A while back I came across a photo of a flock of pigeons that were multi-coloured – painted vibrant reds, greens, pinks and purples. It was a beautiful photo. It struck me as something fanciful and playful. The photo didn’t have a caption so I didn’t know who or why the pigeons were dyed as they were and I soon forgot about it.
A few days ago I came across another photo of painted pigeons and my curiosity was awakened. I needed to find out the story behind the photos so I googled ‘painted pigeons’ and ‘coloured pigeons’ to see what would pop up.
To my disappointment only a few photos appeared with little to no information, however, after careful searching through the internet I managed to find a link to a website that explained the photos. Finally!
But first I had found a site with photos of coloured racing pigeons from the Murcia region of Spain: http://www.shutterstock.com/pic-15248305/stock-photo-coloured-racing-pigeons-from-the-murcia-region-of-spain.html
As well as these photos: http://www.flickr.com/photos/staffy/3345022740/in/set-72157604833950737/
After more googling I found this one:
Image from: http://oreneta.com/kalebeul/
Two people had commented on the photo explaining everything, with a link to the following website: http://www.cichlidlovers.com/birds_pica.htm
So basically the Picas (Spanish Modern Thief Pouters, Palomas Deportiva) are flown in a competition – the cock pigeons chasing a hen. The cock pigeons are painted so that the judges can identify which pigeon is whose and score them according to how close a cock pigeon gets to the hen and impresses it with its courting abilities. The one that gets the most points wins. (To read more on this go to: http://www.cichlidlovers.com/birds_pica2.htm)
While I find the painted pigeons very beautiful it was quickly pointed out to me (by my lovely husband) that it must not be a nice experience for the pigeons. Most pigeons don’t like to be held and have their wings and feathers manipulated for any length of time (even Georgie, who’s extremely tame, doesn’t like it) so I can imagine that the painted pigeons must experience discomfort and distress from being painted.
And then to tease the cock pigeons by depriving them of hens and finally release them to chase a single hen pigeon for hours (even days in some cases)! I have to admit that I feel very sorry for both the cock pigeons and the hen. It’s not really fair for them. Why should they be treated in such a way just to satisfy human beings desire to ‘compete’ and win money?
Some people might think that I’m being overly judgemental and idealistic, however, I don’t like animals being used for human gain unnecessarily – especially for so called ‘sport’. I believe that animals should be admired and respected and seen for what they truly are – incredible beings that can feel and experience life in ways we do not.
It bothers me too when animals are used for human gain and what you have described doesn’t seem like a sport at all.
First of all it’s a hobby that’s been around for years and the hen bird is took away it makes the male pigeon more keen to come home as used in both world wars when they were let go during bombin raids and second they are food dyes which the bird has been dipped in these birds it’s for a anti hawk strike aswell because the hawks are killing the pigeons big time over a thousand a day in Britain
Hello Martin, just because something has been around for years doesn’t make it right. If you read my post you’d realise that I like, admire and respect pigeons (I have two disabled ones). I’ve not read any evidence that painting a pigeon will deter a hawk from attacking it, so don’t think it’s a valid reason to paint them, even if it is with food dye. But everyone is entitled to their opinions, so thank you for commenting.
Painting pigeons can deter a hawk strike you have to try something with the ever increasing number of Raptors eating all the songbirds and attacking peoples pets and pigeons.
I hate it when animals are bred and either exploited in Battery cages for eggs or killed to eat for human gain.
I suppose it depends what they are painted with, if it food colouring then no harm done, gloss paint would be another story, lol.
Hi Kev, I don’t see how painting a pigeon will deter a hawk from attacking it, in fact, I would think the colourful paint would make the pigeon more noticable to hawks. And hawks and raptors are only doing what is natural to them – they aren’t eating all the songbirds – just catching some here and there. Cats are in fact more of a problem than hawks. I don’t like animals being exploited by humans and I really don’t see the point of painting pigeons simply for fun. What do the pigeons gain from it? Thank you for commenting.
Hi Revati, the main problem to the sport of pigeon racing is Hawks at the moment, when a hawk or hawks attack a flock of pigeons during their training flight. In some areas of the UK it is impossible to train your pigeons without an attack on them.
The birds become terrified and split in different directions flying until exhausted in the wrong direction of home, with I must add great suffering to the pigeons and many losses experienced to the owner of the birds.
I have found success by liberating my pigeons in small groups colour coordinated 5 or 10 mins apart and this cuts down on the attacks as they are less easily seen by the Hawks and if a group is attacked it only affect that unfortunate group and not the whole squadron of birds.
Often the terrified pigeons are driven into Electricity pylons in panic when coming through valley networks on the way home and being attacked and I have witnessed this type of thing on a few occasions. It is heartbreaking when they arrive home half eaten or with broken legs due to attack. I have 4 birds We stitched up after their crops and or part of their backs were eaten but they managed to get away. Pigeons are amazingly tough things.
The hawks attack all colours of birds and the idea is that the birds are painted with food colouring under the wings usually orange as if the Hawk (Peregrines are the worst offenders) see the flashing colour at the last moment before strike it can deter them.
Cats are no problem at all to most sensible pigeon fanciers and are easily kept away from the pigeons but unfortunately the hawks are in the towns now taking fanciers pigeons from their own gardens too.
Hawks and or Raptors may well be doing what is natural to them but there are now too many around due to over conservation and this has tipped the balance of nature. They are hanging around peoples gardens in towns near to bird feeders attacking the song birds that feed there.
Along with the disappearing hedgerows Hawks are helping to destroy the population of the song birds.
As regards your other point regarding these very clourfully painted pigeons “Painting Pigeons for Fun” firstly they are dyed with harmless food colourant not actually painted and it is not for fun it is so that each bird can be identified by the juges when doing their Courtship of the hen.
As to what the birds gain from it well they get love and healthcare as well as good food and clean water every day from their owner.
It is no different than having a dog say a fancy poodle and showing it or dressing it up in clothes as some do.
As long as the animal is not being harmed and it is well treated I have no issue with that.
Out walking in my neighborhood, I just saw a group of five of these colored birds violently attacking a hen who was too exhausted to fly possibly on the verge of death. I picked up the hen to help her escape. One of the colored ones then followed me & landed in the street and got hit by a car. I felt terrible. An internet search lead me to this page. I have never seen anything like this so called sport. I don’t think it is right.
Hi W, it’s sad to hear of what you have seen but I’m glad you were able to help the hen. It’s not nice that one of the pigeons got killed by a car. What you have described shows how the so called “sport” is not without risks. Very sad indeed.
When you say attacking the hen you mean trying to get its attention to mate with it, the hen was probably sick this is how the cockbirds behave in their natural environment out in the wild.
Pigeons will gang up and kill any sick among the colony, young and old, this is why even when they are ill they pretend that they are Ok by blowing up their feathers to appear bigger than what they are. I doubt the hen was exhausted by flying as pigeons will fly hundreds of miles.
I clocked one from Barcelona last year after it flew 650 miles and it chose to go out and fly around the pigeon loft clapping its wings the very next day.
Now Foxhunting or badger baiting is cruel and so is confining chickens to battery farms to exploit them for eggs.
Hello Kev, I think we should simply agree to disagree on this subject since we clearly have different opinions on it, and I don’t think we will change each others minds on the subject.
Hi Revati, Well I think that there are far more disturbing things going on against animals on a huge scale in every day life in the few examples I gave than to worry about people dying pigeons with food colourant.
It is commendable that you like and look after sick animals and I wish you all the best. Kev.
Did you find any information on the particular paint used? I mean…these pigeons are beautiful, but I can’t help but feel some concern – Im curious as to if the paint is animal safe and nontoxic to the birds :/