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Breed of the Issue - Helmet
Helmet- Page 45 - Purebred PIGEON
Picasso made several peace pigeon designs for international
peace congresses.
The original Dutch Helmet pigeon is a flying pigeon. Later
the show type was bred. It was especially popular on the typical
pigeon flats on top of the traditional canal houses in the center
of Amsterdam. It was an excellent group flyer.
The Dutch Helmet pigeon is not a real highflyer. It is a
powerful bird; the shape and posture show that it is a good
flying pigeon. They can fly up to one and a half hours. They
frequently swing and change their flying direction. They fly
closely together and show exact flying movements. They never
stay long in other pigeon groups. Birds of prey seem not to
impress them. With their eye-catching colored tails and heads,
they offer a striking image in the air, even for
viewers not set on pigeons. Their special flying
habits are especially shown in strong winds. The
pigeons are very easy to breed.
The famous Dutch fancy pigeon expert Mr. C.A.M. Spruit
from Gouda wrote in his book
Our Pigeon Breeds
in 1954 that
the Dutch Helmets could be seen as one of the oldest pigeon
breeds in Holland for over 400 years. A great example of the
living, cultural heritage of the Netherlands, a world power in
agriculture. It is important to protect these rare old Dutch breeds
for future generations. They are a part of the Dutch history and
often shown on old paintings.
Moreover, they are rich in unique research material, which
gives them great scientific value. They have a great variety of
characteristics. The Dutch Helmets are protected in the Centre
theDutchHelmet Pigeon