All pigeons inflate their crops (an organ in their throat that grinds up
food) while strutting in front of others, but the croppers take this to
the extreme. Their crops are highly-developed, and they love to puff
their chests out when they’re in play, and not just when they’re trying
to find a mate. Despite what looks like a top-heavy bird, the fact that
the crop is filled with air means that they’re not going to tip over at
any moment. Most Croppers have been bred to have a long back, stand up
straight, and for their tendency to puff up. Some have other body
shapes, but all are bred with the inflatable crop in mind. These breeds
actually have more vertebrae and a larger ribcage than the Rock Dove.
Croppers are also some of the more affectionate pigeons, known to bond
and play with their handlers.
The Norwich Cropper is a breed of fancy pigeon developed over many years of selective breeding. The Norwich Cropper along with other varieties of domesticated pigeons are all descendants from the rock pigeon (Columba livia).[1] The Norwich Cropper is thought to have been developed from a breed called the Oploper and is of Dutch origin.[2 the Old German Cropper is a breed of fancy pigeon developed over many years of selective breeding. Old German Croppers, along with other varieties of domesticated pigeons, are all descendants from the rock pigeon (Columba livia).[1]
An old breed that originated in Germany and Hungary. Description: The Old German Cropper is the longest breed of pigeon. It has a large well-inflated globe that is oval to round in shape. The old German stands with the front of its body raised in a semierect station and the rest of its body carried close and parallel to the ground. The wings are very long and ideally should extend beyond the tail. They should be well closed and not show a "sail like effect", that is caused by raised secondary feathers that break the smooth wing line. The legs are fairly short without showing the birds thighs that are covered by the undercarriage feathers.
Colors & Markings: The Old German comes in black, white, red, yellow, dun, cream, mealy, silver, blue in bar and check, and lark. They are self-colored, but also can be found in splash or a random mixture of white and colored feathers, tiger which should have dark flights and tail with white feathers sprinkled on the rest of the body, flights marked with a solid colored body and evenly marked white flights on both wings, and mussel head which is primarily found in black which manifests itself with a sprinkling of white feathers on the head reminiscent of the coloring of the shell mussel.
General The overall look of the Old German is large powerful pigeon. Some of this is created by the extreme feather development. The bird does not have a heavy body. Feather development should be smooth and neat without being tight.
The Norwich Cropper is a breed of fancy pigeon developed over many years of selective breeding. The Norwich Cropper along with other varieties of domesticated pigeons are all descendants from the rock pigeon (Columba livia).[1] The Norwich Cropper is thought to have been developed from a breed called the Oploper and is of Dutch origin.[2 the Old German Cropper is a breed of fancy pigeon developed over many years of selective breeding. Old German Croppers, along with other varieties of domesticated pigeons, are all descendants from the rock pigeon (Columba livia).[1]
An old breed that originated in Germany and Hungary. Description: The Old German Cropper is the longest breed of pigeon. It has a large well-inflated globe that is oval to round in shape. The old German stands with the front of its body raised in a semierect station and the rest of its body carried close and parallel to the ground. The wings are very long and ideally should extend beyond the tail. They should be well closed and not show a "sail like effect", that is caused by raised secondary feathers that break the smooth wing line. The legs are fairly short without showing the birds thighs that are covered by the undercarriage feathers.
Colors & Markings: The Old German comes in black, white, red, yellow, dun, cream, mealy, silver, blue in bar and check, and lark. They are self-colored, but also can be found in splash or a random mixture of white and colored feathers, tiger which should have dark flights and tail with white feathers sprinkled on the rest of the body, flights marked with a solid colored body and evenly marked white flights on both wings, and mussel head which is primarily found in black which manifests itself with a sprinkling of white feathers on the head reminiscent of the coloring of the shell mussel.
General The overall look of the Old German is large powerful pigeon. Some of this is created by the extreme feather development. The bird does not have a heavy body. Feather development should be smooth and neat without being tight.
