fain tail and old dutch pigeons

[DHinton]

What are the best uses for these?

A friend is giving me a few of each.

 

[Hokum Coco]

The two pigeon breeds you are referring to Fantail and Old Dutch. Would come under the Ornamental or Show Classification of pigeon.

I wish I could say more but unfortunately all I can come up with on these two particular breeds is they are something pretty to look at.

The American fantails are poor fliers.
The Indian fantails have a more natural carriage and are better fliers. A lot of pigeon fanciers have limited success in breading fantails (I never raised any fantails personally).

The Old Dutch I do not know much about.

Hopefully someone who has more experience with these birds can tell you more.

 

[DHinton]

cool, thanks.

 

[jak2002003]

I keep both Old Dutch Capuchines and Fantail pigeons.

They are very easy to care for, and they breed like crazy!!!!

The fantails get very tame and its all i can do to get them off my head and arms when I walk into the loft and they swamp me looking for treats!

The Old Dutch Capuchines don't get as tame, but they will feed from the hand.

Keep both breeds in different cages / lofts, otherwise they will interbreed. I have a very funny looking fantail X old Dutch, which has one black eye (like a fantail pigeon) and one normal yellow eye. Very cute.

Both breeds can be let out to fly around the garden 'supervised' . However, the fantails usually don't bother to go out of the loft much. I have to tempt them out with a bath on the lawn. After that they sunbath and go back in.

The old Dutch Capuchines love to get out for a fly.

BEWARE OF PREDATORS like hawks and cats. The Old Dutch Capuchines are slow to spot any danger as their feathers around their faces block them seeing all around . I only let mine out when I am at home, and for about 1 or 2 hours, after which I call them to come back to the loft. (they will do anything for peanuts).

Here are pics of some of mine.
There are my first pair. They have raised 10 young so far!

Dolly......my fav. fantail



2 babies!

This fantail has a crest... I have no idea why.


Up on the roof enjoying some sun.


Waiting for me to bring them their tray of water for a bath.

Waiting to go back into the loft.

My Old Dutch X fantail chick. (hanging out with foster mum - a white ring neck dove).



This is his real mum

 

[DHinton]

those are some sweet looking birds. good to know about the cross breeding. thanks!

 

[DHinton]

on a sidenote. i have chickens and quail and raise mealworms and bsfl (black soldier fly larvae) for treats. are these good treats for pigeons as well?

 

[jak2002003]

You can try. Its won't harm them.

But none of my pigeons or doves show any interest in live food.

I keep Japanese Bantams in with my pigeons... and my pigeons love the chick starter and the layers pellets. I think the layers pellets are very good for the female pigeons when they are laying eggs.

 

[DHinton]

what would happen if the two crossed? would you get the collar and the fan tail together?

 

[jak2002003]

no. Here is a photo of the cross between a my white fantail and a black old Dutch Capuching.




Its got the colour of the old dutch, no frill around the neck, but he has a wide tail thats is like a V shape, and spread out, but never held up over the body like the fantails. You can just see from the top tip each side of his tail touches the ground like its in a curve.

It not good idea to cross the 2 breeds as no one will buy the young off you as they are 'mutts'.

 

[loftkeeper]

look up indan fantasy that is a breed that combines fantails and jacobins