People began to domesticate pigeons for a long time. According to historians, the first pigeon breeders appeared as far back as 3000 thousand years BC. Today there are many species of pigeons, some of which were bred by scientists as ornamental bird species.
The peacock pigeon is just the same and is a decorative bird species, which is distinguished by extraordinary beauty and the grace of tail feathers. In this article we will talk about how to build a home for such birds, what to feed them, how to breed.
- Brief description and features of the breed
- How to choose a healthy pair when buying
- Home improvement for pigeons
- Neighborhood with other breeds of pigeons
- Care and cleaning
- What to feed
- Preparing for nesting
- Features of rearing
- Useful tips for beginners
Brief description and features of the breed
Peacock pigeons got their names because of the unusual and chic tail, which resembles the peacock's tail. These birds are distinguished by their beauty and grace, they have a high fecundity. Besides, peacocks - the birds are neat and elegant, which periodically show themselves in all their glory: they throw their heads back, put their breasts forward, straighten the feathers on the tail and stand still.
This species of dove unsuitable for long flights. Most of their lives, they walk on the ground, widely spreading tail feathers. Some golubevody trying to teach their birds to make short circular flights. Sometimes they do it, such birds can often be seen at various exhibitions. 
These purebred peacock doves have a small head without any marks, large dark eyes. The bill is small, flesh-colored or reddish. The torso is rounded and compact, with a concave back. Nadhvoste and undertail (pillow) consist of a large number of feathers, the more its, the smarter the bird looks.
A pure peacock dove has wide and strong paws, which are rather wide apart. The paws are red. The color of feathers varies from blue-gray to yellow-white.
The number of feathers on the tail depends on the genetic “purity” of the bird, in a genetically “clean” pigeon the number of feathers on the tail varies from 30 to 35.Peacock pigeons are very difficult to train. Many golubovody call them a lazy kind of birds, the maximum that they can - classically circle over their place of residence.
How to choose a healthy pair when buying
The best time to buy a pair of doves will be early spring or late autumn. During this period, you can best assess all the characteristics and decorative qualities of birds. In the spring, pigeons are sold at higher prices than in the fall, but immediately after purchase they will be able to give offspring.
Buying birds from unknown people on the market, one can always get into genetically “unclean” specimens, the risk of acquiring just such a dove is very high. Buy one only expensive itemswhose owner has a pedigree on them. If there is no pedigree, and the price is very low, then this is almost a 100% guarantee that the peacock pigeon has repeatedly undergone genetic mutation processes.
It is best to buy birds from proven pigeon breeders who have been doing their work for more than a dozen years. If golubevody devoted their lives to this business, constantly train their birds, monitor the high quality of their content, then you can safely buy pigeons from such people.Moreover, they can provide you with a pedigree and photos from various exhibitions that confirm the purebred origin of the peacock pigeons. 
It is important to understand that when buying peacocks in the market should be carefully study their health. Bring an experienced pigeon breeder or a veterinarian to the market, and if you do not have such an opportunity, then select the birds according to the characteristics we described above.
Before going to the market, carefully review a large number of photos in which there are peacocks-pigeons. You can check whether the pigeon is sick or healthy, this way: tap the cage with a hand or a fountain pen, if the bird is sharp and begin to move actively, then everything is fine, if you practically do not react to knocking, it is better not to buy such an instance.
Home improvement for pigeons
For peacock pigeons, the ground enclosure will be the best place to live. You can build it on various technologies and different geometric shapes, it all depends on the builder's imagination. Most pigeon breeders build enclosures for such birds like chicken coops.
Choosing a place in the open air and covered with wire mesh. You can also build a cage in the room, for example, in the barn (if it is large enough). However, pigeons will feel better in direct sunlight, it is a more habitat for birds. 
If you still decide to build a cage indoors, then you can use plywood or a thin board for construction. Open-air cages need to be covered with slate, which can be removed at any time so that pigeons can fly (if you teach them this). Slate will protect birds on hot as well as on rainy days.
For the winter, peacock pigeons are best settled in warmer placesso an open-air cage in the shed may be necessary even if you build a dwelling for pigeons in the open. In regions where winters are warm enough and average daily air temperatures do not fall below -5 ° C, pigeons can be left outside.
Aviary try to arrange in such a way that the bird could feel spacious, as if it is not in a cage, but in the wild.Constantly disinfect the pigeons' residence with special solutions that will repel parasitic insects. Consider the fact that the enclosure for peacocks should have a vestibule at the entrance. He can prevent birds from escaping beyond the cage. And remember that the more spacious the residence of such birds, the more graceful and beautiful they will look. 
Neighborhood with other breeds of pigeons
Caring for decorative breeds of pigeons (which are peacock-pigeons) is a difficult task, since such birds are prone to various diseases if they are not planted in advance. In order for peacocks doves to hurt less and feel more confident, it is not recommended to put other types of doves in their cage.
In general, it is better when the male and female will be in one, separate cage. If you have pigeons of other species, then they need to build other cages, especially if they are sports pigeons (they need overhead enclosures).
Care and cleaning
The main task of each pigeon breeder is disinfection of the bird's residence. The opinion that pathogenic infectious microorganisms die at high or low temperatures is often wrong. Some of them are really dying, but only a small part, the most dangerous pathogens of all kinds of diseases are not afraid of our climatic conditions. 
Therefore, in order to destroy them, you need to use different chemical solutions. Among them is chlorocresol (2%), chloramine (3-4%), paraform (2%), xylonaph (3-4%), hydrated lime (3%) and others. When selecting a disinfectant, it is necessary to take into account various factors: the danger to the poultry's health, the efficacy of the preparation, the individual effect on a specific site of infection.
To combat each individual disease focus, you need to use various drugs:
- slaked lime or chlorocresol are used to fight smallpox;
- with pseudo-slime - chloramine, caustic sodium or bleach;
- sparatif - slaked lime, xylonaf or formalin;
- scoccidiosis - chlorocresol;
- Staxoplasmosis - bleach or formalin.
Disinfection as prophylaxis should be carried out every month. At the same time remove all unnecessary items from the aviary and burn them. The walls (if they are wire) must be treated with a blowtorch, so all pathogens will finally die. 
Use a solution of chemicals and a brush to thoroughly wipe all accessible and hard-to-reach places in the aviary. After complete cleaning of the feeder pigeons should be replaced with new ones. If disinfection is performed on an involuntary basis due to the detection of a specific type of pathogen, then treatment should be carried out for a month every 4-7 days.
If the floor in the pigeon cage is covered with a layer of earth, then it is necessary take pictures every year (at least on the spade bayonet) and replace. Earthen floors (wooden and concrete as well) are best sprinkled with sawdust and replaced every 4-7 days. So you can weekly remove from the aviary a large number of pathogens that will settle in sawdust.
Make sure that the water in the pigeon is regularly replaced, because it can also get a different infection. And do not forget about cleaning the enclosure from litter.You need to do this cleaning every 1-2 days, so you will greatly reduce the risk of disease of peacocks pigeons.
What to feed
The process of feeding pigeons is rather complicated, it requires attentiveness and a normal attitude. At different times, feed decorative birds need to be different. In winter, in the summer, during the mating period, during the molting period, each individual requires a special variety of diet. Proper diet affects many factors in the normal life of peacock pigeons. 
In winter, doves should receive high carbohydrate food, which will replenish energy reserves in the body. Winter diet lasts from early December to mid-late February. During this period, you should not feed the pigeons with legumes or sliced vegetables. Barley with wheat in proportions of 60% to 40% will be an ideal forage during the period of cold winters.
At the end of February peacock pigeons begin the process mating preparation. At this time, they need high-protein feed (hemp and flax family, legumes). The percentage of protein feed in the total diet should be 20%. By the end of winter, birds no longer need to overfeed, as the risk of freezing disappears. Protein food will help pigeons to mate effectively and carry out smooth egg laying. 
In the beginning-middle of March, a breeding ration begins for peacock-pigeons. During this period, all birds (including young) should receive a lot of food additives (macro-and micronutrients, vitamins). As feed throughout the spring, you can use: crushed crackers, millet, oats, hemp seeds, dough, wheat.
In the feed for pigeons you need to add various fortified and mineralized food additives. In the spring, the pigeon’s organism needs tocopherol (vitamin E) and potassium iodide supplements; you can find them in any veterinary center.
An important step in feeding peacocks is molting period. It lasts (under normal conditions) from August to October.At this time, the birds need to be fed high-protein food, it will accelerate the growth of the new young feathers, help the pigeons to properly prepare for the winter frost. Peacock pigeons, unlike other species of pigeons, have small beaks, so you need to feed them with crushed legumes and cereals.
Preparing for nesting
The process of preparing peacock pigeons for nesting is quite complex, requires some effort, which should be aimed at giving the birds the most comfortable conditions similar to those they create for themselves in the wild. Before preparing the birds for nesting, it is necessary to carry out a complete disinfection of the enclosure (birds should be removed from the enclosure). In order to properly arrange the nests, you need to build special nest boxes. 
You can make them yourself, while adhering to such technical characteristics:
- Boxes are made of polished wood.
- They should not have gaps and be as comfortable and cozy as possible.
- The height of the boxes should be about 40-50 cm, width - 40-50 cm, length - 50-60 cm.
- The box is built on three walls, on one side there is no wall. There is made a side (which can be removed at any time) with a height of 6-9 cm.
- A layer of sand or sawdust is applied to the bottom of the box. The thickness of the layer varies from 6 to 10 cm (the pigeons will make a nest themselves).
- Boxes need to build a wall, that is, put one on another.
Features of rearing
The breeding of peacocks doves is not a particularly complicated process. This type of pigeons in the best way to take care of their offspring. 
Females of peacock pigeons regularly feed and protect their children from various threats to their lives. Many golubevody say that in the first month after the birth of pigeons care for them is not required, the female does everything herself. But cases are different, it is better to take this process under control.
It is necessary to ensure that the female regularly feed the chicks, because if they are left without food for 3 hours, they will die. If you find that the female does not feed the children with milk, then you need to feed them in a piece-like way.
Feed weekly chicks need only with a pipette. The best nutrition will be milk with mashed steamed chicken yolk, you can also use complex baby food. In no case should you give the young chicks crushed legumes and cereals, such food is allowed only from one month of age. 
Useful tips for beginners
If you are new to pigeon farming, you have never heard of the technique of keeping and breeding peacocks pigeons, then use our recommendations for beginners golubevodov:
- Buy a pair of pigeons with more experienced friends or a veterinarian, otherwise there is a huge risk to buy sick birds.
- For starters, don't buy more than one pair of peacock pigeons. Start with two individuals and later you will feel whether this occupation suits you or not.
- If you keep the pigeons near the forest, then properly reinforce the aviary so that various predators cannot steal the birds.
- Disinfect the aviary regularly and invite a veterinarian to examine peacock pigeons.
- Build separate nests for females that breed chicks.
- Give peacock pigeons a lot of time, try to make them "tame", they should not be afraid of their owner.
