International Journal of
eISSN: 2574-9862
Submit manuscript...
Research Article Volume 10 Issue 1
Evaluation of exterior in selected pigeon breeds – part I: Pouters and Croppers
Sofia Siteková, František Zigo, Zuzana Lacková, Zuzana Farkašová, Ibrahim F Rehan, Ashraful Kabir
Received: February 20, 2026 | Published: March 2, 2026
Citation: Siteková S, Zigo F, Lacková Z, et al. Evaluation of exterior in selected pigeon breeds – part I: Pouters and Croppers. Int J Avian & Wildlife Biol. 2026;10(1):11-15. DOI: 10.15406/ijawb.2026.10.00247
Abstract
Based on differences in external features as well as their intended purpose, pigeon breeds are divided into ten groups. Due to the large number of breeds, this work focuses on the description and evaluation of the fourth group of pigeon breeds – Pouters and Croppers. A common characteristic of this group is a remarkably large crop, which both males and females can inflate with air. The primary objective of this work was to map the current state of the exhibition sector in pigeon breeding and to compare the external traits of selected breeds with the valid European standard. In total, 530 pigeons were evaluated across eight Slovak exhibitions as part of this study. When comparing breed standards with expert judging reports from exhibitions, the most frequent exterior faults in the Slovak Pouter were related to color or markings (43.0%), followed by poor crop inflation (36.8%) and deficiencies in tail size and shape (35.2%). Deviations from the standard body type were recorded in 25.4% of individuals, while atypically shaped heads occurred in 4.1%. In the Pomeranian Pouter, defects associated with short legs dominated, affecting 49.5% of the pigeons. Other frequently recurring faults included a short neck (42.6%), poor crop inflation (21.3%), and insufficient back coverage (19.3%). Posture defects were noted in 9.9% of the specimens. The Brunner Pouter most commonly exhibited insufficient crop inflation (40.0%), feather defects (23.7%), incorrect stance and body carriage (20.7%), and deficiencies in overall body formation (16.3%). Among the external advantages across all three evaluated breeds, correct leg length and posture were highlighted in 80%. These findings indicate that breeding is a complex, multifaceted process in which breeders often prioritize certain traits over others. In such cases, it is recommended to focus on traits that repeatedly manifest as deficient and to eliminate these faults through systematic selection of individuals.
Keywords: pigeons, pouters and croppers, standard, exterior, feathers
©2026 Siteková, et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and build upon your work non-commercially.