Pigeons Backyard e-edition Poultry America’s Favorite Poultry Magazine ALL ABOUT Pigeons! EXPLORE PIGEON TYPES from Rollers to Racers PLUS: PIGEONS HOUSING & FEEDING STRIKE a well-designed loft A POSE keeps your birds healthy RAISING PIGEONS FOR PROFIT improving lives while running a pigeon business www.CountrysideNetwork.com Pigeons ­­­e-edition www.countrysidenetwork.com 1 Contents // Pigeons e-edition 4 From the Editor 8 Pigeons Photo Essay Pigeons strike a pose for photographer 6 Backyard Poultry Social Bret Hartman. Connect with Backyard Poultry on social media. 14 Get to Know Pigeons This adaptable bird has been valuable 7 Meet & Greet: Kenny Coogan through the ages. Our Pigeons e-edition featured contributor. 18 From Rollers to Racers Explore pigeon breeds and types. 14 2 BACKYARD POULTRY 24 Flock Photos Featuring photos from our readers. 26 How to Properly House and Feed Pigeons Good pigeon loft design can help your pigeons stay healthy. 30 Meet the English Pouter Pigeon Your guide to fancy pigeon breeds. 35 Peace, Love, and Pigeons Tips for improving others’ lives with your pigeon business. 26 35 Pigeons ­­­e-edition www.countrysidenetwork.com 3 from the editor BACKYARD POULTRY Unsung www.countrysidenetwork.com EDITORIAL Steph Merkle, Content Director Heroes Editor, [email protected] Pam Freeman Pam Freeman, Editor [email protected] remember the first time I visited the and are, arguably, some of the most impor- Ohio National Poultry Show and saw tant birds around. They have been, and still Editorial Assistants the rows of pigeons there for the com- are, a food source. But beyond that, hom- Samantha Ingersoll, Ann Tom Ipetition. Yes, I knew pigeons were more ing pigeons allowed folks to communicate CIRCULATION & MARKETING than the street birds you see in the city. But, via long distances well before the internet. Ellen Grunseth, Marketing Director I was shocked at the variety in front of my They’ve been war heroes thrust in the heat [email protected] eyes. There were pigeons with almost no of battle and trusted with saving lives. And, beak, some with frilly feathers everywhere, they’ve provided entertainment through the ADVERTISING Alicia Soper, Advertising Director others standing tall and proud. I have been sport of racing. [email protected] fascinated by them ever since. Pigeons are the unsung heroes of our back- (715) 748-1388 Aside from the show circuit, pigeons have yard flocks. Enjoy learning more about played an important role throughout history them! Kelly Weiler [email protected] (715) 748-1389 Sue Lapcewich [email protected] (970) 392-4436 General Manager Mike Campbell [email protected] Backyard Poultry’s Main Coop Backyard Poultry P.O. Box 566, Medford, WI 54451 www.countrysidenetwork.com Subscriptions (U.S. funds): $24.99 per year Backyard Poultry Subscriptions P.O. Box 1848, Carson City, NV 89702 (970) 392-4419 Photo Credit: Pam Freeman Backyard Poultry (ISSN 1559-2251, USPS 023-374) is published bi-monthly by Countryside Publications, P.O. Box 566, Medford, WI 54451. Periodicals postage paid at Medford, WI and additional mailing offices. ©2018 Countryside Publications. Countryside Publications is owned and operated by Fence Post Co. The views presented here do not necessarily represent On The Cover those of the editor or publisher. All contents of this issue of Backyard Poultry are copyrighted by Countryside Publications, 2018. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part is prohibited except by permission of the publisher. Managing pigeon breeding will allow your birds to be ready for a show. POSTMASTER: Send all UAA to CFS. (See DMM 707.4.12.5); NON-POSTAL AND MILITARY FACILITIES: Send address corrections to Backyard Poultry Subscriptions, P.O. Box 1848, Carson City, NV 89702 4 BACKYARD POULTRY BACKYARD Subscribe today! POULTRY Goat Journal Countryside & Small Stock Journal The leading magazine that focuses on “all things goat.” Regular topics include The magazine of modern homesteading, raising, breeding and marketing goats, featuring information on gardening, along with features and information on food preservation, small livestock, making the goat business more poultry, preparedness and self-reliant profitable and rewarding. Each issue living. provides timely articles, news, and health information for goat owners. Backyard Poultry sheep! America’s favorite poultry magazine is The voice of the independent flock written for both rural and urban poultry master, sheep! magazine contains enthusiasts. The magazine features all informative articles on health, feed poultry including chickens, ducks, geese, and grazing, predator protection and turkeys and guinea fowl. marketing meat and wool products. Don’t forget to download your FREE GUIDES! Helpful free guides are available, each focusing on a specific topic of interest. Visit CountrysideNetwork.com/free-guides to download yours today. Subscribe online at countrysidenetwork.com/magazines or complete the form below. SUBSCRIPTION ORDER FORM – SUBSCRIBE OR RENEW TODAY! Yes! Please sign me up for (six issues per year): Countryside & Small Stock Journal 1 Year $19.99 2 Years $32.00 3 Years $45.00 (Best Deal! Save 58% off the cover price!) Backyard Poultry 1 Year $24.99 2 Years $39.00 3 Years $54.00 (Best Deal! Save 50% off the cover price!) Goat Journal 1 Year $24.99 2 Years $39.00 3 Years $54.00 (Best Deal! Save 40% off the cover price!) sheep! 1 Year $24.99 2 Years $39.00 3 Years $54.00 (Best Deal! Save 40% off the cover price!) Name: Address: City, State, Zip: Email Payment Enclosed Visa/MasterCard #: Exp.: MAIL TO: Countryside Network Subscriptions, P.O. Box 1848, Carson City, NV 89702 OR CALL: 1-970-392-4419 • www.CountrysideNetwork.com Pigeons ­­­e-edition www.countrysidenetwork.com 5 Join the Conversation with Backyard Poultry on Social Media! Use #backyardpoultrymag on Instagram or tag us for your chance to be featured! FACEBOOK INSTAGRAM PINTEREST @backyardpoultry @backyardpoultrymag @poultrymagazine 6 BACKYARD POULTRY MEET & GREET Getting to Know Kenny Coogan Our Pigeons e-edition Featured Contributor Hi! My name is Kenny Coogan and I’m regular contributor to Backyard Poultry magazine and Coun- tryside & Small Stock Journal. I am a freelance writer, author, and permaculturist living in Florida. I have 20 years of experience as a poultry owner and a B.S. in animal behavior. I have trained professionally at zoos and aquariums. I have cared for pigeons, penguins, and porcupines. My all-time favorite animals to work with are sloths. I share my one-acre Florida homestead with cats, chickens, ducks, guinea pigs, bearded dragon and a 28-year-old female Moluccan cockatoo named Buddy. I love teaching about homesteading, raising animals, and gardening. When the hot Florida summer comes, I love to travel internationally. So far I’ve been to five continents. Kenny Coogan Find Kenny online at: Facebook.com/ CritterCompanions KennyCoogan.com More great stories from Kenny Coogan on countrysidenetwork.com! Pigeons ­­­e-edition www.countrysidenetwork.com 7 Pigeons Strike a Pose Bret Hartman has photographed everyone from comedian Will Ferrell to legendary actor Dustin Hoffman, so we challenged him with a new assignment: pigeons. He captured these stunning shots at the The National Pigeon Association Grand National Pigeon Show in Los Angeles (2015). Pictured: Charles Scott, Pomeranian Pouter, White 8 BACKYARD POULTRY Pigeons ­­­e-edition www.countrysidenetwork.com 9 6 Backyard Poultry 10 BACKYARD POULTRY BYP April-May 10-2 2-50 start.indd 6 2/22/15 1:22 PM Larry Schulz, American Show Racer, Opal ore than 7,000 birds and 200 different breeds were shown at the event, Robert Sanchez, West of England including a few by former heavyweight boxing champion Mike Tyson, Tumbler, Almond according to the event’s host, the Los Angeles Pigeon Club. M“LAPC spent almost two years in preparation for the show, and the fruit of that hard work and team effort was evident in any direction you would look at,” said Muhammad Shaheed, the club’s media liason. “What I liked most was the bonding of humanity that was displayed. People came from all over the world, of different races, colors, social classes, religious backgrounds ... and they all became a part of a family, enjoying not only the birds in display, but more importantly, enjoying each others companionship. In a world full of stress and anxiety and hatred, the show of- fered peace and comfort, and love for each other as humans.” Above: Larry Wilmes, American Giant Homer, Brown Bar Opposite page, top: Abigail Copeland. Hungarian; Natasha Soares, Gold Fantail; Mia Bella Mefferd, English Shortface; Emily Isom, Oriental Roller; Alisa Foster, Old Style Saddle Muffed Tumbler; Niah Mauldin, Racing Homer; Zachery Ferrell, Voorburg Shield Cropper; and Vincent Pizzuto, Modena. Opposite page, bottom left: Justin Curl, Portuguese Tumbler, Two Color Tiger Opposite page, bottom right: Peter Frantangelo Jr., Domestic Show Flight, Yellow Samantha Wendell, Western Fantail, AprilPlain Head / May 2015 Blackwww.backyardpoultrymag.com 7 Pigeons ­­­e-edition www.countrysidenetwork.com 11 BYP April-May 10-2 2-50 start.indd 7 2/22/15 1:22 PM KathieSamantha Johnson, Wendell, Pomeranian Western Fantail, Pouter, WhiteBlack National Pigeon Association President Jerry Gagne (left), and National Fancy Pigeon Association President Fadilius Hendricks, English Tumblers, Splash. Eugene Sande, Show Roller, Red Top:Top: Keith Keith Chadd, Chadd, English English Tumblers, SplashSplash Checked Beard Bottom, left: Teresa Reyes Barrow (left), and Monica Soareds, Black Headed Tumbler, BlackBottom, left: Teresa Reyes Barrow (left), and Monica Soareds, Black Headed Tumbler, Blacck All photos by Bret Hartman/ Bottom, right: Donald Roscoe, Dragoon, Blue Bar www.brethartman.com Bottom, right: Donald Roscoe, Dragoon, Blue Bar 8 Backyard Poultry 12 BACKYARD POULTRY BYP April-May 10-2 2-50 start.indd 8 2/22/15 1:22 PM Sherri Owen (Artist), Pigeon Painting — Holy Spirit, White Pigeons ­­­e-edition www.countrysidenetwork.com 13 In addition to a range of colors, pigeons have been bred for shows, racing and as a source of protein.