The pearl of the home farmstead is a crowned pigeon

To meet such a miracle can be infrequent, the crowned pigeon is completely different from our usual street "vagabonds". In large cities, where there are stationary zoos, they are often present in the exposition and always attract the attention of visitors.

Natural habitat

Tropics are home to delicious fruits, luxurious flowers and beautiful birds. The crowned dove was no exception. He lives in the forests of New Guinea, and is distributed on the nearby islands. These birds, like their urban counterparts, prefer a gregarious life and are kept in groups. Couples they create for life, maintaining loyalty to the partner.

Wings they use quite rarely, preferring to walk more on foot on the ground. The type of food corresponds to the way of life, fruits, various seeds, grass and insects fall from the trees. Running in search of food, they resemble pheasants.

Description

These are the largest birds from the whole family of pigeons. Their size, color and luxurious crown surprise and delight. Owners of nurseries know the variety of birds of this family, but the crowned pigeon is a true decoration of any collection.

There are three kinds of these birds:

• Bluish;
• Chestnut-chested;
• Crowned crowned dove.

The size of the adult is about a small chicken. Length up to 90 cm, weight up to 1.5 kg. The largest representative is the flying pigeon, its weight reaches 2.5 kg. Paws with short fingers covered with thyroid scales. Wings, despite the fact that they use the crowned dove rarely, fairly strong and long. From the 4th to the 7th the feathers are much longer than the others and, folded on their back, cover it to the very tail.

Bright coloring is what distinguishes these birds even against a background of bright nature in their native jungle. The upper part of the body is blue, with a slight gray tint, from the breast to the abdomen, the color turns to chestnut or brown. Shades the bright blue of the white transverse strip on the wings, which emphasizes a narrower, greyish-blue.

The main thing is, of course, the headdress. Without him, the dove would not have received such a beautiful name, and would look much more modest. A magnificent, like a lacy, translucent fan forms fluffy feathers, each of which frames the outgrowth in the form of an oblong triangle. The fan-shaped pigeon is distinguished by black and white tops of feathers of a tuft. The tail complements the beautiful plumage of the birds, it is long, wide and gracefully rounded at the end.

Where to buy

In specialized nurseries that work with birds. In large cities, there is usually one or more. In Moscow, a variety of birds from the nurseries of the Federal Republic of Germany are being sold, and there is a whole center for keeping and breeding animals and birds near Kaluga. Remember that the only way you can get a really healthy, young and tame individual, which will be the best decoration of your country house.

Any suggestions to buy a bird with hands without documents are dangerous. It can be taken out of nature by smuggling and not to transfer the received stress. If you liked the crowned dove, the price may well cool the ardor. It can range from 100 to 180 thousand rubles. To this amount should be added to the maintenance costs.

Conditions of detention

Since it is a tropical bird, open aviaries do not suit it even in summer, since the difference between daytime and night temperatures (especially during the rainy season) can be significant. A cage for this magnificent bird is not suitable, the enclosure must be large.

To our climate the bird gets used quickly enough, as well as to conditions of captivity. If you buy a pigeon, which is grown in a nursery, then the cage in your home will become quite a familiar home for him.

If you live a couple, equip it with a place for a nest, it can be a small basket or a wicker frame, which should be fixed higher. For the interior finish, provide the birds with dry twigs of grass, a thin bark of trees.

Food

In captivity, the crowned pigeon feeds on grain mixtures, which should include rye, sunflower, nuts, rice, millet, peas, corn, soy. Necessarily in the diet should be chicken yolk, fresh cottage cheese, boiled meat and carrots. Animal feed is also needed for proper development of the bird, it can be worms, insects, snails and larvae. Do not forget to give fresh water and green grass.

Reproduction

In good conditions birds live from 12 to 20 years old and readily breed. We have this period for the autumn. The female lays 2 eggs, after which the couple takes turns warming them. Shortly before the appearance of the chicks, a special dense "milk" begins to be released into the goiter of the female, which will feed the babies for about three weeks.

I must say that they are born without plumage and with their eyes closed. In the fourth week of life the male joins the feeding of the grown-up chicks, now they are on duty in turn, one feeds the children, regurgitating half-digested food, the second is looking for seeds and fruits.

Brief conclusions

If you love birds and want to decorate your house with something exquisite and exotic, one of the best options will be a crowned dove. The photos exhibited by nurseries will help you find your pet, and experienced experts will tell you all the secrets of caring for him.