |
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Overview
The Aachen lacquer shield owl pigeon is a pretty fancy domesticated pigeon breed. This breed is also called Aachener Lackschildmovchen.
These birds are very beautiful and are well known for the shield-like markings on their wings. They are often used as show birds and ornamental birds due to their attractive appearance. And they can also be kept as pets since they behave very well.
Currently, it is widely common in Germany but is rare in the United States and nearby areas.
The History and Origin of Aachen Lacquer Shield Owl Pigeons
You’ve got an overview, now let’s delve into the history and origins of Aachen Lacquer Shield Owl Pigeons. It’s believed that this pigeon breed is relatively old, existing before 1765.
Aachener Lackschildmovchen was developed in Germany. It was named after the Aachen city where it was developed.
And it took many years of selective breeding to come to this beautiful pigeon breed. This pigeon was first displayed on a pigeon show in 1894.
In this pigeon’s selective breeding, the breeder starts off by choosing pigeons that consist of the desired traits. Breeders crossed a number of different pigeon breeds like owl pigeon, movchen pigeon, and shield pigeon.
The goal was to come up with a pigeon breed that has an attractive shield marking on the top of their wings.
As mentioned before, the breeder has to keep breeding for years until they reach a point where the pigeon breed comes up with shield markings.
Physical Characteristics and Features
Well, now let’s dive into the physical characteristics and features of this attractive pigeon breed.
Appearance
The Aachen Luster shield pigeon appears to be very attractive and distinctive. What makes them stand out from others is the beautiful shield marking on their wings.
Apart from that, they have lustrous feathers that are shiny, unique, and eye-catchy. Not to forget, some of these pigeons have crests on their heads as well.
Size and Body Structure
These pigeons are small in size and come with a rounded body and head. Their beaks are shorter than most other pigeon breeds, plus they also have smaller neck frills than others. On average, these pigeons grow between 10 to 12 inches in height.
Weight
The average weight of Aachen Lacquer Shield Owl pigeons is between 250 – 450 grams. But most of them seem to weigh over 300 grams.
Unique Features
This pigeon breed definitely comes with a bunch of features that make it stand out from other breeds. The most unique one is the shield-shaped markings on their wings, chest, and sometimes on their head.
Their beak is short, which makes them look very adorable and the rounded tail enhances the appearance.
Color Variations
Aachen Lacquer Shield Owl pigeons come in different color variations, such as black, red, and yellow. Apart from these, some pigeons have silver, chocolate, pied, and blue color too.
Distribution and Habitat of Aachen Lacquer Shield Owl Pigeons
Let us walk you through where these pigeons live in different areas, whether they migrate or not and how safe they are in the open.
Geographic Distribution
The Aachen Lacquer Shield Owl pigeon is a domesticated breed and doesn’t have a wild habitat. Even though it has been sent to different regions, it seems to be more in its origin, which is Germany. And it’s rare in the United States and nearby areas.
Habitat Preference
Pigeons are originally cliff-dwelling birds, and the Aachen lacquer shield owl pigeon is no different. They live on cliffs, coaster areas, trees and as well as in buildings, bridges, etc.
And they are not wild birds, therefore, they can be kept in different types of housing, it’s obviously best if they have a big and open space to live in. But they can live in lofts and indoor cages too.
Urban and Rural Habitats
In urban areas, all pigeons often inhabit bridges, ledges, buildings, billboards, and other human-made structures. Pigeons usually never lack food in urban areas since people willingly give food.
On the other hand, in rural areas, pigeons inhabit cliffs, outcrops, trees, etc. Food sources are not as available as in urban areas, and also not as safe.
Migration and Seasonal Movements
Aachen lacquer shield owl pigeons are sedentary, meaning they usually don’t undertake long-distance migration. They seem to establish and maintain territories in their nesting sites or near the site.
All pigeons are pretty loyal to their nesting site, but still, environmental conditions might cause them to make seasonal movements.
Threats and Conservation Status
In urban areas, all pigeons are safe, the city lights traffic noise keep bird predators away. That being said, the scene in rural areas is worse. Hawks, snakes, raccoons, foxes, etc. are the biggest threat to all pigeons.
However, according to the International Union for Conservation of Nature, the conservation status of pigeons is considered to be of least concern.
Behavior and Traits of Aachen Lacquer Shield Owl
Different pigeon breeds behave differently, let’s have a look at how the Aachen Lacquer Shield Owl pigeon behaves.
Common Personality Traits
This breed of pigeon is pretty well known for being very good-natured and easy to handle. They are very gentle compared to other pigeon breeds this one is quiet, and they enjoy being around people. Plus, this pigeon is pretty intelligent too.
Difference Between Wild and Domesticated Pigeons
Domestic pigeons are selectively bred for homing, racing, and ornamental purposes, whereas wild pigeons aren’t bred for any specific purpose, they’re naturally there.
Wild pigeons behave differently, they are sometimes aggressive too around humans. On the other hand, domestic pigeons are pretty cool around people and are very friendly as well.
Diet
Aachen lacquer shield owl pigeon eats what most other domestic pigeons eat. Their diet mainly includes seeds and grains. However, in urban areas they are also pretty comfortable eating berries, vegetables, fruits, bread, buns, chips, etc.
Temperament
Aachen Lacquer Shield Owl pigeons are very calm and well-behaved. They’re not at all aggressive and can be trained with treats.
Flight
We’ve taken you through most traits of this breed, you must be wondering what about the flight, ain’t that right?
Well, this pigeon can fly at a high speed for long distances.
Plus, it can also quickly maneuver, and it looks very smooth. The upstroke is strong and the downstroke is smooth. Overall, their flight is elegant.
Nesting, Breeding and Courtship
Usually, the female pigeon builds the nest using grass, sticks, and other soft items. The nest is typically made in a sheltered location. And the breeding season starts in the spring and ends in fall.
The female lays eggs and incubates within a period of 18 – 22 days. And the male bobbs and coos the head to court the female, if the female is impressed, she allows him to mount.
Lifespan
On average, this breed of pigeon lives between 7 – 10 years if it’s properly taken care of. However, some of them even live up to 15 years, though that’s rare.
Homing Instinct
Like most other domestic pigeons, if this breed is also well-trained to get home, they will fly long distances to come home. However, it takes a lot of patience to train them.
Breeding And Maintenance
It’s undeniable that if you want to breed pigeons, you should have good knowledge about their feeding, housing, breeding, and other requirements. And in this very section, we’ll delve into that.
Information About Raising and Breeding
Anyone who’s interested in petting this pigeon breed will definitely be interested in knowing information about raising and breeding this pigeon, right?
Here it is.
One thing that everyone loves about this breed is it is very low maintenance and is pretty easy to breed. As long as you provide a well-ventilated, roomy cage, feed a good quality diet, and provide pure fresh water, pigeons should grow properly.
On the other hand, to breed this pigeon, you’ll have to pair it with another healthy pigeon. Provide privacy, make it easy for them to make a nest and just keep monitoring. That’s all.
Tips and Considerations for Successful Breeding
Make sure to pair the pigeon with another disease-free pigeon and also ensure they have reached the right age for breeding. Usually, after 5 months, the pigeon gets ready to breed.
Diet plays a crucial role in whether the pigeons will be able to produce properly or not. Try your best to provide a clean and healthy environment so that chicks don’t get ill.
Closely monitor the chicks to see if they are doing good or not. Don’t forget to give them a balanced diet, if you feel like they’re not eating enough food, you might even need to hand-feed them (usually not necessary when the parents are there).
Feeding and Housing Requirements
If you’re interested in petting Aachen Lacquer Shield Owl pigeons, don’t you think it’s mandatory that you know about their feeding and housing requirements?
Well, it is very important, otherwise, you’ll be risking their lives.
As said earlier, their diet should be properly balanced, it should include all the nutritional needs. Typically, grains, pellets, seeds, and vegetables do fulfill their nutritional requirements.
Sometimes, mineral grit or crushed oyster shells should be fed since they play a significant role in bone growth.
Moving on to housing. The house should be well-ventilated and roomy. Plus, it should be completely safe from predators.
It’d be best if sunlight is allowed to enter the house. The area should be clean and you should inspect it from time to time for bugs and parasites.
Conclusion
If you’re really interested in petting calm, beautiful, and rare pigeon breeds, the Aachen Lacquer Shield Owl pigeon is what you should start with. Though it’s available in Germany, it’s rare in the United States or other nearby countries.
Just be careful with the housing, food and drink and make sure they’re safe from predators, that’s enough for them to grow properly.
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