Waldviertel Kröpfer
The Waldviertler Kröpfer is an Austrian pigeon breed that was bred on the basis of the Stellerkröpfers in the Lower Austrian region of Waldviertel in the last third of the 20th century . It is also called Waldviertler Schecken .
Description and recognition
Waldviertler Kröpfer are vital, happy to fly, medium-sized crop pigeons , whose appearance is similar to the Bohemian Kröpfer races. Contrary to the general breeding trend towards tall, elegant breeds, a not too slender, almost medium-sized, medium-sized pigeon standing on medium-long legs was bred with the Waldviertler, in whose shape the pear-shaped, slightly waisted blower works harmoniously. The head is oblong and round. The pearl-colored eyes are interspersed with red veins. The ideal plumage drawing is difficult to achieve. Martin Lindner describes it as a "shield tiger with a white back heart [...], the drawing also extending over the head area to the head." On the basic color of the animals (black, red or yellow) there are white feathers, including the characteristic back heart above the shoulders. Additional white feathers tiger the head, neck and wing shield evenly.
In 1995, on the occasion of the 77th National Poultry Show in Nuremberg, as part of a special show of Austrian pigeon breeds , black tabby Waldviertel pouters were exhibited for the first time in Germany. The breed was not recognized in Germany but has a European standard (ELRT no. 350). The black color is the oldest. The red mackerel and yellow mackerel colors have been recognized since 2014.
Origins of the breed
The original (Waldviertel) Stellerkröpfer was still to be found frequently at the beginning of the 20th century on farms in what is now the border triangle of Austria, the Czech Republic and Slovakia. The fields ends Bauernkröpfer fed by humans little or together with the chickens in the yard and had beyond their own food in the fields looking for. Pups were according to the desired drawing, and a visual and audible special flight style, the wing points , selected . During the mating season, the pigeon climbs into the air with a clap and drops like a stone from a height of 10 to 15 meters with spread wings. Meanwhile the hen climbs up and while she is dropping the cock climbs up again. For this purpose, a spring mechanism with the broadest possible outer vane is required, since the wings are worn out by setting the wings.
The original type of the Waldviertel Stellerkröpfers is said to have existed in the four basic colors black (with a black beak), blue (with a dark beak), red and yellow (with a horn-colored beak). After Arche Austria , the Stellerkröpfer is said to have been bred from this archetype, which then strongly pushed it back over time.
Origin of the Modern Race
At the beginning of the 1980s, the pigeon judge Leopold Skryanz acquired the remaining copies of these original, down-to-earth pigeons, skillfully mated them and created a uniform line with which a standard could be created.
In 1983 he bought a heavily inbred pigeon from a farm, which inherited the typical pattern very well, and mated it to a strong, monochrome black hen with a strong head, which was a cross between the Steigerkröpfer and the French Kröpfer . The typical drawing of the Waldviertler Kröpfers was consolidated through the pairings of siblings of the offspring of these two pigeons. In addition, the ideal size was achieved. Around 1988 another cock of the original type was crossed in order to further consolidate the drawing and to achieve a good breeding status.
To ensure the continued existence of the breed, the entire Skryanz population was transferred to the preservation breeding facility in Schönbrunn Zoo in 2001 .
Literature and evidence
- RÖK (Ed.): Waldviertler Kröpfer . ( Standard [PDF; accessed April 16, 2017]).
- ↑ a b c d Martin Lindner: Chicken pigeons, wart pigeons and potatoes . Ed .: Erich Müller (= Everything about pedigree pigeons . Volume 3 ). Oertel and Spörer, Reutlingen 2001, ISBN 3-88627-603-1 , Waldviertler Kröpfer, p. 163-164 .
- ↑ a b c d Martin Schletterer: Pigeons. Waldviertel Kröpfer. In: Archepedia. Arche Austria , April 15, 2009, accessed on April 16, 2017 .
- ↑ a b ESKT-Bulletin 2015. (PDF file) European Standard Commission for Pedigree Pigeons ESKT, accessed on April 16, 2017 (notification of the Standard Commission of the RÖK / Austria of standard additions or standard changes in 2014).