Previously, when digital technology did not exist, people transmitted their messages by carrier pigeons. Birds were trained, trained. Pigeons are very capable birds, so they can be quickly trained. Further more in detail about these "postmen".
Historical data on carrier pigeons
For the first time, birds were mentioned in 45 BC. Then they were used to deliver correspondence from the besieged city of Modena. Already in the 12th century, pigeon mail became more popular in Egypt.
Residents of England, France and Belgium were able to make a great contribution to improving the postal characteristics. The beginning was laid by Antwerp and Lutih pigeons. So the subsequent breeds of pigeons appeared.
The first European carrier pigeon competition was held at the beginning of the 19th century. In Russia, pigeon sport was formed at the end of the 19th century, but did not become popular. The birds were especially in demand during the Great Patriotic War. Then for the pigeons came a time of silence.
Only in the 70s of the 20th century the population of postman doves began to increase. There were those who believed in the future of these birds. They began to conduct breeding work on the basis of old and foreign breeds. And they did it - birds became popular all over the world.
To develop endurance in birds, competition is required between them. Such events are complicated by flying over inaccessible places or releasing birds in bad weather.
There are cases when pigeons-postmen traveled more than 1000 kilometers, while their speed reached about 100 kilometers per hour. This sport in 1950-1960 allowed to breed a new breed of Russian sports pigeon - white Ostankinsky.
Breeds of carrier pigeons
Today there are several varieties of carrier pigeons, differing in external characteristics, speed and other indicators.
Russian
Russian pigeons have an elegant head shape and a pointed beak. They predominate with wings, which have bent tips, which is why they are tightly pressed against the body. A distinctive feature is well-developed muscles.
The birds have long legs, no plumage. The iris is red-orange with light rims. Usually, Russian carrier pigeons have white plumage, but sometimes there are specimens with a motley color.
German
Breeders for breeding used pigeons of the English and Dutch breeds. The main goal was the creation of a new breed, which will dominate by high speed, attractive exterior, rapid growth. As a result, it was possible to get a feathery small size.
The bird has a shortened strong beak and a long neck. The tail of the "German" is also a shortened type. The bird does not have characteristic plumage, it can be the most diverse.
English
The ancestors of the English carrier pigeons were the Careers, which were used in the eastern countries and Egypt. In the 14th century, birds were introduced to Europe, where breeders managed to improve not only excellent flight performance, but also attractive external characteristics.
Modern Careers have a small head in relation to a large body. The bird has a thick, straight, long beak with growths that look like warts. A distinctive feature - large brown eyes, barely visible eyelids. There are English pigeons with white, black, gray, motley, chestnut, yellow hard plumage.
Belgian
Belgian carrier pigeons are the standard of modern sporting breeds. The bird was bred a long time ago, but they were engaged in its improvement in the century before last. This species has rounded body shapes, the breast is well developed - it is wide and muscular.
Birds are characterized by an elongated neck, short legs, a rounded head. The animal has brown eyes with bright eyelids. A distinctive feature is the shortened plumage on the tail and wings, tightly pressed to the body. The color of the pigeons is the most diverse.
Dragons
Doves Dragons are considered one of the oldest breeds. A distinctive feature of birds is not only excellent speed, but also spatial orientation. Animals have a small and dense body. On the short neck is a large head, widened at the base. On the muzzle are large red-orange eyes and an elongated, closed, with outgrowths at the base of the beak.
The Dragon has a rounded, slightly raised breast, long wings reaching with tips to the tail. There are white, black Dragons. There are gray and motley birds. This breed is unpretentious in content, retaining activity at any age.
Czech
Czech carrier pigeons are sporting birds characterized by physical strength and good health. They are valued for their loyalty to their owner, the possibility of domestication and mental abilities - they are easy to train. That is, it is very simple to work with them.
The breed is considered popular especially when used in competitions. Pigeons are capable of showing good flying qualities at short distances.
Chekhov has a smooth, dense plumage of a light shade. The case is well folded, set horizontally. Czech pigeons have a small head, flattened on both sides, the forehead is wide. The head is located on an elongated neck extended at the shoulders. The beak is small, narrow, sharp. The birds have a narrow tail, which is almost completely covered by strong, long wings.
The principle of "work" pigeon mail and their orientation in space
Due to the fact that the pigeon returns home as soon as possible, the pigeon mail works flawlessly. This is the essence of the "work" of birds. Pigeons have the ability to navigate perfectly in space without making mistakes. They can navigate in a strange place and find their way home.
Not so long ago, scientists could not understand how the mechanism of orientation in space of pigeons works. But recently, they were able to find out this moment. It’s just that the bird has a special protein called cryptochrome in its eyes, which under the influence of a magnetic field passes from one reversible state to another. So the bird’s brain captures such changes in the protein that happened in just one cell of the eye, and adjusts the direction of flight. Most likely, the same process contributes to a clear orientation at long distances to other animals, such as turtles, butterflies, fish.
Conditions for postman doves
Carrier pigeons need good maintenance. They need cleanliness, warmth and a room from which they can constantly fly out. Aviary must meet certain conditions:
- Location Most experienced breeders recommend building a dovecote, preferably in the attic. If the plans are to build a separate dovecote, then it is better to place it away from cesspools, farms, power lines. The building is being built on the south side.
- Dimensions 2 pigeons have a minimum of 0.5 square meters of area. The height of the room should be no more than 2 meters. If there are a lot of birds, then it is required to divide the dovecote into sections, placing 15 pairs of birds in each.
- Ventilation and lighting. The installation of double doors will provide better ventilation when both the grill and the main door are available. It is important that there is a range hood in the room. Daylight hours for pigeons should be at least 12 hours. If necessary, use additional artificial lighting - this applies to the winter period.
- Heating. Usually there is no need to heat an aviary. But the temperature in the house in winter should not be lower than 5-10 degrees Celsius. It is recommended to insulate the dovecote, lay litter of hay, small branches, sawdust, straw, feathers on the floor and in the nests. A layer of tobacco leaf or wood ash laid under the litter will help prevent infectious diseases.
But overheating is also dangerous for birds, because in the summer period in the house there should be no more than 20 degrees of heat.
- Feeding troughs and drinking bowls. It is more convenient for birds to eat from wooden feeders made in the form of boxes. They are automatic. The size of the feeders should be based on the fact that 1 cm of pigeon has 7 cm of space. Animals need to ensure constant access to clean water.
- Perches and nests. It is required to install poles on the wall in a horizontal position, at a distance of 80 cm from the floor and ceiling. The dimensions of the nest are usually such - 80x40x30 cm.
Be sure to install the “acceptance point” in the dovecote - a product that resembles a cage. It is used during training and competitions to inspect pigeons.
How to feed such birds?
Due to the fact that carrier pigeons are forced to fly very long distances and constantly train, they need special nutrition. About 400 grams of feed per week is spent on one individual. Abundant nutrition contributes to several times the weight of the bird. The mass of one pigeon can reach up to 800 grams.
Sports pigeons are fed three times a day, observing the diet. Serving size should always be the same, approximately 20 grams at a time. Pigeons are fed in the morning, at lunch and in the evening after sunset, but before dark.
The nutritional value of food should always be the same. The season does not affect this in any way - both in winter and in summer, pigeons need food to gain weight and strength. It is best to feed the birds with lentils, peas and vetch. Occasionally, sand, calcium and lime must be added to the diet of birds. There will be no excess salt added to the feed.
To diversify the diet, it is allowed to feed the birds with the following ingredients:
- bran;
- flax;
- boiled potatoes;
- rapeseed.
Additionally, drinkers with clean drinking water should be in the room, which are changed every day.
Training
In the cultivation of carrier pigeons, an important role is played by training. Without it, they will not be able to get into sports competitions, which will lead not only to lower costs in the market, but also meaningless breeding that does not give benefits.
Training pigeons begin when the birds reach the age of one and a half months. To begin with, they are only allowed to circle over the dovecote. After learning this lesson, after 6 weeks they begin to be taken away not far from home. It is also permissible to start training the birds that have lived in the new house for at least three days.
First, the birds are trained in warm, sunny weather. It is best to start training from the second half of April until mid-October. To begin with, pigeons are taken to a distance of 20-30 kilometers from the house, then increased. It is advisable to release birds early in the morning, but no later than noon. In the first year, pigeons must learn to cover distances of up to 320 kilometers.
Before transporting pigeons, they must be tamed well so that they independently go into their hands, and are not afraid of moving into cages. Birds are particularly malleable at night, and for this reason it is recommended that they be taken from the house before dawn. Future postmen are transported quickly - this minimizes the time spent in the cell. Birds are released in open areas, as pigeons can lose their orientation in a valley or forest at the beginning of training.
After a couple of years, they receive fully trained carrier pigeons. During this period, they manage to learn to develop their speed to the maximum, find the way home from a distance of about 1 thousand kilometers. 3-4 years is the age when birds are allowed to compete. During his life, one carrier pigeon flies hundreds of thousands of kilometers, overcoming complex obstacles in its path.
Breeding and rearing
In the dovecot, chicks are populated with an age of 1-1.5 months. At this age, youngsters show the ability to understand for themselves where the house is, that is, they quickly become attached to the place where they live. The flock should be equally equally divided between females and males. Sexual maturity in birds occurs at 5 months. It is advisable to choose pairs that are fully consistent with breed standards. Pairs of pigeons settle in a spacious closed box for a couple of days. It will be possible to determine that the pair has developed by the fact that after leaving the box, the birds stick together.
The female begins to lay eggs 2 weeks after mating. Usually 1-3 eggs are obtained in one clutch. Both parents take turns hatching eggs. At this stage, it will be necessary to determine the fertilized eggs: first, all eggs have a translucent shell, but over time it becomes white and milk and darkens over time. Eggs that are not fertilized remain translucent, and their surface becomes rough.
Chicks are born on 16-19 days after masonry. Kids do not see anything, their bodies are covered with liquid fluff. Parents feed them milk formed in goiter for several weeks. Next, the chicks are fed porridge from the secret and semi-digested grains.
When the birds turn 1 month old, they are fed with swollen grains. At the age of 1.5 months, young growth begins to eat adult food. It is advisable that the couple feed one chick. To do this, it is permissible to throw the remaining chicks to a pair that does not have their own chicks.
Advantages and disadvantages of carrier pigeons
Pochtari have positive and negative qualities. You need to know them before you start breeding carrier pigeons:
- It is unacceptable to breed birds in the mountains due to the fact that the terrain is able to lead them astray. This can lead to the fact that the bird simply gets lost in the mountains, cannot return home - the course is lost.
- Feathered birds may go astray, get lost, or return home if it rains heavily or a gusty wind interferes with moving toward the goal.
- In winter, sports pigeons weaken, losing their speed. Only in the warmer months can they recover quickly and complete tasks.
Modern mail
Today, there are many modern means of communication. People are used to talking on the phone, chatting online, sending packages via airmail. Probably, pigeon mail for people accustomed to such technologies is something from the world of science fiction.
But some do not want to part with carrier pigeons, considering this type of mail - a tradition that has existed since ancient times. One of these traditions has existed since ancient times. The ancient Greeks sent carrier pigeons to large cities - this was a notice that the Olympians had won. In 1996, Slovakia sent out "postmen" in honor of the Olympics, which took place in Atlanta. Birds were equipped with commemorative stamps.
In New Zealand, it is customary to arrange pigeon flights on the same route each year - between Auckland and the islands of the Barrier Reef. Pigeon Olympiads are also often held, where they then choose the best of the best, focusing on the appearance of the bird, as well as the ability to navigate in the area, develop their speed to the maximum rate.
Despite the fact that today many have not heard of carrier pigeons, those who grew up at a time when these birds were the messengers of important news pass on their knowledge to children. Thus, ancient traditions are observed. Breeding pigeons can become a profitable business, because often trained birds are used at weddings, anniversaries, and other events.
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Ukraine. City: Kryvyi Rih
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