The King pigeon is a breed of pigeon developed over many years of selective breeding primarily as a utility breed.
Harry Baker, created the first Kings much more through tenacious, planned, and skillful breeding than serendipity. What Harry needed was a bird that was both beautiful and productive. Productive at this time meant to be eaten.
Kings along with other varieties of domesticated pigeons are all descendants from the rock dove (Columba livia).
The breed is known for its large size and suitability for squab production.
Show Kings
The breed also has a variety bred for exhibition purposes at pigeon shows. It is called the Show King to distinguish it from the purely utility variety. The American Pigeon Journal even devoted special issues to the Show King for August 1938, June 1959, January 1964, and November 1970. The Show King is dual purpose and can be used for squab raising.Seymour, Rev. Colin (Ed)(2006) Australian Fancy Pigeons National Book of Standards.
History The King is a dual purpose breed that originated in the United States. They were developed during the 1890s by crossing four older varieties: the Duchess for grace; the Homer for alertness; the Maltese for compactness and style; and the Runt for body and size.
Diet
Roles with humans Food King pigeon meat is popular in cuisines of parts of China, North Africa, North America, and some European countries.Kokosyzński, D. (2020) Carcass Characteristics, Physicochemical Properties, and Texture and Microstructure of the Meat and Internal Organs of Carrier and King Pigeons.
Gallery
See also Pigeon Diet Pigeon Housing Queen of Pigeons List of pigeon breeds | Standard of perfection
References
External links
American Squab Journal 1918 American Pigeon Journal 1836 American Pigeon Journal August 1938 American Pigeon Journal June 1959 American Pigeon Journal January 1964 American Pigeon Journal November 1970