What are the meat pigeon breeds? Detailed introduction to common meat pigeon breeds

Meat pigeons generally belong to the heavy type of pigeon. Their main characteristics are a large body, broad breast and rounded back, full and plump muscles, fine and tender juicy muscle fibers, thick and strong legs, a docile temperament, a dislike of flying, and ease of raising. Squabs grow quickly and have strong reproductive capacity. One pair of good-quality meat pigeons can raise 6-10 pairs of squabs per year. Generally, before a squab is one month old, its body weight is already close to that of its parent pigeons, or even exceeds it.

For more than a hundred years, pigeon breeders around the world have developed many excellent meat pigeon breeds through various crossbreeding methods. According to statistics, there are currently about 40 famous meat pigeon breeds in the world. Here, a brief introduction is given to some of the main excellent breeds at home and abroad.

1. American King Pigeon

The American King Pigeon, also called the White King Pigeon, is an excellent meat pigeon breed developed in the United States. Most of these pigeons have white feathers, with very few of other mixed colors. Generally, adult male pigeons weigh 0.8-1 kg, and female pigeons weigh 0.6-0.8 kg. They can lay eggs and raise 7-8 clutches of squabs per year. The squabs are plump and large, with tender meat, making them a top-grade dish on the table.

2. Runt Pigeon

The Runt Pigeon originated in Spain. Its body weight reaches 1.15-1.25 kg. Its feathers are mostly gray with two bars, and white is considered superior.

3. Carneau Pigeon

The Carneau Pigeon is produced in Belgium and northern France. This pigeon has a stout appearance, thick neck, broad breast, and short wings. Its feathers are tight and drooping. Male pigeons weigh 0.8 kg, female pigeons 0.75 kg, and squabs at 18 days old weigh about 0.5 kg. It has a gentle temperament and is easy to raise. Its feathers come in colors such as red, white, black, and yellow, with white being the most common. It can be used both as a meat pigeon and an ornamental pigeon.

4. Homer Pigeon

The Homer Pigeon is one of the world's famous meat pigeon breeds. Adult pigeons can weigh about 1 kg, and squabs about 0.5 kg. This pigeon grows quickly and produces 6-8 pairs of eggs per year. Its feathers come in colors such as blue, white, red, brown, and yellow.

5. Mondain Pigeon

The Mondain Pigeon is not good at flying and likes to walk, so it is also called the ground pigeon. It originated in France, and later the Swiss Mondain strain was separated out. This pigeon is relatively large, with a body weight of about 1 kg. Its meat is tender, its temperament is mild, and its egg-laying and incubation performance are good. Its feather colors are mixed, and it is suitable for indoor raising.

6. Runt Pigeon

The Runt Pigeon is produced in Italy and is one of the larger and heaviest types among meat pigeon strains. Adult pigeons generally weigh more than 1 kg. Its feathers are mostly white and gray. It is not good at flying, has good incubation and brooding performance, and produces 8-10 pairs of squabs per year. It has full and plump muscles, a relatively short body, a square shape, and very strong disease resistance.

7. Shiqi Pigeon

The Shiqi Pigeon is produced in Shiqi County, Guangdong Province, and is a famous domestic meat pigeon breed. Its characteristics are that its size is similar to the King Pigeon, but its body is longer than the King Pigeon. It has a flat head and bare neck, a long nose and fine eyes, and strong adaptability. Its feather colors are gray with two bars and light rain spots, and there are also mixed colors such as white and black. Its body weight is 0.6-0.9 kg, and it produces 7-9 pairs of squabs per year. It is easy to raise extensively and tolerates coarse feed. Its meat is tender and often has a unique lilac-like flavor.

8. Guangdong Meat Pigeon

The Guangdong Meat Pigeon is a famous meat pigeon breed in China. Its body weight is 0.65-0.75 kg, and it produces more than 6 pairs of squabs per year. Squabs at 3-4 weeks old can reach a body weight of more than 0.5 kg. Its feathers are mixed in color.

9. Kunming Pigeon

The Kunming Pigeon weighs between 0.5-0.7 kg. It has the characteristics of fast development, easy fattening, and low feed consumption. Its feathers are mixed in color.