He shared his experience with a Turmush correspondent.
Salikh Majiyun, who is 74 years old, has been passionate about pigeons since childhood.
“I inherited this hobby from my father. Out of five sons, I am the only one who continued to engage with birds. At the moment, I have about 50 pigeons, not counting the young ones. I have two types that can be conditionally divided into two categories. There is a special pigeon house for the birds, where they live year-round. Every month, pairs of pigeons raise offspring. According to old traditions, pigeons can have up to 12 broods a year, but on average, two of them perish — from the heat in summer and the cold in winter,” he said.
Salikh Mryza has both flying and decorative pigeons, distinguished by their beauty.
“Pigeons should be perceived just like flowers or women: each bird is beautiful in its own way. This applies to all animals that enthusiasts breed. The flight of pigeons is divided into several categories, and their prices vary. It all depends on the agreement,” he explained.
According to the pigeon breeder, it is important to accustom pigeons to mixed feeds and monitor their vaccinations.
“Pigeons are granivorous birds, but it is best to accustom them to mixed feeds. It is important for the pigeons to be vaccinated against avian influenza in spring and autumn. Interestingly, many enthusiasts find pigeons through rumors. Nowadays, few people engage in their breeding — the youth are captivated by the internet, and they do not understand the beauty of living nature. The number of buyers is decreasing, and I sell birds to cover the costs of their maintenance, often resorting to the family budget,” he added.
Gallery: Salikh Majiyun.
Salikh Mryza noted that white pigeons are a popular choice for wedding events, preserving romantic traditions.
“For weddings, I have specially prepared birds. They accompanied the procession from Victory Park to the roundabout and then returned. Clients can release them, for example, from the monument to Przhevalsky. Many wonder if pigeons can really find their way home from distances of up to 1000 km? For long flights, mountain-sport (postal) pigeons are used, such as Dutch sports pigeons, which are capable of covering huge distances. It is said that sailors sometimes ask not to scare or catch the birds that land on the ship — they can rest and then continue their journey,” he added.
Salikh Majiyun often visits pigeon exhibitions, but he does not exhibit his own.
“I was at an exhibition in Germany, where I heard that a pigeon was sold at auction for a large sum. As a memento of the event, I was presented with a commemorative badge of sports pigeons from Holland.
Peace, love, and purity — may these symbols of the pigeon always be with us!” he concluded.
