Pigeon Toed Profits

Pigeons have thousands of color combinations, shapes and sizes to choose from.

"What kind of birds are those Grandpa?"

"Pigeons, son. Plain old pigeons."

With all due respect to Grandpa's failing eyesight, there are no plain old pigeons on this earth.

Pigeons are kind of like snowflakes; it is hard to find any two of them that are just alike. Unlike your robin, or your jay or your scissortail flycatcher, pigeons strut around in thousands of different colors and patterns.

Pigeon lovers can readily identify up to 28 different color morphs! Most of these color morphs include beautiful shiny neck feathers that reflect different colors like rainbows. This shine is quite similar to that seen with hummingbirds and is called iridescence. Breeding pigeons for their distinctive colors and form can be almost as profitable as the breeding of distinctive koi.

Pigeons that are all white are usually albinos. That means, there are NO color pigments in their feathers.

The Bruner Pouter stands tall in any cote.

For a hobby some people raise all kinds of valuable pigeons. The breeds they raise have special names, such as rollers, Bruner Pouter, tumblers, and fantails. The names tend to describe the way the pigeons fly, or the way they look.

Pigeon Facts

Pigeons are monogamous having only one mate for their entire life. They won't even look for another partner unless their first choice dies.

Like human beings, pigeons can see color. But pigeons are also known for their ability to see ultraviolet light -- part of the light spectrum that humans can't see. Pigeons can also hear sounds originating at much lower frequencies than we are aware of.

Pigeons generally weigh about a pound. Boy pigeons are usually bigger than the girl pigeons they "marry." Pigeons in the wild prefer to build their nests on covered building ledges, perhaps because they resemble cliffs. You will also see nests inside barn lofts and on the support structures under bridges along highways.

Pigeons build their nests with small twigs and bits of straw. The boy pigeon brings the nesting material to his mate, one piece at a time. They try to keep their nests well-hidden and hard to find. Like doves they usually only lay two eggs at a time. However -- unlike doves -- they won't leave a nest just because it has been found and touched by a human.

Both the boy pigeon and the girl pigeons sit on the eggs to keep them warm. They then work together to raise the little pigeons, known as squabs. When the baby pigeons are young they are called HATCHLINGS. Their food is brought to them already semi-digested by the parents. They open their mouths wide and the food is thrust down their throats.

After about thirty days of growing they get big enough to be called SQUABS. Squabs remain in the nest until they are almost completely grown. Some of them are bigger than their parents when they leave, but a life on the wing soon burns that excess weight off.

Have you ever noticed a blue jay or a sparrow take a drink? They dip their beak into the water, then throw their heads back to let it drip down their throat. But pigeons are so dainty they suck their water up their beaks as if they were straws.

Pigeon watching, and pigeon study, is a wonderful hobby that anyone in the world can take up with ease. You probably won't even need a pair of binoculars. Search your neighborhood, looking for pigeons that gather in flocks and are accustomed to people. If a flock is fed on a regular basis, it should be easy to approach. Find a place to stand or sit close to your pigeons. If you cannot get close to them you can always create your own Pigeon Site.

First, you will want to stick to a feeding schedule. That way the pigeons will know when to expect you and your food. They can tell time quite well and will be there on the dot for their handout. You will want to keep notes on the colors and the kinds of pigeons that come to your station. New pigeons are especially interesting. Where did they come from? Who told them you were there?

Raising pigeons is fun too, and it can be lucrative if you are good at it. In days gone by it used to be against the law for a common man to own pigeons. No wonder some people feel like a King or a Prince when they begin to raise pigeons.

Unlike wild pigeons, domestic pigeons are raised in healthy environments and if given the chance, will bathe every day. Studies have proven that raising pigeons is no more of a health risk than raising any other kind of bird.

You can raise your pigeons in "lofts" or pens. Anything that provides your pigeons with a dry, draft free environment and room to move around in will work. The important thing is that the birds are protected from the elements while providing some much needed sunlight. To ensure that the birds are not overcrowded, allow at least two square feet of floor space per bird. This will help to build a comfortable and healthy environment and will allow the birds to flourish.

Nests can be furnished, or you can simply supply the building material and let them build their own. Pigeons will want their nests hidden so you will want to provide dark corners or boxes for them to hide in.

Domestic Pigeons are Pedigreed and should be cared for just like thoroughbreds. One pedigreed pigeon recently bought for $132,517.00 by Louella Pigeon World. The three-year-old, one pound racing pigeon beat 21,000 other birds in a major long distance race and will some day be used as a breeder just like it was a racehorse. The previous record price for a racing pigeon was $73,800.00