Pigeon keeping
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Pigeon keeping, or pigeoning, is the art and science of looking after pigeons.
Pigeons can be kept in a dovecote (also spelt dovecot and known in Scotland as a doocot) or in a pigeon coop or a pigeon loft. While they were once a valuable source of meat, in the United Kingdom this use faded away in the early 19th Century, and they increasingly were kept for pigeon racing or for the breeding of Fancy pigeons by pigeon fanciers. This breeding of pigeons to develop and perpetuate features, which can be interesting or decorative as well as practical, particularly interested Charles Darwin, and he took up pigeon breeding while developing his theory of natural selection to explain the process of evolution.
- Homing pigeons are trained to participate in pigeon racing and were used to carry messages during war.
- Fancy pigeons are pigeons which are specially bred to perpetuate particular features.
- Other pigeons are bred for unique flying characteristics other than homing, such as rolling, high-flying, and diving. These birds, which may be flown in competitions, include but are not limited to Rollers, Tumblers, and Tipplers.
All of the above pigeon breeds may also be exhibited in pigeon shows.
The artist Zina Saunders has painted portraits of New York pigeon keepers as part of her Overlooked New York project.
NOTE: The slang term "Pigeoning" is also the act of being negative and then "flying off", as in "He's such a pigeon manager. All he does is come in, crap on stuff, then leave".
[edit] External links
- http://www.pigeonclubsusa.com/faircount_facts_info_why_raise_pigeons.htm
- http://www.overlookednewyork.com/pigeon/
- http://www.uplandbirddog.com/training/loft.html
- http://www.npausa.com/
- http://www.ifpigeon.com/
- http://www.pigeon.org/
- http://www.zyworld.com/NPA/
- http://www.pigeon-lung.co.uk
- http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=pigeon+manager
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