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Abnormal Feathers in Pigeons
Breed: Bokhara trumpeter, Dresden trumpeter, English fantail, English pouter, English trumpeter, fairy swallow, Ghent cropper, Hungarian giant house, Indian fantail, Jacobin, Lahore pigeon, Old dutch capuchine, Old german cropper, reversewing pouter, Saxon fairy swallow, Tiger swallow, Trumpeter.
Related terms: feathered feet, hoods, fantails
Outline: Various breeds of pigeons have been selected for a range of plumage abnormalities: abnormalities of feather size, position and number. These variously compromise capacities for locomotion (walking, perching and flight), for mating and rearing young, for feeding and probably also for maintaining thermal comfort. The effects these have on the birds' quality of life is difficult to assess but it seems likely that they are negative.
Summary of Information
(for more information click on the links below)
1. Brief description
Many breeds of pigeons have patterns of feathering that, because of the abnormal size or position of the feathers, interferes with normal behaviour (Baptisa et al 2009). Examples include: a hood or mane of feathers covering the head and eyes, feathered legs and feet (“muffs” or “leggings”), and fantails. A group of breeds called fantails have tail feathers held constantly fanned out. Rather than being positioned to assist in flight, they severely affect the aerodynamics of the birds (Baptista et al 2009). These breeds also have higher than normal number of tail feathers. Abnormal feathers can cause difficulties in feeding, drinking, perching, flying and breeding.
2. Intensity of welfare impact
These feather abnormalities may cause stress, discomfort or frustration but the extent to which they do so is difficult to assess. Some of these breeds are unable to mate or rear young without trimming of the feathers that compromise the ability to perform these functions.
3. Duration of welfare impact
Plumage development is completed within a few weeks from hatching. The effects of abnormal plumage are life-long.
4. Number of animals affected
All individuals of these breeds are affected.
5. Diagnosis
The abnormalities are readily apparent.
6. Genetics
These conditions have a clear genetic basis. All individuals of these breeds are affected by the abnormalities that are characteristic of them. However the genes involved in the various feather abnormalities have not been investigated (Wexelsen 1933, Baptista et al 2009).
7. How do you know if an animal is a carrier or likely to become affected?
All individuals of the breeds are affected.
8. Methods and prospects for elimination of the problem
It is difficult, as noted above, to assess the welfare effects of plumage abnormalities on welfare. Those who are concerned that they may affect the birds' quality of life may wish to avoid obtaining or breeding the following breeds which show such abnormalities: Bokhara trumpeter, Dresden trumpeter, English fantail, English pouter, English trumpeter, Fairy swallow, Ghent cropper, Hungarian giant house, Indian fantail, Jacobin, Lahore pigeon, old Dutch capuchine, old German Cropper, reverse-wing pouter, Saxon fairy swallow and Tiger swallow.
For further details about this condition, please click on the following:
(these link to items down this page)
- Clinical and pathological effects
- Intensity of welfare impact
- Duration of welfare impact
- Number of animals affected
- Diagnosis
- Genetics
- How do you know if an animal is a carrier or likely to become affected?
- Methods and prospects for elimination of the problem
- Acknowledgements
- References
1. Clinical and pathological effects
Hundreds of breeds and varieties have been derived from the domesticated pigeon Columba livia domestica by selective breeding (Darwin 1859). Their wild ancestor (Columba livia) has a fast and vigorous flight. In some cases there has been selection for enhanced homing and flying abilities, and in others, there has been selection for arbitrary or novel aspects of appearance. There are many breeds with abnormal plumage as a result of selection of individuals that showed abnormalities of feather, size, number, or position. In some cases these interfere with normal behaviour (Baptisa et al 2009). Three types of plumage abnormalities are outlined below.
- Hood or mane of feathers covering the head. The extent of this varies between breeds and individuals but those with the most extreme form, at first look, may appear to be headless as the head is completely hidden by the fringe of long feathers which drape down from the top of the head. Affected breeds include the Jacobin, old Dutch capuchine and old German cropper. Birds with this plumage abnormality are unable to raise their own offspring which, instead, have to be fostered by pigeons with normal plumage (http://www.burkesbackyard.com.au/factsheets/Birds/Jacobin-Pigeon/983).
- Feathered legs and feet (“muffs” or “leggings”). Some breeds have been selected for long feathers on the lower legs and feet (Darwin 1868). These include the Dresden trumpeter, English pouter, English trumpeter, Ghent cropper, reverse wing pouter, Lahore pigeon, Saxon blue spangle, Saxon fairy swallow, Shack Kee of China, and tumbler of Craiora. These feathers interfere with normal perching and walking and act as aerial brakes during flight, such that these birds are poor fliers.
Some breeds – such as the Bokhara trumpeter - have both long feathers on the feet and a hood (see 1 above). - Fantails. The fantail breeds have tail feathers that are held constantly erect over the back of the bird. Rather than being positioned so as to assist in flight, they seriously compromise the aerodynamics of the birds (Baptista et al 2009). These breeds also have more tail feathers than normal. Wild pigeons (like almost all birds) have 12 tail feathers, but fantails have up to 42. Fantails also have no preen gland (Baptista et al 2009). The preen gland secretes oils that are used by all birds in the preening, grooming and care of their plumage.
2. Intensity of welfare impact
The wild pigeons from which domesticated breeds were derived are fast and strong fliers and their instincts, as potential prey animals, are to take flight when alarmed. It has been suggested that an inability to do this will cause suffering through the fear and stress (Bartels 2003). Feather abnormalities can partly compromise other behaviours also and the ability of birds, depending on the nature of the feather abnormalities, to feed, perch, breed and raise their young. They may also partly compromise ability to regulate body temperature. The welfare impacts – the extent to which these feather abnormalities may cause stress, discomfort or frustration - are difficult to assess. It seems quite possible that these feather abnormalities can adversely affect quality of life but, as far as we are aware, there have been no attempts to investigate this scientifically.
3. Duration of welfare impact
Plumage development is completed within a few weeks from hatching. The effects of abnormal plumage are life-long.
4. Number of animals affected
All individuals of these breeds are affected. We do not have data on the national or global population sizes of these pigeon breeds.
5. Diagnosis
The abnormalities are readily apparent.
6. Genetics
These conditions have a clear genetic basis. All individuals of these breeds are affected by the abnormalities that are characteristic of them. However the genes involved in the various feather abnormalities have not been investigated (Wexelsen 1933, Baptista et al 2009).
Studies of the genetics of tail feather number and of the absence of the preen gland in fantails, have suggested that both are due to more than one gene (Morgan 1918, Johansson 1927).
7. How do you know if an animal is a carrier or likely to become affected?
All individuals of the breeds are affected.
8. Methods and prospects for elimination of the problem
It is difficult, as noted above, to assess the welfare effects of plumage abnormalities on welfare. Those who are concerned that they may affect the birds' quality of life may wish to avoid obtaining or breeding the following breeds which show such abnormalities: Bokhara trumpeter, Dresden trumpeter, English fantail, English pouter, English trumpeter, Fairy swallow, Ghent cropper, Hungarian giant house, Indian fantail, Jacobin, Lahore pigeon, old Dutch capuchine, old German Cropper, reverse wing pouter, Saxon fairy swallow and Tiger swallow.
9. Acknowledgements
UFAW is grateful to Rosie Godfrey BVetMed MRCVS and David Godfrey BVetMed FRCVS for their work in compiling this section.
10. References
Baptista LF, Martinez Gomez JE and Horblit HM (2009) Darwin´s pigeons and the evolution of the Columbiforms: recapitulation of ancient genes. Acta Zoológica Mexicana 25: 719-741
Bartels T (2003) Variations in the morphology, distribution, and arrangement of feathers in domesticated birds. Journal of Experimental Zoology Part B: Molecular and Developmental Evolution 298: 91–108
Darwin C (1859) On the origin of species by means of natural selection or the preservation of favoured races in the struggle for life. John Murray, London
Darwin C (1868) The variation of animals and plants under domestication. John Murray, London
Johansson I (1927) Studies on inheritance in pigeons. Number of tail feathers and uropygial gland. Genetics 12: 93-107
Morgan TH (1918) Inheritance of number of feathers of the fantail pigeon. American Nature 5: 27
Wexelsen H (1933) Types of leg feathering in pigeons. Hereditas 18: 192–198
http://www.burkesbackyard.com.au/factsheets/Birds/Jacobin-Pigeon/983 accessed 29.8.2011
© UFAW 2011
