UN SDG
Livestock Studies
2012, Vol 52, Num, 1 (Pages: 021-031)
Hatchability, Viability and Growth Characteristics of Tumbler Pigeons
2 Ankara Üniversitesi Veteriner Fakültesi, Ankara - This study was conducted to determine the incubation period, incubation efficency, egg yield and weight, number of brood, adult alive weight, viability of the tumbler pigeons which are raised in the coops of 5 commercial enterprises located in Ankara between the dates of the 1st of September 2006 to the 1st September 2007. 200 tumbler pigeons were used consisting of equal number of male and female. Female pigeons were divided into three age group (1 - 3; 4 - 6 and 7 +). The average incubation period was determined as 19.49 ± 0.04 days. The effect of the season was found significant (P<0.001) but the effect of hen`s age was not significant. The highest incubation efficiency was found in summer with 94.00 % and the lowest incubation efficiency was found in spring with 77.50 %. In terms of incubation efficiency the differences between seasons were found significant (P<0.001). The highest incubation efficiency of the hen`s age was identified 89.00 % with the middle age group, the lowest yield was identified. 85.70 % in the young hen`s. The effect of hen`s age on the incubation efficiency is insignificant. The number of eggs in fall, winter, spring and summer was found to be 4.31 ± 0.11; 3.59 ± 0.01; 3.76 ± 0.07 and 2.00 ± 0.00, respectively. The effect of season value is significant (P<0.001). The number of eggs for young, middle and old aged hens were found as 3.40 ± 0.10; 3. 46 ± 0.09 and 3.43 ± 0.11 respectively. The differences among groups were insignificant. The annual number of eggs per pigeon by young, middle-aged and elderly were found 13.68 ± 0.16; 13.55 ± 0.15; 13.72 ± 0.13, respectively. The average weight of eggs were identified as 16.85 ± 0.05 g. The effect of season was significant (p<0.01); the effect of the age was insignificant. The average alive weight was obtained at day 1, 16, 30 and 60 was found to be 39.26 ± 0.79; 188.87±0.47; 250.16 ± 0.52 and 257.66 ± 0.16 g, respectively. While the impact of season was significant (P<0.05; P<0.001); the effect of hen`s age was insignificant. The average of adult alive weights of female and male were found as 284.58 ± 1.19 and 296.67 ± 1.13g respectively. The effect of gender was significant (P<0.001). The average percentage of viability rates of broods in 7th , 30th and 60th days were determined as 92.70, 74.40 and 73.80 %, respectively. The effect of the season was significant (P<0.05, P<0.001). The highest viability rate was obtained in summer. The effect of hen`s age was significant (P<0.001). As a result, in this study the hatchability characteristics and viability rates obtained for Tumbler Pigeons were found high. Eggs obtained from pigeons all seasons in a year and their brood has been observed. Keywords : Growth, hatchability characteristics, tumbler pigeon, viability
