How to Breed Turkish Tumblers
The Turkish Tumbler is a fancy pigeon breed originally created in Turkey and related to the various other tumbler pigeons found throughout Europe and North America. The name refers to the bird's ability to spin or tumble while flying. They will often tumble every two to three feet in flight, making for a remarkable performance. Learn how to breed Turkish Tumblers to replenish your pigeon stock and increase your pet pigeon population.
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Things You'll Need
- Breeding pair
- Pigeon coop
- Nesting bowl
- Grain feed
- Crushed oyster shells
- Calcium gluconate
- Pairs of foster parents
Instructions
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Obtain a breeding pair of Turkish Tumblers. The best breeding pairs can be purchased from a local master breeder. You may find referrals at your local feed store or in your local newspaper's classified ads. Additionally, check the breeding clubs listed with the National Pigeon Association (see Resources), as well as the classifieds in magazines such as Purebred Pigeon Magazine (see Resources). Consider purchasing a pair that has received tumbling certification from the American Parlor Roller Association (APRA), meaning the birds have met the association's minimum tumbling standards. The APRA can be reached at 2112 6th St., Bay City, Michigan 48708.
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Release the breeding pair into your pigeon coop or house. Feed the Turkish Tumblers. A pigeon-specific feed formulation can be purchased from your local feed store. Such feeds are grain-based and feature carbohydrate-rich seeds like dried peas as well as fatty, oily grains like corn, which help bolster the birds' plumage.
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Set up a separate feeding dish from their grain hopper and fill it with crushed oyster shells. Also add liquid calcium gluconate to their drinking water, according to the supplement's manufacturer's formula-specific instructions. Both oyster shells and calcium gluconate can be purchased from your local farm feed store. The two supplements help prepare the female pigeon for laying eggs.
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Place a nesting bowl into the pigeon coop and scatter straw, hay and dried grass on the bottom of the coop. The Turkish Tumblers will begin using the nesting bowl to build a nest with the dried material.
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Wait for the Turkish Tumblers to mate. This will typically occur after the pigeons have gotten used to their new home. Once the tumblers have mated, the female will lay two eggs in the nesting bowl within 10 days. Both the male and female Turkish Tumbler will then incubate the eggs for up to 20 days, taking turns sitting on the nest every day.
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Observe the nesting pair. Keep the feed hopper full, as the breeding pair will eat the grain and regurgitate it as a liquid to the baby pigeons. The babies will be ready to live on their own after approximately one month. During this time, the Turkish Tumbler pair will likely begin mating and incubating another pair of eggs. Turkish Tumblers can mate and breed year-round, and breeders should separate the pair if they do not want anymore pigeons.
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Tips & Warnings
There are many types of Turkish Tumblers, with each strain named after its city of origin. The tumbling ability of each bird is influenced both by its strain, as well as its breeding heritage. Each strain also varies in color. For example, the Kahve Rengie is a darker bird with a green neck, while the Aynah Sabuni is a white bird with a grey neck and black bars on its wings. Your choices will likely be limited by what's available from local breeders.
References
Resources
- Photo Credit Raj Shekhar/sxc.hu
