AACHEN LACQUER-SHIELD OWL Pigeon with Origin Description Size Ornaments Color Comment Caring and Pictures Gallery

Origin: Aachen (Aix-la-Chapelle). It is said to have existed before 1765. It is described by German and French writers as a subvariety of the German Owl. It has been called by varying names: Prutz (1884) calls it Aachen Owl or Turbit (Aachener [Lack] Moychen); Durigen (1886) calls it Aachen Shield or Lackschild Owl or Turbit (Aachener Schildmovchen or Lackschildmovchen). Fontaine (1922) uses the name Aix-la-Chapelle Frill with laquer shield (Aix-la Chapelle Cravate a mamteau laque); Mannant (1958) calls it Lacquer Shield (Le Lackshilder).

Description: It is an exhibition breed, though formerly a flying one. To the author it appears, on the basis of the two breeds as they are known today more like a plain-headed Dutch Turbit than an Owl. Very little help can be had from the German and French literature on this as "Movchen" in German and "Cravate" in French apply to both Owls and Turbits.

Size: Small, average weight about 330 grams.

Ornaments: It is plain-headed and clean-legged. Its beak is quail-like and unlike that of the owl or turbit in the United States today. Its beak appears similar to that of the Old Dutch Turbit. Since Aachen is only a short distance from Holland, the Aachen Lacquer-shield Owl and the Old Dutch Turbit are probably related, even though one is plain-headed while the other is crested. It has a small neck frill and also a gullet.

Colors: Said to be only black, red, and yellow. Having black and yellow, it is surprising that there are no duns. Perhaps duns are not liked and have been discarded because they lack sufficient metallic sheen. The plumage is all white except for the colored wing shield. These colored feathers have a good metallic luster, from which its German name "lack" (lacquer) arose. Its eye is dark; its eye cere, light.

Comment: The breed is very rare in the United States, if it occurs at all.

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

Aachen Lacquer-Shield Owl Pigeon Pictures Gallery