International Journal of Poultry - Ornamental Birds Science and Technology

Examination of Native Pigeon Breeds in Turkey and Some Morphological Characteristics

Süleyman Çalışlar, Beyhan Yeter, Tülün Çiçek — Sat, 18 Oct 2025 00:00:00 +0300

It is known that the domestication of pigeons dates back eight thousand years. They are widely bred worldwide for their meat, manure, appearance, calls, acrobatic flights, and religious influences. Turkey is one of the countries where a significant number of local pigeon genotypes have emerged due to its diverse geographical regions, climatic conditions, cultural heritage, and long-standing breeding tradition. In Anatolia, pigeon breeding is not limited solely to production purposes such as meat and eggs; it has also been shaped by characteristics such as flight, diving, turning, somersaulting, rolling, calls, and appearance. This situation has led to the emergence of numerous local pigeon types in Turkey, each with significantly different morphological and behavioral characteristics. This review evaluates some morphological and functional characteristics of native and local pigeon genotypes found in Turkey, based on literature data. Specifically, live weight, body length, head and beak characteristics, wing, chest, tail, and tarsus measurements of 22 local Turkish pigeon breed genotypes, including Alabadem, Bursa Oynar?, Trakya Makarac?s?, Muradiye Dönek, Baska, M?s?ri, and Hünkâri, were examined. This review study shows that Turkish pigeons exhibit significant phenotypic diversity, but detailed and standardized morphometric data are still insufficient for some local genotypes. Therefore, conducting standardized characterization studies using morphological, morphometric, behavioural, and molecular data together is important for the conservation of native pigeon genetic resources and the development of sustainable breeding.

Comparison of Growth Performances of Commercial, Synthetic, and Commercial-Synthetic Hybrid Broiler Chick

Beyhan Yeter, Ömer Camcı, Musa Sarıca — Sat, 18 Oct 2025 00:00:00 +0300

In this study, broiler chicks in three different genotypes were compared, these genotypes; broiler chicks (SH) of synthetic parents from commercial parental lines, commercial broiler chicks (TH) and broiler chicks (THxSH) obtained from mating of commercial male parents and synthetic female parents. In the study, each treatment group was tried in 3 replications, 520 chicks were placed in each repeat at a daily age and a total of 4680 chicks were used. In the study, live weight, feed consumption, feed conversion ratio and mortality rate of broiler chicks were investigated. The study was continued for 42 days, and there was no statistically difference between the groups in terms of all the features examined (P> 0.05).

Effect of Egg Weight and Opacity on Incubation Characteristics in Turkeys

İsmail Burak Şahin, Mehmet Akif Boz — Sat, 18 Oct 2025 00:00:00 +0300

This study was conducted to determine the effects of egg weight and shell opacity on incubation parameters (fertility, hatchability of fertile eggs, hatchability), chick quality traits (hatch weight, length, Tona score), and embryonic mortality in Bronze turkeys. A total of 600 hatching eggs obtained from 40–44-week-old parent stocks were evaluated at the BOZOKTUAM Hatchery of Yozgat Bozok University. Eggs were categorized into two weight groups: light (57.50–79.80 g) and heavy (79.90–116.80 g), and scored for shell opacity as opaque (1) or translucent (2). Analysis of variance revealed that egg weight, shell opacity, and their interaction had no statistically significant effect on fertility, hatchability, hatchability of fertile eggs, chick weight, chick length, Tona score, or embryonic mortality stages. However, the effect of egg weight on weight loss in grams, as well as the weight × opacity interaction on weight loss in both grams and percentage, was statistically significant. The highest percentage of weight loss occurred in the light-translucent egg group (13.9%). In conclusion, egg weight and opacity did not directly affect hatching success or chick quality, but significantly influenced moisture loss dynamics during incubation.