advice on breed of pouters

[pigeedoodle]

Hi Guys,
Well, I've been doing my best to learn all and that included getting some old magazines with pictures of the breeds. Anyway, I was leaning toward a flying sort (maybe Nuns?) but BIG surprise my husband saw a picture of a pouter and fell in love! I would have never guessed!! He enjoys my animals and all but to express a preference (and a big one at that) shocked me. So anyway I ramble. What I'm interested in is the nitty gritty good bad and ugly of the different breeds of pouters. I can find a lot of info on the standard of each but not really the "reality" of keeping them. When I tell people about my breed of dog I always stress the difficult parts first. So here's my questions -- which breed of pouter would you say is the easiest for a beginner? Is there a breed which tends to be good parents? It sounds like they are all characters (which I like!) but which one might be the most friendly? I saw mention something about having crop troubles (food rotting) -- is there a breed that minimizes that? And lastly, this one is also for me...is there a breed that tends to have more colors (this one is the least important)? Oh and how hard are the fleathered legs to care for (it looks like a couple of breeds have feathered legs). I did find out that they are not strong flyers (not surprised) but I will still want good sized flight pens so they can get out and about right?
Thanks so much!!!!!! Con

[kiss]

thanks you very much
iyado

[MaryOfExeter]

My dad used to raise Pigmy Pouters and Norwich Croppers (pretty much a bigger version of pouters), so of course they would be my favorites of the pouters and croppers. He said he never had any bad problems with them raising, but he had his pairs separated into different cages. It might be a bit different for the pairs breeding in a loft....
They might not be much good for flying, but when they do, they are beautiful Their long wings and body make them look goofy when they fly, and they don't get up very high. There are some breeds that DO fly though, like Horsemans. As far as the feathers go, it shouldn't be too hard. If they have long muffs, try to use some type of shavings on the floor of the loft, and use V-perches if you can. Of course if you keep the loft clean and provide them with bathing water on nice sunny days, they should stay clean By the way, not all pouters have feathered feet. Some are clean-legged, and some are just grouse-legged (short feathering down the legs and on the feet). And of course, there are some with longer muffs.

Here's some websites that may help you out:
http://www.angelfire.com/ia/npcc/
http://www.angelfire.com/ia/npcc/TimBurke.html
http://www.feathersite.com/Poultry/P...RKPouters.html
http://www.feathersite.com/Poultry/P...KCroppers.html
http://www.horsemanpouters.co.uk/pouters2.htm
http://www.blueridgebiological.com/h...ef-pouters.htm
http://www.pigmypouter.com/appc_history.htm


I could probably find a lot more sources but I don't want to give you too much at once, haha. I recommend Pigmy Pouters myself actually, and not just because my dad raised them. It's because they, more than most other breeds of pigeons, love to be handled, talked to, and have notice taken of them. I think they'd make the perfect pets

[pigeedoodle]

Thanks Becky! I am attracted to the idea of Pigmy pouters. I like small breeds of things (I raise and show Italian Greyhound dogs -- a very small sighthound ). I'm assuming they do have feathered legs? I'm also interested in Brunner pouter (clean legs) -- does anyone have any knowledge of those? I'll have to probably get on a pouter list -- but I really was trying to limit myself to just one or two lists -- it's amazing how much time they can suck up . I really like this list because it has such a different group of folks!
Thanks again, Con

[horsesgot6]

I Love the Bunner Pouters What sweet Birds they Are My Bunner Pouter Is What Got Me Into The pouter Breed. They Can Be Hard to Find. But if You do get The Chance and Find Them They Are Nice Birds To Have. Then i Also Like The Horseman Pouters i have A Pair Of Them Now The Man i got Them from Let His Pouters Fly Free And He Sad They Are really Good flyers I've Never Let My Birds Fly Free Now Scare Something Will Get them. I Had Some That did Fly Free But Gave Them To A friends Son Not To Long ago.
Good Luck With Your Pouters When You Get Some i Know A Breeder That may Have Some Horseman or Pom Pouters for sale If Your Looking That is Who I got My horseman Pouters From And He Is A Super Nice Man. he may Even Have Some burnner Pouters To.

[MaryOfExeter]

Originally Posted by pigeedoodle

Thanks Becky! I am attracted to the idea of Pigmy pouters. I like small breeds of things (I raise and show Italian Greyhound dogs -- a very small sighthound ). I'm assuming they do have feathered legs? I'm also interested in Brunner pouter (clean legs) -- does anyone have any knowledge of those? I'll have to probably get on a pouter list -- but I really was trying to limit myself to just one or two lists -- it's amazing how much time they can suck up . I really like this list because it has such a different group of folks!
Thanks again, Con

Your welcome
Yes, they do have feathered legs. The feathers go all the way down the leg, and they feathers on their feet hardly get any longer than their toes, so I don't think you'd have much of a problem with feather legs. Let's see if I can find you some more on just the Brunners...I do know that they are the same size (if not then just an ounce or two more) as the Pigmies. Also, both the Brunners and the Pigmies come in just about any color. The only exception is that in Pigmy pouters, if it is a solid color, it more more than likely white....While in Brunners, you can have any solid color. Also, pied Pigmies are colored but keep the white cresent mark on their globe, flights, legs/waist/thighs, and some white on the wingshield.


http://www.angelfire.com/ca/Capuchine/page3.html
http://www.angelfire.com/ia/npcc/brunner.html
http://www.cichlidlovers.com/birds_brunners.htm
http://pets.groups.yahoo.com/group/thiefpouters/ (a discusion group for all pouters and croppers)
http://www.eggbid.com/listings/index...gory=960337699 (might want to check back there often, they had some Brunners not too long ago I think)

That was....about it....I would definately suggest you join that yahoo group though. It must might be the best way to find people close to you that raise the pouters you're looking for

[philodice]

I love the feathery pants!

[mcalpine]

Hello,
My name is Robert from Aberdeen scotland my wife saw your post and
I have recently started breeding horsemen pouters again. I first started when I was young but moved around some but you cant stay a way from horsemen for long
They are the thoroughbred of pouters They originated from glasgow and
are the most amazing flying birds you will ever see, A horseman in
good condition can fly very well. I have had every kind you can think of
but nothing can compare to the horseman.In glasgow their are two
types of horseman.I have show birds the other Is a working bird . This will seem strange to you when I explain what the working bird is used for ,This is when their breeding comes in to it .You take the doo away from his hen for a few days and you let him out alone some one in the area lets a hen out that has
been a way from her doo for a few days ,now when the birds meet in the sky
the doo trys to get the hen home and the hen trys to get the doo home
who ever wins keeps the bird. if you want more info i can tell you where to
get horseman pouters in the states