Damascene

[RingedTeal]

I know they are rare but does anyone here have them or know anyone that has had them?

 

[RingedTeal]

The Damascene Pigeon originated somewhere in the Middle East, tho' exactly where is lost in the mists of time. Even in the 17th century it was regarded as an old breed. Its two most striking features are the dark plum eye ceres and its bright eyes.

Although it is an exhibition breed in modern times, they were developed for flight and still do best if they get a fair amount of flying exercise.

The Damascene is still a rare breed in the US.
This came from FeatherSite

 

[Mary Of Exeter]

One of the guys I know, I really like his birds and he's giving everyone a week to claim them. I can get his contact info for you.
Here's another guy I know with them, in the meantime:
http://whiteracers.20m.com/photo_5.html

 

[RingedTeal]

Thanks I will look at that liink but it will be a while before i get some.Also can they go through the dog wire

 

[Mary Of Exeter]

Nope

But hawks can reach through and grab at them, and mice can get in and contaminate the feed. So in the future you may want to cover the fencing with some smaller wire.

 

[RingedTeal]

Okl thanks I just wondered because i have a pen and didn't know if they could go through.

 

[RingedTeal]

A pic I found

 

[cameron]

I Actually picked up a trio of Damascenes from Louisville last year. Kept them most a year then sold them. Very pretty birds, bit just too flighty. It was like no matter how often I handled them or was in the loft with them, they never got used to me, and would still have complete meltdowns whenever I came into the loft. Never had a pigeon as wild as them. Still beautiful tho.

 

[RingedTeal]

Thanks for sharing your experience Cameron.

 

[Night_Wolf_Lofts]

Actually...Damascenese are relatively easy to find.

If you havent' found any..let me know.

Cameron, that is odd that yours were flighty, for the most part, I found them to be quite docile. But I know you get the occaisional birds that just never do settle down right.

Ours were always well behaved and I had a problem with them getting under my feet all the time while I was doing loft chores. Now if you want something really flighty, I used to raise both Damascenes and Clean Leg Florellan Ice Pigeons....now those Ice Pigeons are WALLBANGERS! They say a lot of the field type color pigeons are that way, but I never tried any of the others to see. I tried a few pair out of my stud in a community loft to see how they would do and they never once nested..wouldn't even pick a nest they were so flighty, but I had my breeders set up with "privacy" nests in a loft where they were all alone. I also covered it so while I was in there they couldn't see me until I opened the door to feed and water and I also set up the fly pen so that they weren't easily spooked. I had great success with them by doing this because if you didn't, theyw ould come off the nest every time I would feed and water and this eneded up with them just being too flighty and breaking eggs.

The key I found to my success with breeding them was to keep spooking them to a minimum. I even pulled young out of the nest and handfed them to try and tame them...that didn't work either. I do believe there are some breeds out there that you just can't get to "tame" down. Those being one of them. But boy are they beautiful!

Justin
Aquatic Wilds
Night Wolf Lofts