Research Article

Analysis of reproduction and growth in fancy pigeons

Danuta Majewska, Tomasz Drenikowski

Department of Poultry and Ornamental Birds Breeding, West Pomeranian University of Technology, Szczecin, Doktora Judyma 20, 71-466 Szczecin, Poland

Abstract. The study was conducted on ornamental pigeons kept by a private pigeon breeder in Poland. The experimental population was Polish Owl and Warsaw Butterfly Tumbler pigeons and the offspring obtained from pairs of these breeds during the breeding season. In the breeding season, the number of eggs laid by each female was recorded, egg weight measurements were made and egg width (short axis) and length (long axis) were measured. The percentage of fertilized eggs and dead embryos, as well as hatchability of set and fertilized eggs were calculated. The body weight was monitored until 3 months of age in order to determine the growth rate. In the breeding season analyzed, Warsaw Butterfly Tumbler pigeons were characterized by better egg laying performance (10.3 eggs per female) than Polish Owl ones (6.72 eggs per female). Both pigeon breeds laid eggs of a similar weight (14.8 g). Egg shape index in Polish Owl pigeons was 73.04%, whereas in Warsaw Butterfly Tumblers it was 3% greater (differences statistically significant). Egg fertilization rate in Polish Owl pigeons was low, 64.86%, whereas in Warsaw Butterfly Tumbler it was 25% higher. Chicks hatched from 97.2% of fertilized eggs in Polish Owl pigeons and from 69.57% eggs in Warsaw Butterfly Tumblers. The highest body weight gains in the pigeon breeds under analysis were observed during the period from hatching to 4 weeks of age.

Keywords: Polish Owl pigeon, Warsaw Butterfly Tumbler, hatchability, body weight, growth rate

 

This Article

Accepted: 10 Dec 2015

Published online: 30 Apr 2017

Accesses: 904

How to cite

Majewska, D., Drenikowski, T., (2016). Analysis of reproduction and growth in fancy pigeons. Acta Sci. Pol. Zootechnica, 15(1), 41–52. DOI: 10.21005/asp.2016.15.1.04.