Pigeons with pink under wings in Black Forest, Germany (1 Viewer)

[pbowler]

Whilst staying on a farm near Titisee-Neustadt in the German Black Forest, we noticed a flock of birds doing a rather spectacular display. They flew around as a flock in circles and sometimes, as they turned, there was a flash of bright pink. They continued this display for at least an hour, giving us time to walk to where they flying where some had landed on a roof (see attached photo). We discovered that they looked like common pigeons, but each bird had bright pink under its wings. When they flew, the flock would sometimes turn so that the light caught the pink giving the spectacular display.

Does anyone know of this flock? Are there more flocks, and are they restricted to the Black Forest? Is the flock the result of specialist breeding? The flock were flying wild, but may return to a "home" to roost each night. We saw them in the valley where we were living for two out of ten days.

 

[fugl]

The color isn't natural, the pigeons have been dyed. Google "dyed pigeons" & you'll find lots of info on pigeon dyeing & why people do it.

 

[pbowler]

Thanks for the info. I hadn't come across dyed birds before.

My wife's reaction was "Who's painted the pigeons?". She was closer than she thought!

 

[dbradnum]

A (non birding) mate of mine sent me a photo of a similar taken in Norfolk recently: I worked it out from Google, but had never seen anything like it before.

Exactly the same violent shade of purple, though... clearly it's a popular game to play!

 

[MJB]

... clearly it's a popular game to play!

I do love a challenge! How about this chook (Oz-speak)?
MJB:-O

 

[alan_rymer]

I vaguely remember that pigeon racers used to put a purple liquid/crystal into water for the birds to bath in. It was to kill the lice that sometimes infeest birds.
I am remembering 50 years back to my youth in South Yorkshire. Things may have changed sice then.

 

[stonechat1]

I do love a challenge! How about this chook (Oz-speak)?
MJB:-O

Sorry but who likes tyed Silkies?

Much more I wonder about/hate/condemn peoples who are telling histories like

"The people behind us dyed their birds with food colouring [...]"/QUOTE]
Source: http://timmyandfriends.blogspot.co.at/2011/12/shows-part-3.html

A color feed bird/chicken will never show different colors, like blue and pink from the example above. Clear signs that they are painted with color sprays!

Even worse is the following claim from the same source, which only shows how small is the writers knowledge but how massive it can harm to spread such b....t around.

They have llloooonnnggg legs and some of the roosters have their combs dubbed for showing. Dubbed is a nice way of saying they cut the comb off. Ouch. Fighting birds always have their combs removed so the other rooster can't grab hold of it.

 

[stonechat1]

I vaguely remember that pigeon racers used to put a purple liquid/crystal into water for the birds to bath in. It was to kill the lice that sometimes infeest birds.[...]

You are talking about Potassium permanganate, used then as disinfectant.