The beauty of pigeons is mesmerizing. That is why their breeding fascinates many people. The variety of breeds, colors, and the feeling of flight that birds share with their owners rarely leaves anyone indifferent. A detailed description of the Agaran pigeon breed will help you get acquainted with this elegant variety of birds, which many pigeon keepers dream of getting into their own flock.
Origin of agarans
The west of Afghanistan is considered the homeland of Turkmen agarans.From there the birds came to Turkmenistan, Iran, and then, thanks to their beauty, grace and excellent flight qualities, they spread throughout Europe. The breed remains elite; Agarans are among the most expensive varieties of pigeons.
These beauties appeared in Russia at the beginning of the twentieth century; since the mid-50s of the last century, work has been underway to preserve and improve the breed. Agaranas got their name from the delicate shades of their plumage; it is translated from Turkmen as “cream of camel’s milk.” These are fighting pigeons - birds can somersault in flight, while noisily beating their wings. Agarans are a national treasure of Turkmenistan.
Description and characteristics of the breed
Agarans are graceful birds of medium size, with strong, well-developed wings. Their head is small, rounded, the beak is light, with a blunt tip and a small wax. The eyes are gray or golden in color with light eyelids. The combination of golden, beige and white tones in color adds to the attractiveness of the bird; the head is light ash, the chest is the color of baked milk or a light coffee shade, the wings are white with beige belts and the same border on the tail.
The chest of pigeons is wide, powerful, the graceful back goes into a luxurious tail. The feathers are long and stiff, the plumage is dense. Long wings intersect at the tail. The paws of birds have spurs; they are also covered with thick plumage, forming a so-called pedestal. Females are slightly smaller and more graceful than males.
Pigeons have excellent flight qualities; they can somersault in flight and fly high, giving people the opportunity to admire their breathtaking stunts.
Breeding goals
Birds are decorative, they are not eaten, and due to their beautiful light color they are often used in wedding ceremonies, although birds of pure white color are very rare. These pigeons are the pearl of any pigeon keeper's collection.
Pros and cons of the breed
The maintenance and cultivation of agarans has its own nuances.
At the same time, agarans are excellent parents; chicks are characterized by high survival rate.
Flight Features
The ability to somersault in the air is a feature of this breed. The bird rises up in a spiral and does a somersault at the top point. Birds fly high and perform amazing tricks. They spend no more than 4 hours in the air, which is not much for a fighting species, but if they are unable to fly, they get sick and lose their skill. In Afghanistan and Iran, owners often place bets, competing in the height and beauty of the flight of birds.
Maintenance requirements and breeding rules
When paired, pigeons must match each other in color and flight characteristics. The couple is placed in a separate cage. Doves are caring parents; they patiently hatch their few offspring.
When the female leaves to feed, the male replaces her on the nest. No more than 2-3 chicks are hatched per year.
The male cares for the babies equally with the female. They feed the chicks on their own. A pair with chicks should always have free access to food and clean water. Month-old chicks already feed on their own; birds reach sexual maturity at one year. At the age of 1 month, birds are vaccinated against salmonellosis and Newcastle disease.The young begin to fly after 2 months.
Premises with pigeons should be kept clean, droppings should be removed regularly, and birds should be provided with balanced food and clean water. Agarans usually coexist peacefully with other breeds, but if quarrels arise, they can cause damage to the offenders.
Diet
The birds are fed a grain mixture, including: barley, millet, wheat, and peeled oats. During the period of molting, egg-laying, incubation and feeding of chicks, legumes are included in the diet. In addition, birds need fresh grass, salt, eggshells or shells to obtain calcium, and charcoal to enrich them with minerals.
Many pigeon keepers buy vitamin complexes for their pets, which are added to the water.
Birds are fed 3 times a day in summer and 2 times a day in winter. Argans consume 30 grams of grain mixture daily. Birds should not be given meat, fish, sweets, brown bread and dairy products (cottage cheese). Sunflower seeds are not given because pigeon liver cannot cope with fatty foods. Chicks are given up to 40 grams of grain mixture per day.
Diseases and their treatment
Vaccinations are carried out against salmonellosis, whirlwind (Newcastle disease), and smallpox. If psittacosis occurs, antibiotics are prescribed (Tetracycline, Azithromycin), the dosage and duration of treatment is determined by the veterinarian. Sick individuals are isolated.
In the dovecote, disinfection must be carried out: the walls are whitened with lime, the floors are washed with a hot soda solution or formaldehyde solution, bedding, droppings, feed, which may be infectious, are burned. Thoroughly wash drinking bowls and feeders with hot soda solution.Symptoms of ornithosis are: changes in the shape of the eyes (become oval), the color of the iris, the eyelids stick together, the feathers around the eyes fall out, lacrimation and photophobia appear. Diarrhea, shortness of breath and wheezing occur. Lost appetite.
Pigeons often get sick with trichomoniasis. The medicine for the prevention of the disease is used for a week, it is started before the chicks hatch and continues during their feeding period. They use Ornitozol, Trichopolum, Metronidazole. Helminthiasis is treated by prescribing anthelmintic drugs in the dosage prescribed by the doctor.
To avoid infestation with fleas or pigeon bugs, periodically treat the dovecote with Trichlorometaphos and prevent dirt in the room and crowding of birds. With proper nutrition, maintenance, the presence of vitamins and timely vaccination, the risk of disease becomes minimal. Agarana pigeons are beautiful and easy to keep birds. But they need flights, so they require extra attention. Love for birds, knowledge and experience - without this you will not be able to start breeding birds.
