DeepDuDu
03-24-2009, 06:10 PM
Not all of us are fortunate enough to have a rural area to provide us with a reliable source of meat, but I'll bet there is a lot of folks here that have overlooked a very edible critter that we see every day!
Easy to care for and prolific as hell, and considered a delicacyby many until a few years ago, the pigeon is easy to overlook! Just a small, open loft of a dozen or so pair will give you from 15-20 squabs per month, usually weighing about a pound each(live weight), and my, are they ever tasty!
A squab is a young pigeon of about four weeks old, and if prepared properly is tender and delicious. There are literally hundreds of domesticated breeds, many of which are quite large, and can weigh up to 3 lbs. The feral pigeon, the ones you see in parks and under bridges everywhere are the easiest and least expensive. A single pair will produce 15 to 20 young a year, and all you have to do to maintain a flock is to provide a rudimentary form of housing, a nesting box for each pair, and a little food and fresh water keeps them happy....and productive.
When times are tough, allowing them freedom will also allow them to virtually feed themselves, and they almost always come home!
Just something to think about...
Easy to care for and prolific as hell, and considered a delicacyby many until a few years ago, the pigeon is easy to overlook! Just a small, open loft of a dozen or so pair will give you from 15-20 squabs per month, usually weighing about a pound each(live weight), and my, are they ever tasty!
A squab is a young pigeon of about four weeks old, and if prepared properly is tender and delicious. There are literally hundreds of domesticated breeds, many of which are quite large, and can weigh up to 3 lbs. The feral pigeon, the ones you see in parks and under bridges everywhere are the easiest and least expensive. A single pair will produce 15 to 20 young a year, and all you have to do to maintain a flock is to provide a rudimentary form of housing, a nesting box for each pair, and a little food and fresh water keeps them happy....and productive.
When times are tough, allowing them freedom will also allow them to virtually feed themselves, and they almost always come home!
Just something to think about...