Meat pigeons are rather large birds, the average weight of which exceeds half a kilogram, and they are bred to obtain meat products. In Russia, few poultry lovers are engaged in breeding meat pigeons, while in other countries, birds are grown on an industrial scale by large farms.
In order to acquire the most productive individuals, it is important to familiarize yourself with the popular breeds for home breeding, as well as to have an idea of how to keep pigeons not for decorative or sporting purposes, but for birds to gain meat mass. We will talk about this below.
Specialists in breeding meat pigeons have more than fifty different species and breeds. Such individuals differ in the degree of fertility, weight and other characteristics. Let's get to know them in more detail.
Giant breeds
These are not purely meat pigeons, but rather large birds that, due to their massive build, cannot take off. Most often, their weight is more than 500 grams. The most famous representatives of this group are kings and Roman giants.
king
Birds of this breed were bred by American breeders back in the 90s of the 19th century. Feathers have unique breed characteristics:
- stretched legs;
- compact body;
- protruding sternum;
- raised short tail.
There are individuals with a different color of the pen, including: red, light brown, black. However, birds with white plumage are of great value. The average weight of pigeons is 550-900 g. Males usually have a more massive physique.
Pigeons of this breed have a well-developed parental instinct, they independently incubate eggs in nests. For twelve months, a couple brings up to 15 pigeons, which is very beneficial for breeding.
Carnot
They were bred in France in those years when the active mechanization of poultry farming began. Pigeons have the following breed characteristics:
- miniature head;
- the neck is tight;
- the chest bulges noticeably;
- the beak is elongated;
- the tail is shortened;
- wings are small;
- there are no feathers on the legs.
The mass of such pigeons does not exceed 600 grams, but the exact weight depends on gender: usually males are larger.
You can meet pigeons with different plumage: black, snow-white, yellow. They hatch eggs on their own, bring up to 15 chicks per year.
texans
A highly productive breed of pigeons was bred in the 50s of the last century. The average body weight of individuals leaves about 700-900 grams. The main feature of pigeons are noticeable sexual characteristics. You can distinguish a female from a male immediately after they hatch - the male has a shorter beak and sparse fluff throughout the body (sometimes completely absent), females have a long, yellow fluff, a developed beak with a characteristic dark mark.
Differences in appearance are also observed between adult birds. The plumage of males is snow-white, but only the neck and sternum are yellow, light brown or brown. The females are darker, their wings come in various shades of brown, and their breasts are a silvery blue.
Birds are distinguished by a calm character, they grow quickly and gain weight. In twelve months, about 12 pigeons are brought.
Roman giants
Birds have a fairly large weight - about one and a half kilograms. Giants never take off because of their mass. There is a huge variety of colors of such birds: blue, gray, snow-white, black, red.
For birds, an aviary with a low ceiling is required, but at the same time quite spacious nests. Since birds are not highly mobile, they tend to gain excess mass. But at the same time, giants have very good health, rarely get sick and become infected with infections. They will have to be protected only from external enemies, because they are overly trusting, they easily make contact.
chicken pigeons
According to external characteristics, such birds resemble chickens - they have a rather large body, elongated legs. The most famous representatives are pigeons of the Modena breed.
Modena
The breed was bred by breeders from Italy. Individuals have dense multi-colored plumage. However, most often there are birds with a blue feather color.
Breed characteristics of pigeons:
- medium-sized head;
- curved neck;
- massive chest;
- the tail is lifted up.
The average body weight of such pigeons is from 700 grams to one kilogram. The yield of finished meat products is more than 58%, since most of the carcass is considered edible.
Modena birds are used by breeders to breed other breeds with high productivity, because they are distinguished by good health and innate immunity to many bird diseases.
Such pigeons belong to the type of ordinary decorative pigeons, however, they have a rather impressive body weight - about 750 grams. Therefore, they are grown for the purpose of obtaining meat, but the meat products of such breeds are significantly inferior in taste to chicken breeds and giants.
Strassers
These pigeons have a massive build, large head and protruding chest. There are individuals of various colors, including black, white, gray. Strassers have no feathers on their legs - this is a breed feature of birds.
Pigeons are distinguished by a restless character, so conflicts often occur between them. Some poultry farmers breed them only as decorative individuals. For a year from one pair you can get up to 15 chicks.
Conditions for keeping pigeons
Some poultry farmers prefer to keep birds in attics or in small sheds, and sometimes they build a separate poultry house for individuals. But it is worth considering that the room with pigeons should be under a canopy to protect birds from drafts, direct sunlight and precipitation. It will be necessary to provide for normal ventilation and a heating system in the house.
For a comfortable keeping of meat individuals, it is necessary to equip a dovecote in accordance with the following requirements:
- install windows facing south;
- place nests at a small distance from the floor, because it is rather difficult for large birds to take off;
- near each nest, make a kind of bridge path along which pigeons can climb;
- lay a flooring of straw and sawdust on the floor (periodically disinfect it or replace it);
- equip the room with automatic drinkers and feeders.
Important point! The air temperature in the poultry house should never fall below 0 degrees.
It is necessary to provide artificial daylight hours for birds for at least 15 hours. It is important that the rays of the sun fall into the dovecote, however, if there are no large windows in the room, then special lamps will have to be installed.
It is advisable to build an aviary for walking birds in the summer - fresh air has a beneficial effect on their condition. In the warm season, pigeons love to swim, so small containers with warm water are installed in the aviary or on the walking platform.
Despite the fact that individuals have strong immunity, it is recommended to vaccinate birds twice in 12 months. It is better not to vaccinate yourself - in the absence of experience, it is advisable to use the services of a veterinarian.
Table 1. How to give an injection to a bird: step by step instructions
| Illustration | Description |
|---|---|
 | Step one: the vaccine or medicine is drawn into an insulin syringe with a thin needle. Air is released from the syringe. |
 | Step two: the pigeon is carefully fixed in the hand, turned over on its back - upside down (it is better to wear a thick glove so that the bird does not hurt with its beak or claws). |
 | Step three: the injection is placed to the left or right of the sternum, slightly receding from it. |
Important point! It is possible to give injections to birds only if there is appropriate practice. It is better to entrust this matter to a veterinarian or ornithologist.
pigeon feeding
In order to grow healthy individuals, you will need to follow the right diet. When feeding pigeons, various products are used, which are presented in the table.
Table 2. Menu of pigeons of meat breeds
In addition to the classic food, special additives should also be present in the diet of individuals:
- limestone;
- sand;
- charcoal;
- grated eggshell;
- clay.
The average rate of consumption of feed mixtures for each bird is 50-52 grams per day. At the same time, all food must be fresh, it is forbidden to give the birds spoiled food waste, grain with signs of mold.
Birds need to change the water in their drinkers daily. It is desirable that it be at room temperature or slightly warmer. Drinking bowls are placed at some distance from the floor - this is done so that small debris and bird droppings do not get into the water.
Breeding
For breeding birds, you will need to leave the same number of female and male individuals in one aviary - pigeons choose their own mate on their own. The mating process occurs naturally. But some poultry farmers prefer to forcibly select pairs according to breed characteristics - in this case, individuals are temporarily placed in a separate poultry house.
Puberty in individuals begins at 7-8 months. However, high fertility should be expected only after a year. Under natural conditions, pigeons make 2-3 clutches in 12 months, however, with good care, females lay eggs 5-6 times a year. You can make sure that mating has taken place by the characteristic behavior of pigeons. Usually, the female and the male sit side by side, they can touch each other's feathers with their beak.
Often the female will lay her eggs two weeks after mating. You can make sure that there is an embryo in each egg using a special device called an ovoscope. However, this should be done very carefully so as not to violate the integrity of the shell. Another clear sign of fertilized eggs is the characteristic gray color of the shell, which appears a week after the appearance of the clutch.
The process of incubation of eggs takes from 16 days to one month - it depends on the breed of pigeons. Chicks are born rather weak, need parental care, during the first thirty days they feed on a dairy product from the female's crop.
Video - Breeding meat pigeons
pigeon rearing techniques
Each poultry breeder independently chooses the method of raising birds. First of all, it depends on the purpose of keeping the dovecote.
Extensive
Requires minimal effort on the part of the poultry breeder. Individuals are fed once, and pigeons get the rest of the food without human help. It is logical that birds should be able to go outside.
However, this method has a large number of negative sides. So, while searching for food, domestic pigeons can come into contact with other wild individuals that are carriers of infections. In addition, birds can become victims of various predatory animals, because large meat birds do not fly long distances and cannot hide from the offender.
Intensive
This method involves enhanced feeding - above the norm. It is used in cases where it is required to achieve a large mass gain in a short period. For intensive maintenance, you need to choose pigeons of giant breeds - they are the ones who will be distinguished by a rapid increase in weight.
For intensive fattening, young animals are chosen about 2-3 weeks old. Such birds are kept in a dark and cramped room, force-fed 4-5 times a day using a special syringe. Usually the volume of a single serving is about 25 grams. Thanks to this method, in 14 days, young animals gain a body weight of about 750-800 grams.
Slaughter of birds for meat
Usually individuals are sent for slaughter at the age of 27 - 36 days, during this period most of the birds already have an optimal weight. It is not recommended to grow them for too long, otherwise it will lead to a loss in the value of finished meat products - gourmets prefer the tender meat of young animals.
Some farm owners start feeding caraway seeds and dill seven days before the intended slaughter. Such nutrition affects the taste and aroma of meat, it becomes like game.
Business costs
The main expenses are the purchase of cages, feed and other equipment for keeping birds. On average, you will have to spend about 180 thousand rubles to buy twenty thoroughbred pigeons and equipment. However, if there is a consumer of meat products, the farm pays for itself for short juices.
What is useful pigeon meat?
Pigeon meat is valued in many countries of the world. In terms of its dietary qualities, it is several times better than chicken products, and it contains a large amount of protein and there is practically no fat layer on the carcass.
In addition to special connoisseurs of pigeon meat, the product is recommended for people with the following diseases:
- thrombophlebitis;
- heart pathology;
- digestive problems.
Also, doctors recommend introducing such meat into the diet in the presence of weak immunity, because it has a healing effect - it helps to strengthen health and the body's resistance to many diseases. However, the product should be used with extreme caution in people with diabetes.
Summing up
Pigeon breeding is an excellent opportunity to earn additional income and provide yourself with delicious meat. Subject to the conditions of detention, individuals grow rapidly and do not cause any particular problems to the breeder. Meat pigeons can be kept on the farm as a source of exotic meat for connoisseurs.
Video - Pigeons King
Since ancient times, people have tamed and domesticated the dove not only to use it as a means of communication. Not many people know, but at first pigeons were bred exclusively for tasty and dietary meat. The best breeds of meat pigeons should be hardy, early maturing, capable of fast fattening, and also have good fertility. There are about forty meat pigeon breeds. But only a few meet all these requirements.
Strasser
Strasser pigeons are the best meat breed. The progenitors of this breed are pigeons of Czech, Austrian and German domestic breeds. Main advantages: decorative, high live weight, excellent meat qualities, excellent fertility (up to seven broods per year). The body of the Strasser is squat, the chest is rounded, wide. The neck is long, the size of the tail and wings is medium, the legs are short, without feathers. The upper part of the body, as well as the tail, are painted in black, gray, fawn, and the lower part is white. The live weight of males is 600-800 g, females - 500-600 g. The breed is characterized by good precocity: the live weight of one-month-old chicks is 600-650 g. The disadvantages of the Strasser include fearfulness, pugnacity. Also, representatives of this meat breed of pigeons do not fly well.
king
Meat pigeons of the King breed were created in the USA in 1890 after a long selection. The main differences of this meat breed from others are unusually long, widely spaced legs, a large body, raised deep chest, shortened raised tail. 
The appearance of the king resembles the exterior of a chicken, so the breed belongs to the chicken pigeons. The plumage color is very different: red, black, gray, beige, yellow. But birds with snow-white plumage are of particular value. The live weight of adult males is 800-900 g, females - 500-700 g. Some males can surprise with record live weights and weigh more than one kilogram. The mass of pigeons of one month old is 650 g. Meat pigeons kings are caring parents, so the pigeons hatch and feed well, for a year you can get about 7 broods. 
texans
Texan pigeons - this breed has a special productivity. Pigeons were bred in Texas in the 50s of the twentieth century. Live weight can reach 900 grams. A noticeable difference between this meat breed and others is well-developed secondary sexual characteristics. Moreover, you can determine the sex of pigeons immediately after they are born. Males have a light beak, a short fluff (or it is completely absent); females have long yellow down, and a brownish spot forms on the beak.
The secret of successful breeding meat pigeons lies not only in the selection of the best breed, preparation and physical condition of the birds for the start of breeding. The main thing in this case is the conditions of detention.
The exterior of adult birds also differs: the color of males is white, only the neck, and also the chest is sometimes slightly brown or yellow. If the plumage is completely white, then the neck and chest are decorated with colored dots. The color of the females is darker: the color of the wings can be beige, brown, the chest is gray or blue.
The main advantages of these meat pigeons are fast fattening and growth, calm disposition, as well as unusually high fertility (one pair breeds up to 16 chicks).
Roman giants
Roman giants - these birds are bred in Italy. The plumage color is different - it can be ash-blue, red, black, fawn with brown bloom and white. Roman giants have a large, oblong and strong body. The length of these meat pigeons from the beak to the tip of the tail is more than half a meter. Birds fly badly. But this is not strange with a live weight of 1.3-1.4 kg. Therefore, if you decide to acquire this meat breed, then keep in mind that the dovecote should not be higher than 2 m from the ground. But the nests need to be made larger - 30x30x10cm.
Fertility is low, because the birds are inactive, and also prone to obesity. But these meat pigeons also have some positive qualities: gullibility, as well as resistance to various diseases.
Carnot
Carnot meat pigeons were bred by French breeders at a time when birds were kept in aviaries and mechanization processes began to be actively used in pigeon breeding. 
Exterior signs of Carnot demonstrate that this meat breed is only an aviary bird and cannot forage. The live weight of these meat pigeons does not exceed 650 g, but the birds occupy leading positions in terms of productivity and precocity. You cannot call this bird decorative: the chest is too convex, the thickness of the neck is disproportionate to a very small head. Birds have a long, pink and curved beak, a short tail and poorly developed wings. Plumage color can be of different colors: black, white and yellow. Legs without feathers.
Features of growing for meat
You can breed meat pigeons in the attic, as well as in well-equipped pigeon nurseries. There are no strict requirements for their design and dimensions, but still some rules must be observed. It is important that windows and enclosures are placed to the south. If the temperature in the aviary drops below zero during the winter, then this will adversely affect the health of the birds. It will be great if you equip the dovecote with ventilation, as well as electric lighting.
As for the nests themselves, it is best to make them removable, since such designs are easy to clean. Keep in mind that meat pigeons usually do not fly well, so nests should not be at high altitude. 
Optimum illumination of the room should be achieved by the presence of a large number of windows (a tenth of the total area). When designing a dovecote, it must be taken into account that one square meter of floor should be allocated for three pairs of adult pigeons. Caring for pigeons is simple, but it is important to keep the nests clean. Therefore, it is necessary to lay a litter. To do this, you need shavings, sawdust, straw. As soon as it gets dirty, it should be changed. Do not forget about cleaning and disinfecting the dovecote. It should be carried out 2 times a year: in spring and autumn.
Usually there are no questions about nutrition. But still, there are some features of feeding pigeons for meat that should be considered. Birds should eat cereals: corn, wheat, barley, as well as sunflower seeds, oatmeal, hemp. Rye, lupine, oats are cereals that cannot be fed to pigeons, because this will adversely affect the health of birds. Remember that pigeons choose their own food, they are rich in exactly those substances that birds need the most. Therefore, you must give them the opportunity to take part in the selection of cereals.
An adult pigeon should consume about 50 g of grain mixture per day. The diet of birds also depends on the time of year. In spring and summer, give the birds greens, in autumn and winter - sprouted grain.
Protein promotes rapid growth, so it must be present in the daily diet of birds. Peas, as well as vetch, fill the need of birds for protein of plant origin. 
A balanced diet also implies the presence of minerals in the diet. Therefore, feed the birds with crushed slaked lime, crushed shells or egg shells, clay.
Don't forget about water too. All the most important processes that are associated with the digestion of food, as well as the metabolism of a bird, occur in the body only due to the presence of a sufficient amount of water. It makes up more than half of the body weight. Therefore, if the bird is several hours without water, especially in hot summer time, this will lead to undesirable consequences: thirst will appear, and the growth of the chicks will slow down.
Remember that a pigeon can live up to two weeks without food, but without water it will die in a few days.
Breeding meat pigeons is easy and healthy. After all, you can always serve excellent dietary meat to the family table, and at any time you can pamper your household with healthy and hearty soups and broths. At the same time, you need to acquire five pairs of pigeons, and each will give about ten chicks a year. Thus, you can get up to twenty kilograms of excellent meat without much money and time.
Video “Pigeon Breeding”
A video about how to start breeding pigeons correctly, what a beginner needs to pay attention to and how to care for these birds.
However, these birds produce delicious, tender meat that is superior in protein to other poultry.
It has an unusual taste that resembles the taste of game, and is considered a delicacy.
The breed was formed in the 19th century, its homeland is the province of Mahrischer Strasser, which gave the name to these birds. External features of the strainers:
- large head with a convex wide forehead;
- medium length slightly curved neck;
- strong beak of medium size with a small cere;
- massive and large body about 40 cm long;
- wide straight back;
- wide wings of medium length;
- strong, widely spaced paws of bright scarlet color;
- narrow tail of medium size.
One of the features of the breed is a remarkable coloring: the thighs, lower body and neck of the Strasser are white, and the rest of the parts are colored.
Coloring can be different - blue, yellow, red, black.
The maximum weight of males of the Strasser breed is 1.2 kg, and of females - 800 g. By the age of 30 days, the chicks of these pigeons reach masses 600-700 g. In one season, a pair of strassers brings up to 12 pigeons, from which you can get up to 7 kg of meat.
king
This meat breed was bred in the USA by California poultry farmers. In the course of selection, Roman, Maltese and the purpose was to obtain a large pigeon, which grows rapidly and is highly prolific. The breed was formed at the end of the XIX century, its standard was first drawn up in 1921.
Features of the appearance of representatives of the king breed:
- these pigeons have powerful bodies and large heads;
- the neck is thick, it is located almost vertically;
- the beak is medium in size, strong and powerful;
- these birds have a wide voluminous chest, which protrudes forward, and a flat back;
- a small tail is raised and looks up, the wings are also small, short and straight;
- the color can be white or colored, in the first case the eyes of the birds are black, in the second - yellow.
By temperament, these birds are lively and lively, are often aggressive. Kings can but the ability to rise into the air is poorly developed in them.
There are two lines in the breed - exhibition and industrial. Exhibition kings reach weight 1.5 kg. The mass of birds that are grown for meat is about 700 g at the age of 45 days. Under favorable conditions of detention and a nutritious diet the female brings up to 18 chicks per year.
Kings are well suited for growing in warm climates. They were originally bred in states such as California. Later they became widespread in Europe.Today they are also grown in Ukraine, in the southern and central part of Russia - and other regions.
Texan
The breed originated in Texas. in the middle of the 20th century. Its most interesting feature is its high fertility. Under favorable conditions one pair brings up to 22 chicks per year.
External features of the breed:
- medium sized head;
- the neck is vertical;
- powerful body with a small belly;
- broad, fleshy, protruding chest;
- short feathers, tight to the body;
- wings of medium length, tightly pressed to the body;
- short, upturned tail.
These birds digest well and grow quickly and gain weight.
At the age of one month, Texans weigh about 650 g. Representatives of the breed are distinguished by a calm temperament.They are also not demanding on the conditions of detention, so they are suitable for poultry farmers who want to pay a minimum of attention to their livestock, while getting a large meat yield.
Roman dove
One of the oldest meat breeds, which, as you might guess from its name, was released in Italy. Outwardly, these birds are similar to ordinary gray pigeons, but very large in size:
- they have large, elongated heads with a high forehead;
- long and powerful beaks with a slight bend;
- short and thick necks with a protruding throat;
- large oblong bodies;
- long wings well attached to the body with sharp ends;
- long tails.
Maximum the weight of males is 1.4 kg, and females - 1.2 kg. These birds are inferior to representatives of most other meat breeds in fertility - a couple brings no more than 12 chicks per year. They hatch and feed their offspring quite badly.
Roman pigeons fly better than other meat breeds, this feature must be taken into account when equipping poultry houses. Today they are rarely raised for meat. More often, Roman pigeons are crossed with representatives of other breeds to improve the productivity of the latter - they are well suited for this.
Carnot
This breed of meat pigeons was released in France. It was brought to the USSR in the 60s of the XX century from the USA. External features of carnot:
- small head;
- long, downward-curved pink beak;
- thick neck;
- thick and wide
There is a wide variety of color options for these pigeons.
Carnot is relatively small meat birds, their weight is about 600-650 g. At the same time, it is the most precocious of the meat pigeon breeds. Carno were bred at a time when the enclosure of meat pigeons began to spread with the maximum mechanization of processes. The goal of breeders was to reduce the cost of meat. It is for aviary maintenance that these birds are very well suited.
Features of feeding and maintenance
In general meat breeds of pigeons do not differ in great demands on the conditions of detention. They are also very disease resistant. But it is important to choose the right food so that the birds grow quickly and gain weight. The basis of their diet are:
- barley;
- millet;
- oats;
- peas;
- corn;
- sunflower seeds.
Also, potatoes should be included in their diet - this product is rich in useful substances and vitamins necessary for pigeons of meat breeds.
Such birds must be constantly provided with food, in which case their productivity will be maximum.Another important point is the provision of vitamin E, which prevents the development of obesity, to which meat pigeons are prone. There should be at least 10 mg per kilogram of feed.
A very prolific breed originally from the USA. Such a bird can be fattened 45 days before an average weight of 630-800 g. Exhibition pigeons are an exception, their weight can reach 1.5 kg. In a year, a female Kinga can bring from 14 to 18 chicks, which will be plump and fleshy. The slaughter yield ranges from 59-66% and depends on the conditions under which King was grown (there is an aviary or limited-range cultivation method).
If you plan to keep King in a cage, then in 30 days you will get a pigeon with a lower mass. At the same time, the gutted carcass will be no more than 370 g, and the slaughter yield will be no more than 56%. Regardless of the conditions for breeding Kings, it will contain 50% meat, 16% fat and 5% edible organs (the rest is not eaten and discarded).
Carnot
French breed, which is an aviary and is considered one of the most precocious. From an adult feathered one, you can get from 550 to 700 g of meat. In 30 days, you can reach a weight of 330-340 g. Young birds of Carno are tastier and softer than adult birds, which is why cooks in various restaurants love to cook young individuals so much. Despite the unattractive appearance of the representatives of this breed, Karnot occupies one of the first places among meat breeds.
Monden
It was bred in the French town of Monde Marsan, to which it owes its name. The maximum weight to which handsome Monden can be fed is 1100 g. The minimum is 860 g. A dove of this breed can reach a mass of 700 g in almost a month. In Monden, the slaughter yield of meat is equal to 61%. This variety of cooing birds has the largest index of massiveness (28.7%), which also serves as an indicator of fleshiness.
Birds of this species can be eaten almost entirely, because Monden has a high index of edible parts (for males - 82.6%, for females - 81.3%). The meat of the chicks of the French and Swiss Monden is very much appreciated, the weight of which is 550 g and 600 g.
Roman
Roman pigeons were bred in Italy. The male of this breed can reach a weight of 1-1.2 kg, and the female - up to 1 kg. In some cases, doves can weigh up to 1200 g, and males up to 1.4 kg. The slaughter yield of meat of such exceptional birds is almost 60%. Roman birds are infertile, but their meat has a high nutritional and biological value. They are inactive, but resistant to various diseases.
When the chicks are 4 weeks old, their weight can reach 620 to 650 g. These birds are used not only to obtain meat, but also to breed new breeds (for example, the English pout).
Strasser
This pigeon is an impressive fat man, because the weight of the male can reach up to 1200 g. Strasser appeared in the province of Mahrisher Strasser. When a pigeon of this breed turns one month old, it already weighs up to 700 g. The female of Strasser is small - up to 800 g. To prevent the mass of offspring from decreasing, birds whose age has exceeded 5 years are not recommended.
Strasser has fine-fibre meat. During the season, a pair of Strassers can get 10 pigeons. Chicks of this breed gain a live weight of 600-700 g per month. It turns out that the slaughter yield from this bird is 58-62% (this figure may vary depending on the conditions of detention).
Texan
These are very profitable American birds that breed up to 24 chicks in 12 months. Texans are large birds, the mass of which can be almost 1 kg. Some individuals may be smaller - up to 750 g. The slaughter yield of meat, which will be obtained from one Texan, is equal to 65%. How such a flyer looks like, see the photo below.
Prachensky canic
This is an ancient Czech breed that can be found in the Crimea. The live weight of this male is 550-750 g. The maximum weight of a female is 600 g. According to its meat characteristics, it is similar to the Florentine dove, and outwardly - to the blue Kanik. This bird is also sometimes called the "buzzard". Chicks of this breed can be bred quite a lot in a year, in addition, they will be well-fed. We offer a more detailed look at the kanika in the photo provided in the photo gallery.
Photo gallery
Video "Meat variety - Kingi"
In the video you can see what typical kings look like.
Domestic pigeons are traditionally associated with postal service or a decorative function. However, they can also be eaten. Special breeds bred for meat poultry farming are characterized by increased muscle mass, they are larger than decorative breeds. We will describe further what the process of breeding meat pigeons is and what are the nuances in this.
Pigeon meat is considered a delicacy because of its delicate taste (especially if the birds intended for food have not yet learned to fly). Meat has a low calorie content - about 140 kcal / 100 g of product. It is permissible to eat meat for people who are watching their weight and suffering from disorders of the digestive tract.
Pigeon meat contains more vitamins and microelements than chicken meat - it contains zinc, magnesium, potassium and vitamin PP in sufficient quantities for humans, but only with proper feeding of the bird.
Overview of the best meat pigeon breeds
Review of the best breeds of meat pigeons: Special breeds have been bred for meat poultry farming, which are distinguished by their large size (the weight of an adult bird is 850-1500g), and increased muscle mass. Unlike domestic chickens, turkeys, and ducks, adult meat pigeons fly. Individuals no older than 35 days are used for food - their meat is the most delicious.
The meat of pigeons of decorative and postal breeds is also edible, but not tasty enough, and there is not enough of it. Each meat breed has its own requirements for keeping and breeding, for the features of feeding and care. Most meat breeds are used for decorative purposes - the largest specimens are shown at exhibitions.
king
The average weight of an adult bird is 600-800g, some individuals grow up to 1.5kg. The birds have a developed protruding chest with a lot of muscles, but the wings are short, so the pigeons do not fly well. The breed is aggressive - adult birds should be kept in separate enclosures, especially males.
The plumage is most often white, but coffee, silver and dark colors are possible. The eyes stand out in contrast against the background of feathers - in light-feathered birds they are black, and in birds with dark plumage they are yellow. The legs and beak are powerful, birds often use them during fights.
Breed King Strasser
These are large birds, the appearance of which differs within the breed, which is why subspecies are distinguished. A common subspecies is white birds with a black pattern on the wings, which defines the variety. The wings are small relative to the body, but doves fly short distances.
This should be taken into account when keeping birds - if the aviary is not tightly closed, pigeons can scatter. Unlike Kings, Strassers are calm and rarely get into fights. It is advisable to keep birds in pairs - male and female, then they breed well.
Breed Strasser Roman giant
This breed has a long history - such pigeons were bred in ancient Rome. The modern version of the breed is distinguished by an elongated body, a long tail, a high forehead and feathered legs. In breeds bred later, such characteristics are considered a disadvantage. In addition, the Roman pigeon has wide wings, it is able to fly, which makes it difficult to keep. Feathers are ash-blue or pearl.
Adult birds weigh about 1.5 kg, sedentary - large adults can completely lose the ability to fly due to weight. Birds are calm and trusting to humans, but constantly conflict with each other. Females hatching eggs must be isolated from the rest of the pigeons - carried away by a fight with their neighbors, the birds forget about maternal duties.
Breed Roman Giant Monden
Modena pigeons are chicken-like. They have a short body and a developed chest. The wings and tail are undeveloped, the birds are sedentary, flightless.
Conflicts are rare, mostly between males. The breed has many varieties that differ in color and behavior.
Monden breed Carnot
These pigeons are relatively small in size - adult birds weigh no more than 800g. But their advantage is in rapid growth and fertility. Carnot pigeons were originally bred in aviary conditions, i.e. adapted to living in confined spaces.
Birds do not fly, move little and easily get along with relatives. Karno can be bred in the country or even on the loggia in a city apartment - this place is enough for several pairs of pigeons. Carno meat is distinguished by tenderness and softness, although it is not enough from each bird.
Carno breed Texan
The Texan is considered the most popular meat pigeon breed. Benefits include fertility. Texan pigeons can produce up to 20 chicks per year, which is 2 times more than most other pigeons. At the same time, the birds are calm and non-conflict - both with other pigeons, and with humans and domestic animals.
The main problem of keeping is that it is necessary to exclude cats and dogs from the enclosure as reliably as possible, since meat pigeons are not agile and quick-witted enough to avoid predators. A characteristic feature of appearance is a pronounced difference in the color of females and males, which manifests itself from the moment of hatching from the egg.
Breed Texan How to choose a breed
When choosing a breed of meat pigeons, pay attention to the following parameters:
- The area of the premises for breeding pigeons. A small room is suitable for small calm birds, while large conflict birds need a lot of space and a sufficient number of feeders. In addition, in such breeds, it is imperative to isolate the doves hatching eggs - this requires a separate aviary or cage;
- The prospect of selling pigeon meat. For those who plan to make money on poultry products, small but prolific pigeons are required that quickly gain mass. For those who plan to breed pigeons for themselves, less prolific birds are suitable so that there is no excess meat;
- Appearance - meat breeds of pigeons are used as meat and decorative ones, but special care is needed for exhibition specimens.
Pigeon housing
You can breed pigeons in cages and aviaries. Outdoor keeping is undesirable - the birds are sensitive to low temperatures. The room must be ventilated, but at the same time drafts must be excluded, the aviary must be additionally insulated for the winter.
A comfortable floor is wooden or covered with a special coating so that the birds do not freeze their paws. Inside a cage or aviary, perches and ladders are needed - adult pigeons rarely fly, but more often climb because of their weight.
For incubation of eggs, nests are needed - they are equipped on the floor or on a dais next to the perches. Be sure to exclude access to an aviary or a room with cages of domestic animals, especially cats (a predator can injure pigeons by sticking its paw between the bars of the cage).
Instructions for breeding meat pigeons
Pigeons are unpretentious in content. In addition to a relatively warm environment, birds require sufficient food, isolation of aggressive individuals, and constant access to water and food.
fattening
The nutrition of the pigeon occupies a central place in the content, because the volume of meat obtained as a result depends on it. Food should be plentiful and high-calorie. – grains in combinations specially selected for each breed. Among the mandatory components are barley, millet and coarse oats. To strengthen the immune system, vitamin and mineral supplements for birds are needed.
Care
The main problem of keeping pigeons is the sanitary condition of the premises. Birds produce a large amount of droppings, which must be removed daily. General cleaning should be carried out at least once a week. Birds of different breeds should be kept in separate enclosures so that fights do not happen. You should also isolate pigeons in time, with strange behavior, losing feathers, etc. is a possible sign of illness.
Diseases
One of the common problems of meat pigeons is obesity. Birds move little and eat a lot, and fatty meat is less in demand than dietary meat. Another problem is the injuries that birds get in fights with each other. Injuries are fraught with premature death of the pigeon.
Pigeons are susceptible to infectious diseases, some of which are dangerous to other pets and humans.
Fallen feathers and droppings provide a breeding ground for bacteria, especially in summer, which is why regular cleaning of the loft, vaccination of birds, and control of the range if pigeons fly are so important.
slaughter
The ideal age for slaughter is considered to be 28-35 days, when the chicks have already gained weight, but their meat is especially tender and tasty. The diet of birds before slaughter changes - dill, sesame and anise seeds are added to the diet, and the day before slaughter - milk with small splashes of salt. On the last day before slaughter, the birds are not fed. There is no need to limit mobility - pigeons of meat breeds are still inactive.
You can also kill older individuals, but their meat is less tasty than that of young birds. As a rule, pigeons that have survived the age of slaughter remain for breeding. The largest number of eggs are brought by females 1-2 years old.
Ready carcasses Advantages and disadvantages of breeding pigeons for meat
Pigeon meat is considered dietary and delicacy, it can be used to cook many dishes of the national cuisines of Europe, where breeding pigeons for meat has been practiced for a very long time. With proper breeding, high fertility and rapid weight gain can be achieved.
The disadvantages of this type of poultry farming are that pigeons are more demanding in terms of conditions than chickens, and even the largest of them are smaller in size than a chicken, therefore, in order to get enough meat, a large number of pigeons must be slaughtered. Some breeds are flighty and easily lost when they are free range.
Breeding meat pigeons as a business
Pigeons are bred in poultry farms, new breeds of increased fertility and mass are being bred. But the demand for their meat is relatively small - despite the taste, it is quite expensive, and it is easier and more familiar for a simple man in the street to buy chicken. The prospects for a private breeder of meat pigeons are rather vague - everything depends entirely on the characteristics of the market in a particular area.