A group of flying and decorative breeds of pigeons: tumblers, are popular among Russian pigeon breeders. The name comes from the French word “tour”, meaning to move in a circle, compete, tumble. And this is no coincidence: they are real air aces. Rising upward, they perform the most bizarre pirouettes, perform a “loop,” rear up, somersault, fall like a stone from an incredible height, and level their flight before landing. Let's take a closer look at the characteristic features of different types of breed, the features of keeping and breeding birds.
All about Tumbler pigeons: origin and types
A group of flying and decorative breeds of pigeons: tumblers, are popular among Russian pigeon breeders.
The name comes from the French word “tour”, meaning to move in a circle, compete, tumble. And this is no coincidence: they are real air aces. Rising upward, they perform the most bizarre pirouettes, perform a “loop,” rear up, somersault, fall like a stone from an incredible height, and level their flight before landing.
Let's take a closer look at the characteristic features of different types of breed, the features of keeping and breeding birds.
Origin
Thurmans are a breed of high-flying pigeons with a vert. This means that in flight, birds make somersaults through their head, tail or wing. High-breed individuals can perform up to 6 flips or somersaults at a time. It looks very impressive: the Thurman dove looks like a wheel moving in the air.
There is no exact information about the origin of the breed. There are several hypotheses:
- They were among the first to be bred in ancient Persia. The Persian population has survived to this day.
- Its popularity and spread in Europe dates back to the time of the Roman Empire.
- The ancestors of Russian tumblers are oriental pigeons brought to Europe (England and Germany) from North Africa. Crossbreeding with local birds allowed breeders to develop English/Saxon Indians. This is confirmed by the fact that both tumblers and Indians become attractive 3-4 years after breeding. Pigeon breeders also note some similarity in appearance.
According to Charles Darwin's classification, birds of this breed belong to a heterogeneous group of domestic pigeons, which also includes English gulls and peacocks.
This confirms the version that this breed was bred in many countries around the world and explains the large number of its varieties.
Other names are also known:
- roller skates - in Europe
- vertuns, paduns, katuns - in neighboring countries and CIS countries.
Types of tumblers
Currently, Russian breeders have bred more than a dozen varieties of breeds, which explains the popularity of high-flying pigeons in Russia. Common distinctive features characteristic of all types of breed are the following:
- small elongated body with well-developed muscles on the chest;
- small cube-shaped head;
- large frontal part, back of the head;
- widely spaced short legs;
- fluffy, slightly raised tail with 12 tail feathers.
The color of the body can be very diverse. Among the representatives of the breed you can find individuals with a short, medium or long beak, forelock and without it. There are short-winged and crested individuals.
The division into species depends on the place where the breed was bred, the shape of the beak, the presence of a crest/forelock, as well as other characteristics.
Tape
One of the oldest Russian species, bred in the 17th century, officially registered in 1901. The name of the ribbon tumbler is due to the presence of a white ribbon across the red tail, which is clearly visible from afar.
Miniature birds are famous for their excellent flying abilities. Most individuals have a head, body, and tail of a red-scarlet color, and the wings, abdomen, and thighs are white. The undertail is red or white.
Representatives of this species of birds are divided into:
- piebald - ribbon pigeons, red-breasted and white-winged;
- red-piebald, distinguished by the presence of several white patches among the flight feathers;
- pearl - with variegated wings.
A typical representative of Russian ribbon tumblers has a cuboid-shaped head (with or without a crest), a high forehead, steeply descending to a short beak. Dark eyes with light eyelids, medium-sized wings.
Ribbon specimens are recognized as the most popular breed of all tumblers. This is due to the fact that they are the most viable and unpretentious in food.
In addition, birds fascinate with the beauty and complexity of their flight. Rising in a spiral, performing somersaults in the air, rising again, more somersaults. Similar tricks will be repeated many times. On the way back, the birds make circles.
Kursk
Kursk Tumbler pigeons are the most common Russian breed. They were bred in the city of Kursk - hence the name.
The noble appearance of the birds is mesmerizing: black birds with white wings and a bright, shiny tint of plumage.
Unlike other pigeons, Kursk tumblers are large individuals with a well-developed wide chest and powerful wings. The tail can have up to 18 primary feathers.
The breed was bred without the participation of breeders. Kursk tumblers originated through the mating of ribbon pigeons, Nikolaev cloud-cutters and Oryol boroduns. The population of Kursk pigeons is characterized by excellent flight abilities.
Oryol white
The oldest breeds of Russian tumblers include Oryol white pigeons, bred in the 18th century by Count Orlov-Chesmensky. Because of the characteristic small crest on the back of the head, they are called Oryol crested.
Externally, white individuals from Orel are neat, beautiful and even funny birds. Among the features of this type are the following:
- pure white color (the presence of inclusions of any color is considered a defect);
- small size (barely noticeable) pinkish beak - the result of crossing with seagulls;
- small head with large blackish-brown eyes;
- elongated neck;
- wide convex forehead;
- eyelids with a bluish tint.
To maintain their flying abilities, Oryol white tumblers require constant training.
Bessarabian (Old Cossacks)
Starokazatsky (old Cossack) tumblers - the modern name for vertuns (paduns) - an old Bessarabian breed belonging to the group of the eastern population, is associated with the city of Starokazachye.
The Bessarabian pigeon is a medium-sized bird with a bent back and a wide tail.
The plumage can be of any color, since this feature is not important; the more important feature is the purity of color.
This species of white-winged bare-footed pigeons are highly skilled flyers.
Bryansk
Little known are Bryansk pigeons, descended from Turkish and Persian pigeons brought by the Cossacks to the Bryansk region. The population of this species is mainly distributed there; you can also find them in the Moscow region.
The Bryansk tumbler is a fairly tall bird with a round head and a medium beak. On the wide tail there are from 16 to 20 tail feathers. There may be a small tuft on the back of the head. These individuals are distinguished by a variety of colors: there are white, black, dark red or speckled pigeons.
Representatives of the population are characterized by excellent flight abilities, and they fly mainly in large flocks, reaching great heights and performing up to 3-5 various somersaults during the flight.
Odessa
The oldest representatives of the breed are considered to be the Odessa tumblers, brought by General Svinkin, for which they received the name “general breed” pigeons.
The body of this individual is slightly larger than average and has the shape of a cone. Her flat, narrow head looks like a snake.
The color of the eyes depends on the color: in light birds they are dark brown, in dark birds they are pearly. The body beak is a continuation of the forehead.
The color and pattern of the Odessa population is diverse. The most common are dark cherry birds with a white or dark gray (females) tail, as well as white birds with a red or cherry head (sometimes neck). Less common are dark gray, dark pink pigeons, single-colored ones - white, black, gray, whitish, red-belted. A characteristic feature is the mother-of-pearl tint of the plumage.
Proud posture, strong combat wings with wide flight feathers indicate good flying abilities.
It is very important to arrange daily training for Odessa tumblers to improve the quality of their summer.
Breeding and maintenance
Success in breeding directly depends on the proper care of the birds, as well as on the room in which the domestic pigeons will be kept.
Despite the fact that tumblers are unpretentious in care, the dovecote should be spacious, bright, and protected from adverse weather conditions.
It should be located on the south or southeast side so that ultraviolet rays, which have a beneficial effect on the health of individuals, fall there. Monitoring the humidity level in the room is mandatory.
The number of individuals kept in the aviary should not exceed 10-15 birds. If there are more of them, it is better to divide the dovecote space into sections. It is important to consider the size of window/door openings and entrances.
When keeping individuals year-round, it is necessary to equip the premises with heating and lighting.
To avoid illness in pets, the enclosure must always be kept clean.
To do this, you need to regularly carry out wet cleaning and disinfect the bird’s home.
Breeding pigeons is a troublesome and complex business. A short beak, considered an important characteristic of the breed, significantly reduces the chances of survival of the offspring.
In order for the chick to survive and fully develop, tumbler eggs are placed on individuals with a long beak. Pigeon breeders call them feeders. This approach increases the hatching rate by 2-4 times, allowing you to raise healthy, hardy, life-loving chicks.
Improper maintenance and care of birds can lead to:
- to the death of the breed;
- mating between related birds;
- decreased immunity;
- loss of nesting ability;
- reduction in life expectancy.
If you are not an experienced pigeon breeder, then when deciding to breed tumblers, be careful and consult with more experienced breeders.
Source: https://vseoferme.com/ptitsevodstvo/golubi/turmany/
Varieties
Turman pigeons are divided into several intrabreed types. The following types are considered the most famous:
- "Ribbon."
The tumbler pigeon of this variety has red, pearl, piebald or red-piebald plumage, and there is a white stripe-ribbon at the tip of its tail.
- "Kursky."
It was formed on the territory of the Russian city of the same name by crossing several breeds of pigeons, among which were ribbon spinners and beards. It has black and white plumage and can do a mid-air stance.
- "Orlovsky."
This tumbler pigeon is colored white and has a small forelock on the back of its head.
- "Kishinevsky."
The bird has a relatively long beak and an easy-going disposition. The color of its plumage is dominated by brown and cherry tones, and there is a light border on the edge of the tail.
- ”Odessa
This spinner is easily recognized by its proud posture, powerful wings and beautifully iridescent, velvety plumage. The color of the iris depends on the color of the bird. The light-colored whirligig has dark eyes. The dark-coated bird has a pearly iris.
- "Volsky."
A stocky, strongly built pigeon with a spherical head, protruding chest and a dark red beak. The plumage of the Volsky vertun is black with uneven white patches.
- ”Starokazatsky
This spinner is common in Ukraine and Moldova. It has a wide tail and black, white, yellow or blue plumage.
- "Bryansky."
This less common species is based on Persian and Turkish pigeons. The Bryansk tumbler has a round head, a wide tail and a medium beak. Its plumage is pockmarked, dark red, black or white.
Tape tumblers
Thurman with white plumage
Dove of the Thurman breed - ribbon, Odessa, Russian: photo, description
A breed of decorative pigeons called Thurman has gained popularity and is valued all over the world. These birds belong to the flying group. Thurmans are distinguished by mobility and agility. Representatives of the breed are divided into subspecies, each of which has its own characteristics.
Characteristic
A distinctive feature of Thurman pigeons is the ability to soar high into the sky. Birds can rise up to 200 and even 600 meters.
The flight of representatives of the species is characterized by a number of features. Pigeon connoisseurs say that this is real art. Birds are capable of:
- soar vertically upward without making circular turns;
- while in the air, do 4 to 6 flips;
- fall like a stone to the ground and level off your flight;
- do a “dead loop” in the air;
- perform somersaults through the wing, head or around its axis.
A dove tumbling in the sky looks like a spinning wheel. Such unusual abilities are explained by genetics. The breed began to be improved back in the 15th century. High-flying and rutting birds took part in the selection.
Now there are several types of tumblers known in the world:
- Kursk subspecies;
- Oryol variety;
- Russian tape;
- Ukrainian vertun;
- Russian black and piebald;
- Bryansk, Tula, Odessa and other varieties of high-flying pigeons bred in Russia.
Kursk Odessa Russian black and piebald
Appearance
It is widely believed that this variety has a rather inconspicuous appearance. Turman pigeons are characterized by a number of characteristics that allow them to be distinguished from other representatives of domesticated birds.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=84EwtSFcOQw
Main appearance features:
- small body;
- small head;
- short beak;
- high forehead;
- long curved neck;
- eyes of dark shades;
- the tail is raised and fluffed;
- widely spaced short legs;
- average weight - 800 g.
Another characteristic of the exterior is the presence of 12 or 13 tail feathers.
As for color, these birds are distinguished by the richness and variety of colors and shades of plumage.
Flight Features
Each subspecies of tumblers has different appearance characteristics. However, one feature stands out that is common to all representatives of this species. This is the remarkable flight ability of birds.
Thurmans belong to the group of flying pigeons. And here it is worth noting not only the ability of birds to rise into the air to great heights.
While in the sky, birds easily perform various tricks. Thanks to this ability, representatives of this breed are called spinning pigeons.
Birds somersault in the sky through their head or wing, turning around their axis in the air.
Thurmans are distinguished by physical strength and endurance. They spend a lot of time in the sky, and during the flight they are able to demonstrate up to 6 “circus tricks”.
These birds fly in small groups, competing with each other in the air and demonstrating unusual somersaults. Pigeon breeders admit that watching this spectacle is a real pleasure. After all, not every bird can do such “tricks.”
Bessarabian Old Cossacks
One of the “parts” of the name of the subspecies - Old Cossack (or Old Cossack) tumblers - is associated with the appearance of birds on the territory of our country. These pigeons belong to the eastern group of birds and were brought by the Cossacks.
The main characteristics of the exterior of Bessarabian tumblers:
- body of medium size;
- the tail is wide;
- back bent;
- absence of a crest and “pants”.
Bessarabians show a variety of colors. For representatives of this subspecies, unlike Orlov residents, a specific color does not matter. An important indicator is the purity of the color.
Bessarabians are often called lop-winged pigeons. This sign is another distinctive feature of the subspecies.
Pigeons are famous for their physical strength and endurance. Birds are capable of showing top class performances in the air. Bessarabians are considered excellent flyers.
Flight qualities
Thurman pigeons have their own characteristic features in each variety of this breed. But for all representatives, it is typical to spend a long time at high altitudes and perform various maneuvers - somersaults and inversions. It is worth emphasizing that such complex elements are not “too tough” for every bird.
Usually Odessa pigeons fly in groups, as if competing in their skills. After which they sit down to rest and soar up again. These birds are in flight most of the time; they are physically strong and resilient. During one flight, an individual can perform 3–5 different flips.
Thurmans are known throughout the world for their flying skills. In the West, they are called “rollers” because of their ability to perform flips in the air. Most often they can be seen in the sky in small groups - breeders are sure that this is how they compete. During one flight, a bird can make up to 6 somersaults, after which it needs time to rest.
Did you know? In the 17th century, an analogue of gunpowder was made from pigeon droppings. At that time, King George I of Great Britain declared all pigeon droppings in the country to be the property of the crown and obliged citizens to collect it.
Rzhev ribbon tumbler
The Rzhev ribbon tumbler belongs to the indigenous Russian game birds, clearly characterizing the successes achieved in the past by amateur pigeon breeders. The homeland is the city of Rzhev, which in the old days pigeon breeders called the “pigeon heart”.
The ribbon pigeon was called because of the well-defined white ribbon in the tail. Just like the Moscow gray, the ribbon tumbler is very popular not only in our country, but also far beyond its borders. The ribbon tumbler has an interesting four-century history.
The origin of Rzhevsky was associated with the Moscow hot tumbler - a pigeon with an elongated body, a white ribbon at the end of the tail and silver eyes. Our short-billed tumblers in those days were not known in the homeland of tumblers in India and Iran. The first information about small tumbling pigeons in Europe is given by Willoughby (1687), and the author does not talk about short-billed tumblers.
The birds brought to Europe from the East had a beak only slightly shorter than that of the common sizar. Moore, listing in detail the breeds of pigeons (1735), also did not say a word about the short-billed tumbler.
The appearance of a fairly perfect short-billed bird was noticed only by Charles Darwin: “There is reason to believe that then a dwarf, semi-ugly bird appeared, the ancestor of various short-billed breeds.”
Our ribbon tumbler, apart from the Western tumblers, on the same source material, the only one possible at that time, went through a selection process and was at least a century ahead in origin of the English short-billed tumblers, and therefore the almonds.
“Back in the 18th century, Rzhev was famous for its wonderfully handsome ribbon Pigeons,” notes N. Selennov (poultry farming magazine, No. 13, 1916). He describes in detail the appearance of the Russian ribbon tumbler in the past. Of course, no standard existed then.
Small pigeons with excellent flight qualities were considered the best. The pigeon was sold only “on the fly”. Flying competitions were held, sometimes at night.
The race of the ribbon birds was considered a necessary condition for their breeding; flight qualities were firmly inherited and progressed.
Presentation of the flights of the Rzhev ribbon pigeon.
The flight of the ribbon birds was very beautiful and complex. The takeoff began with a general friendly circle “in the wing,” higher and higher. When turning, some pigeons, keeping up with the others and almost without falling, turned over once or twice.
The flight of the ribbon birds was very beautiful and complex. The takeoff began with a general friendly circle “in the wing”, higher and higher. When turning, some pigeons, keeping up with the others and almost without falling, turned over once or twice.
The flock reached its maximum height and seemed to freeze in the air; after a short pause, a demonstration of “aerobatics” began: one pigeon turned over, followed by another and a third falling head over heels.
Finding themselves below, the pigeons, as if regretting the abandoned heights and the comrades left there, again went up into the sky. All this was repeated several times.
Turning over, tumbling in the language of cap lovers, is valued only at the top, in height. The “kat” in the air is performed in different ways: either through the head, tail, or “on the wing.” Somersaulting over the head, first from left to right, then from right to left, was highly valued in the past.
“Shattered” (either on the right wing or on the left) was less popular. Among the ribbon flyers, there are flyers who perform a complex trick: they repeatedly rotate around their axis with their wings open, the so-called Rzhevsky. A dove spinning more than five times was called a katun.
Nowadays, katuns are very rare and serve as decoration for the entire flock.
Flight defects include sliding down on a spread tail after turning over, somersaulting in a circle when rising upward with a lag and flying below the flock, sharp blows of wing on wing before turning over, when rising in a flock, during smooth flight in a circle.
Popularity of the Rzhev Tape breed
This pigeon was especially loved in Moscow, Tula, Kaluga, Orel, Kozlov (now the city of Michurinsk), Tambov, Tver, and Rybinsk. Here, under the influence of a different taste, different requirements, the appearance of the tape changes, and in many ways it begins to meet the modern standard.
The dove becomes somewhat larger, the shape of the head becomes faceted (the predominant shape of the lobacha type) with a short thick beak; The coloring of the head, back, wings of the chest, belly and undertail is standardized.
One of the new requirements is a large, wide gap in the tail (in the language of fans, “in the cap”)
For unknown reasons, the ribbon appears to a stronger degree in males than in females, and is, as it were, a secondary sexual characteristic. It has been noted that the absence of a ribbon in a male is often an indicator of poor development of the reproductive system.
Minor fixed differences and deviations in the characteristic characteristics of the breed in the 19th century resulted in breed types.
This is an old Kaluga pigeon, crested piebald low-legged with a beautiful figure, elegant plumage, but white-fronted, Tula (faceted head with a wide steep forehead, with an insufficiently strict pattern), Orlovsky (faceted head with a beautifully set beak, delicate wide white eyelids, large white shirtfront , starting from the chin, whiteness, insufficient scarlet feathers, whiteness of the tail), Morshansky (colored feather, fawn with a greenish-bronze tint).
In Moscow at that time, an independent breed of ribbon pigeons did not yet exist. Ribbons have never been a frozen breed.
This was a mobile, developing group of pigeons, which extraordinary pigeon breeders constantly worked to improve.
Some heterogeneity and constant exercise (rutting) during the development of the breed contributed to the fact that the ribbon pigeons were healthy, hardy and fertile pigeons.
Characteristics of the Rzhev ribbon tumbler
Appearance: Medium sized, slender, low-slung and always bare-legged. A raised tail and lowered wings below the tail (chirn posture) are typical.
The head is well rounded, but dry, not too large, the forehead is wide, high and round.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PrgAis-p-M0
The eyes are dark, large and expressive; the eyelid is white, smooth and quite wide.
The beak is flesh-white, short, thick and blunt, slightly directed downwards, with a beak; the cere is small, oval and smooth.
The neck is long, slender, thin just near the head, the throat is well defined, the back of the head is rounded and sloping vertically.
The chest is wide, convex, rounded.
The back is long, sloping towards the tail.
The wings are long, below the tail, and do not drag on the ground.
The tail is long, slightly raised and slightly spread. The number of feathers is from 12 to 16.
The legs are short, unfeathered, strong, coral-red in color.
The plumage is smooth, tightly fitting to the body.
The main color is red. Dark red (cherry) color is preferable.
The pattern is similar to that of a magpie, i.e. the cheeks, upper part of the throat, abdomen, legs and wings are white, everything else is brown-red in dark or light shades. There is a white ribbon at the end of the tail, but the end of the tail is red.
Breed standard for Rzhev ribbon pigeons
Since the breed was formed a very long time ago and gave rise to many other breeds of stately pigeons, the development of this breed has practically ceased and, in this regard, the breed standard practically coincides with its description. Below is a description of unacceptable shortcomings that you should pay attention to when purchasing a breed.
Unacceptable faults – the head is poorly rounded or long; the beak is thin, long or dark, set straight, without deflection; white or different eyes; narrow, red or warty eyelids; white forehead; white nape (ring); red cheeks (mustache); large or belly-length white shirtfront; short, full neck; white or mottled back; white feathers in the tail or in the “wedge” (undertail); a narrow (less than 2 cm) ribbon in the tail or its absence, especially in males;
There are also large red overhangs on the wings (overlaps); red groins; red belly; poor plumage color (brown, very light, gray or gray); The ride is too high or the shape is generally poor (short hull with short tail).
Source: https://dlaptits.ru/golubi/rzhevskij_lentochnyj_turman/2019-10-01-153
Conditions of detention
Since tumblers are a fairly valuable breed, they need proper care and assistance in breeding young animals.
A properly built dovecote has natural lighting, the presence of fresh air, and the maximum permissible cleanliness.
- It is important that the birds in the dovecote are protected from bad weather, and the sun's rays must penetrate into the structure in sufficient quantities.
- Cleanliness is no less important, since improper care leads to a decrease in natural immunity, poor nesting, weakness, and also a shortening of the life of pigeons.
- Since pigeons are bred in pairs, the required area is calculated based on this. To keep 1 pair of large pigeons you need at least 1 m3 of space.
- For mating and subsequent breeding, pigeons need nests. Small boxes are suitable for this. It is important that each female has her own nest. They are placed along the wall.
- The presence of perches, which are necessary for birds with feathered limbs or lowered wings, is also important. They are mounted at a height of 30 cm from the ceiling, the thickness of the perch should be 3 cm.
- Professionals recommend building feeders in the aviary - this will make it possible to keep the dovecote clean and also keep an eye on the birds while feeding.
- The temperature in the dovecote should be within 20°C; this is the optimal temperature regime for such birds.
- Thurmans need fresh air - even when they are in the dovecote. It is necessary to make a door that can be opened to ventilate the room, and in the spring, with its help, the air in the room will be able to heat up faster due to the influx of sunlight.
Enclosures are ideal as walking structures. They are made from a mesh with medium-sized cells. It is important that the walking space is protected from wind and precipitation.
In addition, it is extremely important that it is adjacent to the dovecote and the birds can enter the building at any time. Improper maintenance and poor care can lead to the death of the entire livestock.
Did you know? Tumbler chicks are hatched and fed by pigeons of another species, since with the standard method their flight performance is reduced by 4 times. In addition, this method allows you to increase the number of chicks, since soon after the eggs are taken from the mother, she again becomes ready to lay them.
Read more: Picking tomatoes in 2022 when to pick the lunar calendar
Turman pigeons video, photo
Thurmans (a breed of pigeon) got their name for their ability to somersault and turn over in the air through their head, tail and wing. A good thoroughbred tumbler makes so many turns in the air that it looks like a wheel spinning.
Tumbling pigeons were called tumblers in the CIS, and rollers abroad. Tumblers perform acrobatic somersaults through the head, tail and wing in one direction or another, at different heights, with single somersaults or in series of 3-5 somersaults or more.
When pigeons make a large series of somersaults over their heads, losing height and then returning to the flock, they are called catoons.
Today, everywhere in Ukraine you can see that the name “tumbler” is assigned to Nikolaev cloud cutters. This is incorrect, since the presence of vert in the flight of Nikolaev pigeons is considered a gross defect. The application of the word tumbler to other pigeons is connected with the fact. that over the past 50 years in Ukraine, pigeons of the Nikolaev breed have been the most popular and fashionable. Unfortunately, they began to equate other breeds of pigeons bred in Ukraine. Thus, the real tumbler flight in the Odessa and Kursk tumblers bred in Ukraine was lost.
The oldest Ukrainian breed of twirling pigeons, whose representatives are the greatest virtuosos of turmanian flight, are the Ukrainian twirling pigeons.
The history of this breed goes back to the distant 17th century to the Zaporozhye Cossacks, who at the beginning of the 17th century very often made campaigns across the Black Sea to Turkey and Persia.
Returning from these campaigns, the Cossacks brought numerous trophies, one of which was pigeons.
This breed of Ukrainian pigeons had its own name in different regions of Ukraine: they were simply called Vertuns. Elisavetgradsky. Old regime. Kherson residents.
Pigeons of this breed served as the main breeding material for the creation of Kryukov, Kremenchutsk, Kishinev Tupati, Beloglinsky stately, Vinnytsia multi-colored pigeons.
All these breeds are united by one single criterion: beautiful tumbler flight with vert and even cat.
The main breed characteristic is flight. Driven with the sunrise, a flock of Ukrainian vertuns quickly rises to a colossal height with energetic, frequent mincing flaps of their wings, as if on a spiral staircase. Some of them make a series of somersaults (5-6) and immediately catch up with their comrades with frequent flapping of their wings.
The pigeons seem to be in a hurry, while the sun is low, to rise as high as possible, overtaking each other. Upon reaching the maximum height, the fun begins: the pigeons begin to demonstrate all the virtuosity of their flight. The main mass rotates over the head, folding into a wheel.
It is difficult to count the number of somersaults (maybe 100 or more). Others flip backwards, making 10-20 turns. Still others fall in a downward spiral. Some birds spin so fast that they look like a ball of feathers. Before reaching 100-150 meters to the ground, the pigeons turn around and go up again. And so on several times.
Some pigeons die before they can open up.
Turman pigeons video
This video shows the conditions in which pigeons live and the process of feeding them.
Viennese tumbler pigeons
Tumbler nursery
The video shows the nursery of a family of pigeon breeders; the owner characterizes his pigeons. Detailed feeding processes, paying attention to the fact that often the process of feeding chicks has to be done artificially.
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Source: https://agrodelo.com.ua/kroli/golubi-turmany-video-foto.html
Pigeon breeders
The first memory of pigeon breeders is found in Russia 5 thousand years ago - in the ancient “Pigeon Book”. Pigeon farming is a huge layer of Russian history and culture, and pigeon breeders are unique people for whom pigeons are a way of life. This is sport, creativity, business, and pleasure. All life is Love and doves.
Turman pigeons: Odessa and other breeds
Thurmans are not a separate breed of bird. This is the name given to pigeons that are capable of performing coups in the air. These can be somersaults through the back, wing or tail.
After launch, they gain medium or low altitude, perform one or several somersaults, and rise upward. Then, tumbling, they go down.
The birds are very hardy and strong, but after a series of acrobatic exercises they need a little rest.
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They land on the roofs. If the pause is prolonged, the pigeons are chased with a stick. The ability to roll over is a hereditary trait, but it must be revealed in the bird. They definitely train with her. What breeds of pigeons are classified as tumblers? How to care for them?
Smolensk rooks
Pigeons of the Smolensk breed were called rooks because of their black plumage with a bright tint. The bird's homeland is Smolensk. Individuals exhibit good flight characteristics. They are fast, capable of rising into the sky, leaving the field of view, performing more than 3 somersaults in the air, and emerging into a pillar. The following characteristics are distinctive:
- massive build; body length 36-38 cm;
- wide back and chest;
- small head with a wide forehead; the plumage on the head is smooth, but there are also tufted individuals;
- the eyes have a silvery tint, the eyelids are wide and light;
- beak short; wide, white;
- there is a clearly visible light wax on the beak;
- on the lower surface of the beak there are skin growths in the form of warts; such growths can also appear on eyelids;
- limbs are short;
- the wings are drooping.
Despite the fact that the classic plumage color of Smolensk tumblers is black, breeders have bred individuals with colored feathers. There are lines with a coffee shade of plumage, fawn.
In the 30s of the 20th century, rooks were on the verge of extinction. The livestock was small. To prevent inbreeding, individuals of the Oryol Boredun breed began to be used for reproduction.
This method of connecting two lines contributed to the improvement of flight characteristics.
Oryol beards
The Black Oryol breed dates back to the 18th century. She was bred by serfs on the estate of Count A.G. Orlova. Hence the name of the breed.
They were called bearded birds because of the small area of white plumage under their beak. The birds are distinguished by their bright black body plumage and white “beard.” A maximum of 6 feathers per wing are white. The tail has the same shade.
There are Oryol birds with plumage of coffee, scarlet, and red shades.
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Orlovites have good high-flying qualities. They quickly gain altitude and leave the field of view. They can stay in flight for up to 12 hours. They perform their flips at medium altitude. Quality manifests itself most often in the 3rd year of life. Main characteristics:
- the build is large, but the body is not long; length 34-36 cm;
- Pigeons have a vertical landing; proud posture;
- the head has the shape of a cube, the forehead protrudes strongly forward;
- the eyes are large and silvery; eyelids wide, light; there are no growths on them;
- the bird belongs to the group of short-beaked individuals; the beak is wide, curved;
- the neck is arched, smoothly transitions into the back and chest;
- wings drooping, lowered below the tail;
- limbs are short, metatarsus without feathers.
Oryol white pigeons are included in a separate group. They inherited the body shape and flight qualities of tumblers from the borodunov. They have a forelock on their head, which gives the bird a certain piquancy. The tail has 12 tail feathers. No shades in the plumage are allowed.
Odessa tumblers
Short-billed pigeons were brought to Odessa by General Svinkin in the 50s of the 20th century. The birds were called general birds. Their plumage is multi-colored. Pigeons can be dark cherry: they are distinguished by their velvet hue. Red-headed and white-breasted individuals are popular. Individuals with pink feathers look unusual.
A line of the breed whose individuals have a red head color is considered purebred. Tumbler pigeons are distinguished by unique flight properties. They gain height and make a large number of downward flips. When no more than 100 m remains to the ground, they gain height again. Such birds are also called “vertuns”.
Pigeons first fly in a flock. They make 2-3 circles above the dovecote and begin to separate: they make an individual flight. They rise to a height unattainable to the eye, making circular movements. They do not fly further than the dovecote, despite the fact that they are well oriented in space. While descending, they perform up to 200 somersaults.
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Then they can take a break, resting on the roof. Odessa pigeons can stay in flight for up to 18 hours. They do not get lost. During long flights, the bird is driven every other day: individuals must restore their strength. The breed can be recognized by the following characteristics:
№Useful information
| 1 | body length 41-43 cm; individuals have an elongated build |
| 2 | the head is narrow, has no crests |
| 3 | the eyes are large, in birds with white plumage the eyes are dark, in individuals of a dark color the eyes have a silvery tint; eyelids are narrow, light, with a blue tint |
| 4 | the beak is elongated; size 25 mm; it is a continuation of the forehead, slightly lowered; the beak is massive |
| 5 | cere bright white, well defined |
| 6 | chest protrudes slightly forward |
| 7 | the back is narrowed with the tail forming a straight line |
| 8 | the tail is straight, smooth, the bird holds it straight; there are 12-14 tail feathers in the tail; length 18 cm |
| 9 | limbs of medium length, metatarsus red; height 9 cm |
| 10 | the wings are strong, located at the level of the tail; wing length 30 cm; span 83 cm |
The plumage of pigeons of the Odessa breed seems to be covered with haze. Externally they look velvety. A distinctive feature is the structure of their head. She looks like a snake. The beak has a small hump. Birds are highly trainable.
Diseases
Turmans can get sick en masse if they are given low-quality food or if the dovecote is damp and dirty. Major serious illnesses:
- Twirly. The pigeon staggers when walking and often tilts its head to the side. If these signs are not noticed in time, the disease develops quickly.
- Paramyxovirus. Signs: the pigeon drinks greedily and a lot, excretes liquid droppings, its neck curls, it stops eating and drinking, and paralysis occurs.
- Parasites
- Infectious
Trichomoniasis
Main symptoms, measures for treatment and prevention of the disease
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Worms
What is the danger of infection, how to treat and prevent it
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Paratyphoid
A disease that leads to pathological changes in the gastrointestinal tract and the development of septicemia.
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Psittacosis
Disease with severe respiratory disorders
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Coccidiosis
An infectious disease that affects the tissues of the gastrointestinal tract
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Smallpox
Infectious disease of pigeons. Affects the skin, mucous membranes and leads to the death of the bird
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Salmonellosis
Characterized by indigestion, fatal to birds
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Photo gallery
Photo 1. Oryol breeding pigeon
Photo 2. Two white Oryol doves
Photo 3. Tula tumbler pigeon in a cage
What color are the birds?
Volga pigeons are distinguished by a unique color scheme, predominantly with clear boundaries. The texture is rich. Smooth and shiny. The plumage of the head, neck, back, chest, rump and tail is cherry, occasionally yellow. The mandible, cheeks, eyebrows, legs, belly, throat, wings are distinguished by a white tint.
A distinctive feature is a white stripe on the tail. The width of such a strip is one or two centimeters, it runs across the tail.
Flight Features
All high-flying pigeons are distinguished by their flight technique:
- The round ones gradually rise upward and can circle in the sky for several hours.
- Persistent flyers soar upward without making a single circle and hover at high altitudes almost motionless.
Estimation of flight altitude
The main quality of the high-flying breed of pigeons is the duration of the flight and the maximum height to which the birds rise. To determine the approximate height estimate, a special scale has been developed:
- The height of the bell tower is 100-120 m.
- Lark - 150-350 m.
- Sparrow - 450-650 m.
- Butterfly - 640-840 m.
- Flickering height, when the size of the bird is determined by a point - 1250-1550 m.
Note! The maximum lifting height for high-flying pigeons is 1700 m.
Subtleties of breeding
In the spring, pigeons begin their breeding season. To obtain purebred tumblers, healthy, young birds without defects in exterior are selected from the adult population. The weight of females should not exceed the norm, otherwise they will not lay eggs. To control, you need to mark the date of laying of each egg in order to calculate when the chicks will appear.
In the nest of tumbler pigeons there are 1, usually 2 eggs. Incubation time is 16-19 days (the warmer the room, the faster the pigeons will hatch). Both parents feed the chicks until they are one month old. Then they move on to laying the next pair of eggs and incubating them. During the warm season they can produce several broods in a row.
