Pigeon Birds Farming In Kenya

Pigeon Birds Farming In Kenya

Kenya is home to an estimated 2.6 million pigeons which serve as one of the major food sources in the country. Even though they are common, most people have never seen them on commercial basis. Pigeons were first domesticated in Africa and Asia.

They are small birds that are related to doves, but are larger than them with longer tails. Like chicken and quails, pigeons can be bred for meat and eggs and this is why they are known as ‘squabs’. Pigeon eggs can be eaten just like chicken eggs and the meat is said to be tastier than chicken meat because it has less cholesterol.

Pigeon farming is suitable for small scale farmers who have limited space in their homes or farms, as they only require a small space of approximately 1 sq. meter per bird to thrive, plus they have a higher feed conversion rate of 2:1 compared to chickens (3:1)

Pigeon Birds Farming In Kenya

Pigeons are second only to chicken as the world's most common birds. Nearly 500 million pigeons are kept worldwide, and almost every culture has its own domestic pigeon species. Scientists estimate that more than 300 different pigeon breeds exist throughout the world.

Although pigeons are often considered pests in urban areas, they are valuable domestic animals and have long been kept for meat, eggs, and dung. Pigeons droppings have been used as fertilizer for hundreds of years, and were a major source of nitrates before synthetic fertilizers became available.

The most common domestic pigeon is the rock dove (Columba livia), which occurs naturally along rocky coasts in Europe, Asia, and Africa. It is believed that ancient Egyptians first domesticated this bird about 3,000 years ago. Originally known as rock pigeons, these birds have since been bred into hundreds of distinct varieties known as fancy pigeons. The fanciers' goal has been to develop new colors and characteristics that make individual breeds more distinctive or attractive to keepers.