Murcian Pouter Pigeon with Origin Description Size Comment and Pictures Gallery

Origin: Southeastern Spain, in the province of Murcia. It is an ancient variety, very popular in olden times, and was brought to Spain by the Arabs during their domination. The first rules for flying were promulgated in Murcia in 1773.

Description: A flying Pouter raised for thieving competition. It has an oval head, low frontal, and a medium-length beak. When the bird is courting or fighting, the nape feathers of the neck stand up, as with fighting gamecocks which explains the name "Morrillero".

This breed has a peculiar manner of flying. It takes off vertically like a hell-copter, and when in flight it throws its head backward and its tail upward and forward, curving the outside rectrices upward like an inverted Spanish tile, as if trying to bring them together. It shakes and trembles in the air and practically stops in flight like a bird of prey, all the while nervously flapping its wings. The globe is not pendulous in flight because the bird lifts it up closer to the beak.

Size: Medium, average weight about 450 grams.

Ornaments: It is plain-headed and clean-legged. Its large, pendulous globe, its manner of flying, and its raised nape feathers are its principal departures from the wild Columba livia type.

Colors: Black is the most popular color, followed by dun, white, blue, silver, red and yellow. Pied and splashed are common. Its eye is fiery red, its eye cere, damson

Comment: This breed was imported to the United States by Don H. Andrews in December, 1951. It is rare in the United States. Brage says it is very rare in Spain today but popular in Argentina, where the sport of thieving is highly organized.

Seven steps must follows for Pigeon growing:

The requirements for pigeon breeding are simple, but they must be followed to be successful. There should be no relaxing or neglect at any time, for it is much easier to prevent trouble than to eliminate disease, parasites or vermin once these have occurred.

1. A dry house with the inside protected from rain or snow.
2. Separate houses for mated pairs and odd birds.
3. A flypen, if the breed requires one that dries out easily.
4. A suitable feed ration protected from contamination.
5. A suitable mineral ration protected from contamination.
6. Water suitable for human consumption protected from contamination.
7. Suitable nesting materials.

If any one of the seven is neglected, trouble of some sort will eventually occur.

References: Wendell Mitchell Levi (1891-1976), accepted everywhere as Mr. Pigeon

Murcian Pouter Pigeon Pictures Gallery are coming soon........

Watch Murcian Pouter Pigeon Video on YouTube is coming soon………..