Old Dutch Capuchine Pigeon: Origin, Appearance, Behavior, Care, And More
The Old Dutch Capuchine pigeon is a fancy breed used for exhibition and ornamental purposes. This is due to its distinctive head crest plus hood and overall elegant body appearance, which makes it stand out as one of the finest pigeons in the world.
Below, we take a deep dive into everything you need to know about this breed. We’ll look at its long and fascinating history, physical characteristics, behavior and temperament, suitability as a pet, and how to take care of the bird in terms of habitat, housing, healthcare, etc.
Old Dutch Capuchine Quick Facts:
| Scientific name | Columba livia domestica |
| Other names | None |
| Breed name | Old Dutch Capuchine |
| Origin | Netherlands |
| Breed purpose | Exhibition, pets |
| Size | Medium |
| Weight | 300 to 400 grams |
| Flying ability | Good |
| Cost | $50 to a few hundred dollars |
| Lifespan | Around 10+ years |
Origin and history
The old Dutch Capuchine is native to Netherlands and is a fancy pigeon developed after years of selective breeding. It’s a descendant of rock doves, just like other breeds of domesticated doves.
It’s one of the oldest breeds of domesticated pigeons having been around for 500plus years.
This pigeon found itself in Holland after it was brought in by Dutch sailors from India around 1500s. Dutch breeders then worked on it and eventually refined it into the show pigeon breed we know today.
The bird gets its name from the capuchin monks who were renowned for their long brown robes with long and pointy hoods that hang down from their backs. The bird’s feather patterns form a hood around its neck and head resembles this monk’s wear.
Today, this bird is quite popular across various parts of the world including Singapore, Malaysia, and Biggleswade.
Appearance
The old Dutch Capuchine pigeon is a medium-sized bird featuring a compact and round body. Its most distinctive feature is the large hood of feathers covering its neck and back.
This hood comes in a variety of colors including red, black, blue, yellow, white, and shades of other colors.
Other than that, the bird usually has a small and rounded head and a short and straight beak. They also feature a short and thick neck. The wings are rounded and mid-sized while the tail appears short and squared off.
Its breast is full and broad and appears lifted just in front of the beak’s tip.
Its eyes are usually dark in color, with a small round pupil.
Legs of this breed are short, stout, and usually pinkish or bright reddish in color.
Each foot has up to 4 toes, with 3 of them pointing in the forward direction and the remaining one pointing backward.
The legs and feet are bare and featherless.
Note that this Dutch pigeon comes in a wide variety of colors with the most common varieties being black, yellow, red, silver, cream, mealy, dun, self-white, tigered, and blue-barred.
Additionally, there are some less rare colors such as almond, dominant opal, Andalusian, and brown.
The video below shows some of the most popular color variations in old Dutch Capuchine:
Video:
Behavior
Old Dutch Capuchine pigeons are well known for their calm, and gentle nature, which qualifies them as good pets.
They’re also quite social and can be kept in small groups or paired up. The pigeons will interact with other birds without showing them any aggression.
However, the birds aren’t good flyers as they were specifically bred to act as exhibition/ornamental birds owing to their beauty.
Diet
A balanced diet for old Dutch Capuchine should be made up of seed and grains mix. You can get a high-quality mix from pet stores that’s formulated for pigeons.
Or you can create the mix on your own. You should also feed your birds fresh fruits and vegetables to help add variety to their diet.
Occasional supplements are also recommended. Grit is also essential as it aids in food digestion in the birds’ system.
Above all, you should provide your pigeon and clean and fresh water daily.
Old Dutch Capuchine pigeon as a pet
The old Dutch pigeon makes a good pet not just because it’s calm and docile but also because it’s low maintenance and easy to care for.
However, you should be committed to providing this bird the best care possible to enable it to live a healthy and happy life.
You should start by providing it with a spacious and comfortable living space. The loft/aviary should be spacious to enable the bird to move around freely, well-ventilated, and safeguarded from elements and predators.
Clean the loft regularly to help maintain a hygienic environment and keep away various diseases.
make sure you provide your bird with a healthy diet that comprises of seeds and grains mixture, fruits, and vegetables.
Regular veterinary checkups are also necessary to keep your bird healthy.
Since these are social birds, you should consider putting them in pairs or small groups. This will promote socialization and keep them from getting lonely.
Breeding
Old Dutch pigeons are great breeders and are known for taking good care of their young ones.
However, you may want to carefully select the mating pair to ensure you get the desired traits in the offspring they produce.
This is especially helpful if you’re breeding the birds for shows and exhibitions.
Typically, the Dutch pigeon will lay 2 eggs per clutch which both parents take turns to incubate until they hatch into offspring (this usually takes around 17-19 days).
The parents will then feed and rear the chicks until they become old enough to survive on their own.
Price
The price of the old Dutch Capuchine pigeon can vary from $50 to several hundred dollars.
The actual price of this bird can vary depending on several factors such as the breed quality, location, and the breeder.
Some high-quality birds with the desired physical traits for show birds may cost you up to $500 or more.
Doing your research well in advance will help ensure you get a quality bird at a fair price.
Lifespan
The lifespan of an old Dutch Capuchine pigeon is around 10 years in captivity when provided with proper care.
The bird’s lifespan can be easily influenced by various factors such as poor diet/malnutrition, poor living conditions, and genetics (some bloodlines may be prone to various health issues).
You can ensure your bird lives a long and healthy life by providing it with a balanced diet, suitable living conditions, and regular vet checkups
If you’re interested in learning more about different pigeon breeds, you might find our articles on Nun pigeons and Modena pigeons helpful. Our article on Nun pigeons explores the breed’s history, characteristics, and care, including tips on feeding and breeding. Meanwhile, our article on Modena pigeons provides an in-depth look at the breed’s unique features and provides guidance on how to raise and care for them. Don’t forget to also check out our article on Old Dutch Capuchine pigeons for more information on this fascinating breed.Final Verdict
The old Dutch Capuchine pigeon is one of the most adorable birds you’ll ever lay your eyes on. It’s mostly known for its unique hood that comes in different colors and head crest. This breed is pretty old and has been around for 500-plus years. It was mainly bred for exhibition purposes.
Its calm and gentle nature qualifies it as a great choice for keeping as a pet. It’s also friendly towards its owner and other birds. However, you should give the bird proper care in terms of a balanced diet, a clean living environment, and regular health checkups to ensure it lives a long and healthy life.
