Spanish Barb Origin Description Size Ornaments Colors Comment and Pictures Gallery

Origin: Spain. It is an ancient breed said to have been brought to the Iberian peninsula by the Arabs along with many other breeds from the Barbary Coast (North Africa). Van Vollenhoven 1686 said that the Barb as imported to Holland from Spain. Cavanilies 1799 described it.

Description: A flying breed, with round head and short stout beak. Its neck is short; its breast broad and rounded. Its body is short. The primaries are carried on the tail. it is a poor breeder and feeder, and foster parents are needed for raising the young. It is the pigmy of the big Flamenca Runt.

Size: Small, average weight about 12 ounces.

Ornaments: It is plain-headed and clean-legged. Its eve ceres are well-developed ; its nose cere is wide and of fine texture.

Colors: Black, dun. red, yellow, lavender ith black mottling and white. Blues and silvers occur but are rare. Its eye is red in colored varieties and bull in whites. Its eye cere is red, which is an interesting contrast to its white nose cere.

Comment: The breed is still found in Catalonia, but is rare in all other areas of Spain.

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

Spanish Barb Pictures Gallery