Turkmen agarans belong to the pigeon elite. This breed is among the most expensive and prestigious in the world. Agarans stand out, among their own kind, exquisite appearance and excellent flying qualities. This breed successfully combines decorativeness with flying abilities.
The origin of Agarana
These beauties come from the west of Afghanistan, it is believed that their ancestors are Iranian pigeons. Experts say that agarans came to Turkmenistan around the 16th century - they were allegedly brought there by Afghan nomads. Scientists draw such conclusions based on chronicles.
“Turkmens” came to the Russian Empire at the beginning of the 20th century. The breed became especially popular since the 50s of the last century - it was then that domestic pigeon breeders, struck by the flight characteristics of the breed, took up its breeding and improvement.
In Turkmen, “agaran” means “cream of camel's milk” - pigeons received this romantic name for their color.
Today, agarans are the national treasure of Turkmenistan. This breed is of interest in its homeland, in Russia and in a number of European countries. Especially popular are the Turkmen war pigeons in Siberia.
Exterior and breed features
You can recognize the Turkmen war pigeons by the following signs:
- compact body, elegant physique;
- the head is small, rounded in shape, with a forelock;
- large expressive eyes, gray, orange or yellowish;
- sophisticated light eyelids;
- the beak is set at right angles to the forehead; it is short and closed, usually of a light color;
- neck of medium length;
- the back gracefully passes into the tail;
- wings are long, in the tail region is the point of intersection;
- shields light yellow or white;
- feathers are long, characterized by high density and density;
- paws with spurs covered with feathers;
- luxurious tail of 12 or more feathers.
The color of agaranas is mainly beige shades - the color of coffee diluted with cream predominates. The color of the body and head is silver-ash, the shields on the wings are white. Modern agarans are multi-colored and monophonic.
When breeders bred agarans, improving their breed, they paid the lion's share of attention to flying qualities. But strict requirements were not imposed on the color. That is why there are so many shades among the Turkmen fighting ones. Agarans come across individuals of a very different color - individuals can be bluish, gray, yellow, golden.
Most often, the neck and chest - yellow, it happens, casts orange. The torso and head are silver or ashy. On the wings - belts, on the tail - the border. The wings are white or yellowish. The tail has a marbled grayish coloration. On the tail - black blotches.
Breeding goals
Turkmen pigeons are popular among pigeon breeders. The beauty of these birds is not in doubt - it is not in vain that agarans so often “invite” to weddings. And this despite the fact that white color is rarely found in this breed. The handsome men, playing the role of wedding pigeons, present the audience with a whole flying show.
Flight features
Agarans know how to somersault in flight - so they are called martial. Some breeds can tumble in the air. A pigeon of this breed, being in the sky, can hang, making a rotation around its own axis. This agaran trick accompanies a noisy flapping of wings. The duration of the flight in the Turkmen fighting is not so long - only 4 hours, there are breeds that stay in the air much longer.
Agaran departures:
- Inclined stance and spiral revolutions of the body.
- Squeezing paws during a curved exit - it seems that the bird is climbing into the sky.
- Spiral rotations are performed by a bird that has taken an inclined stance, and then it freezes and makes a complete revolution.
Advantages and disadvantages
Advantages of Turkmen war pigeons:
- undemanding to the conditions of detention;
- willingly sit on eggs, take care and feed the chicks;
- excellent flying qualities.
Although the breed is elite, it can also be found flaws in it:
- Low fecundity - only 2-3 chicks per year. For comparison - for example, tipplers bring up to 12 chicks per year.
- They can not always be in enclosures. If you do not let agarans fly into the sky, their health worsens, pigeons can even get sick, they lose their flying abilities - the height and duration of being in the sky.
- Tumbling in the air, pigeons risk their lives - they often fall, hitting the ground.
Since agarans give little offspring, the owners take care of the birds, and still the number of this breed is not large.
Content and breeding
The biggest problem when breeding “Turkmens” is low fecundity. Distinguished by undemanding to feed and conditions of detention, they are very reluctant to breed. Three chicks per year is the maximum that agarans are capable of, more often they produce 1-2 chicks.
During the breeding season, agarans require enhanced nutrition. They inject more vitamins, proteins and fiber into their diet.
Pigeon breeders should know about the features of breeding the Turkmen breed:
- Females are patient mother hens and caring mothers.
- Agarans independently feed their offspring.
- Both parents take care of the offspring on equal terms.
- A pair for the mating season is placed in a separate cage.
- A pair is selected so that they fit each other in terms of external characteristics and flying abilities.
- At the age of one month, chicks can eat on their own. They are smoothly accustomed to complementary foods - they give babies insects and grains.
- In one month, the chicks are vaccinated.
- At the age of two months, young agarans are already capable of independent flight.
- Maturity in this breed occurs at the age of one year.
Turkmen pigeons are kept both in pigeons and in light enclosures.
What you should know about the breed:
- Regular cleaning of dovecote - it is important to maintain cleanliness.
- Change water regularly - drinkers should be filled with clean water.
- "Turkmens" rarely conflict, so representatives of other breeds can be instilled into the dovecote. But you still need to monitor the behavior of birds - if a fight does take place, then agarans can seriously ruffle their neighbors.
Experienced pigeon breeders breeding a Turkmen battle breed are advised not to lock birds in aviaries for a long time. Otherwise, they will lose their flying qualities - they cannot fly to a great height. And if the imprisonment is delayed, agarans can even lose their flying skills - they will sit on fences and fly no higher than the roofs.
Similarities to other breeds
Agaranov can be confused with other fighting pigeons - due to the variety of colors in this breed. Many people doubt at all whether there is such a breed at all, and who can be ranked among it.
Turkmen martial ones are similar to Tasmanians - these are Uzbek shaggy-legged martial pigeons. Tasmanians are fawn (light coffee) in color. You can distinguish agaran from tasman by several external signs. The Tasmanians:
- shortened paws;
- the nails, the extreme feathers of the tail and the outer part of the wings are painted white;
- on the shields of the wings are dark brown stripes.
The problem of recognizing agaran breed is complicated due to the lack of clearly defined standards. But what you can’t take away from agarans is an unrivaled game in flight.
Reviews dove breeders about agaran
According to reviews of pigeon breeders - amateurs and professionals, agarans are magnificent flyers. On the market for one individual they ask about $ 200 - this scares off buyers. Many pigeon lovers complain about:
- The high cost of the breed.
- The complexity of breeding - it is not possible to get offspring in sufficient quantities.
- Losing an expensive livestock - a bird can crash during somersaults or become a victim of predators. Given the high cost of birds, such losses are especially offensive.
- The difficulty of recognizing the breed. Often disputes arise, beginners confuse agarans with tasmanians.
Experienced pigeon breeders advise a more demanding approach to the choice of poultry - today, instead of real Turkmen martial ones, they often palm off half-breeds. To breed real agaran, you need to carefully select pairs.
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Turkmen war pigeons are the dream of every pigeon breeder. But this breed requires constant attention - flight training. To breed such pigeons you need to have patience and relevant knowledge.
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