Holle Cropper: Amsterdam Ballon Cropper Pigeon origin description size ornaments colors comment and pictures gallery

Origin: Holland, especially Amsterdam. It is such an old breed that the exact date of origin is uncertain. There are paintings of the breed made by the old Dutch Masters of the sixteenth century.

Description: It is an exhibition breed. It is a short, round erect breed, with the breast as broad as possible. Its tail is short. Its shape and station are its main show points. Like the Fantail and the Zitterhals, it is a neck-shaker. In flight the head and neck are carried in an upright position and not extended to the front as in most other breeds.

Size: Small. Its average weight is 13.5 ounces. The Holle Cropper is classified with the Pigmy Pouters. It looks smaller than it is.

Ornaments: It is plain-headed, with clean or very lightly feathered legs and toes. Its departure from the Columba livia (Wild Rock) type is in its enlarged crop and its shape and station.

Colors: Solids in white, black, blue barred, red and yellow; pied in black, blue barred, silver, red and red barred (mealy); grizzled, tigered and other colors. The markings of the pied variety are similar to that of the English Pouter.

Comment: Although this is a very interesting   breed of pigeon, it has never gained wide popularity in the United States and is exhibited here only rarely.

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

Holle Cropper: Amsterdam Ballon Cropper Pigeon Pictures Gallery