Pearl of the homestead - a crowned dove

2024 Author: Priscilla Miln | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 00:21

You can meet such a marvel infrequently, the crowned dove is completely different from our usual street "tramps". In large cities where there are stationary zoos, they are often on display and always attract the attention of visitors.

Natural habitat

The 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 also distributed on nearby islands. These birds, like their urban counterparts, prefer a flock life and stay in groups. They create couples for life, remaining faithful to their partner.

They rarely use their wings, preferring to walk more on the ground. The type of food corresponds to the lifestyle, fruits that have fallen from trees, various seeds, grass and insects are eaten. They resemble pheasants as they run in search of food.

Description

These are the largest birds of the entire pigeon family. Their size, color and luxurious crown surprise and delight. The owners of nurseries are well aware of the diversity of birds in this family, but the crowned pigeon is a true decoration of any collection.

There are three types of these birds:

• blue-crested;
• chestnut-breasted;
• fan crowned dove.

The size of an adult is about the size of a small chicken. Length up to 90 cm, weight up to 1.5 kg. The largest representative is the fan-bearing pigeon, its weight reaches 2.5 kg. Paws with short fingers are covered with thyroid scales. The wings, despite the fact that the crowned pigeon rarely uses them, are quite strong and long. The 4th to 7th flight feathers are much longer than the rest and, folded on the back, cover it all the way to the tail.

Bright coloring is what makes these birds stand out even against the backdrop of vibrant nature in their native jungle. The upper part of the body is blue, with a slight gray tint, from the breast to the stomach, the color turns into chestnut or brown. The bright blue is set off by a white transverse stripe on the wings, which is emphasized by a narrower, grayish-blue.

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

Where to buy

Bspecialized nurseries that work with birds. Large cities usually have one or more.

In Moscow they sell various birds from the nurseries of Germany, near Kaluga there is a whole center for keeping and breeding animals and birds. Remember that this is the only way you can get a really he althy, young and tame individual, which will become the best decoration for your country house.

Any offer to buy a bird from hands without documents is dangerous. It can be smuggled out of nature and not endure the resulting stress. If you liked the crowned dove, the price may well cool the ardor. It can range from 100 to 180 thousand rubles. Maintenance costs should be added to this amount.

Containment conditions

Because it is a tropical bird, open aviaries are not suitable for it even in summer, since the difference between day and night temperatures (especially during the rainy season) can be significant. A cramped cage for this luxurious bird is not suitable, the aviary must be large.

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

If you have a couple, equip her with a place for a nest, it can be a small basket or a wicker frame, which should be fixed higher. For interior decoration, provide the birds with dry grass branches, thin tree bark.

Food

In captivity, the crowned pigeon feedsgrain mixtures, which should include rye, sunflower, nuts, rice, millet, peas, corn, soybeans. Be sure to include chicken yolk, fresh cottage cheese, boiled meat and carrots in the diet. Animal feed is also needed for the proper development of the bird, it can be worms, insects, snails and larvae. Don't forget to give fresh water and green grass.

Reproduction

In good conditions, birds live from 12 to 20 years and readily breed. This period falls on autumn. The female lays 2 eggs, after which the couple takes turns warming them. Shortly before the chicks are born, a special thick "milk" begins to stand out in the goiter of the female, with which she will feed the babies for about three weeks.

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

Summary of conclusions

If you love birds and want to decorate your home with something sophisticated and exotic, then one of the best options would be a crowned dove. Photos exhibited by catteries will help you find your pet, and experienced experts will tell you all the secrets of caring for it.