Utility
White King Pigeons
These are our first step in the
world of altricial birds. They
are very beautiful and have a
definite feeling of peace about
them. It is amazing that a snow
white bird can be so beautiful.
The King is a utility bird that
is often used for squab production.
Our lines are utilitarian and
have been selected to still be
able to home as well.
Pigeons mate for life and seem
quite devoted to one another.
They have a very high reproductive
rate. Before one clutch is flying,
the pair is nesting again. Another
interesting fact is that pigeons
produce "pigeon milk",
a cheese like substance to feed
the young. The squabs have an
amazing growth rate. They begin
as tiny, naked chicks and are
fully grown within about 28 days.
The young are quite fat just before
they begin to fly looking like
a cross between Jabba the Hutt
and a dodo bird. 
Pigeon chick showing a face only
a mother could love
The pigeons are very social birds
and coo at us as we are working
outside.
References
Seymour, Rev. Colin (Ed)(2006)
Australian Fancy Pigeons National
Book of Standards.
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