The Stargard Shaker pigeon, also known as Zitterhall, is a breed of fancy pigeon developed over many years of selective breeding. It is characterized by its curved swan-like neck that trembles or shakes, similar to the Fantail pigeon and the Indian Mookee. This breed is small to medium in size and comes in various colors such as black, blue barred, checkered, yellow, lark, red, and white. Let’s explore more about the origin, breed characteristics, temperament, preferred living conditions, and usage of the Stargard Shaker pigeon.
Origin
The Stargard Shaker pigeon was originally developed in Pomerania, a region in Germany. It is one of the ancient pigeon breeds that have been bred since the 1700s.
Breed Characteristics
The Stargard Shaker pigeon is a small to medium-sized breed. Its most notable characteristic is its curved swan-like neck that trembles or shakes. This unique behavior is highly heritable and is controlled primarily by a single gene. The wings of these pigeons are carried neatly on the tail. They come in various colors, including black, blue barred, checkered, yellow, lark, red, and white.
Temperament
There is limited information available about the temperament of the Stargard Shaker pigeon. However, like most domestic pigeons, they are known to be calm, docile, and easy to handle. They can be trained to perform various tasks and are often kept as pets or for exhibition purposes.
Preferred Living Conditions
The Stargard Shaker pigeon can adapt well to different living conditions. They can be kept in aviaries or lofts, either indoors or outdoors. They require sufficient space to fly and exercise. Like all pigeons, they need a clean and secure environment with access to fresh food and water.
Usage
The Stargard Shaker pigeon is primarily kept for exhibition purposes due to its unique appearance and trembling neck behavior. It is admired for its beauty and elegance in pigeon shows and competitions. Some individuals may also keep them as pets or for their flying abilities. However, their primary usage is in the world of fancy pigeon breeding and exhibition.
| Breed | Stargard Shaker |
|---|---|
| Origin | Pomerania, Germany |
| Size | Small to medium |
| Colors | Black, blue barred, checkered, yellow, lark, red, white |
| Temperament | Calm, docile |
| Preferred Living Conditions | Can adapt to various conditions, aviaries or lofts, indoors or outdoors |
| Usage | Exhibition, pets, fancy pigeon breeding |
Interesting fact: The trembling neck behavior of the Stargard Shaker pigeon is highly heritable and controlled primarily by a single gene. This unique characteristic sets them apart from other pigeon breeds.
