Indian Fantail Pigeon

The Indian Fantail is a popular breed of fancy pigeon recognized for its large, peacock-like fan tail, upright posture, and feathered feet.

Physical Characteristics

• Tail: Composed of 30 to 40 feathers (significantly more than the 12 to 14 feathers of standard pigeons) held in a permanent fan shape.
• Stance: Stands upright and proud, unlike the English Fantail which leans back so far that its chest goes higher than its head.
• Feet & Crest: Features heavy feathering (muffs/slippers) on its toes and a peak crest or crown on the back of the head.
• Size & Weight: Measures about 11 to 13 inches in length and averages 13 to 18 ounces in weight.
• Colors: Most classically white with light tan spots, though selective breeding has produced black, red, yellow, blue, silver, and splashed varieties.

History and Origin

• Roots: Believed to have originated in India, with historical descriptions recorded in Abu'l-Fazl’s 1590 text for Emperor Akbar's court.
• Spread: Introduced to Europe via Dutch traders and later brought to the United States (notably popularized after a famous 1926 shipment to the San Diego Zoo).
• Literature: Charles Darwin featured the Fantail in On the Origin of Species to demonstrate the power of human selective breeding from the wild Rock Pigeon (Columba livia).

Care and Breeding Overview

• Temperament: Known for a tame, gentle, and friendly disposition, making them ideal for garden lofts and exhibitions.
• Diet: Thrives on a standard commercial pigeon mix containing whole grains, peas, and safflower.
• Reproduction: Typically lays 2 eggs per clutch, incubated by both parents for roughly 18 days. Fledglings take 4 to 6 weeks before leaving the nest.
• Lifespan: Generally lives between 10 to 15 years with proper care and protection from predators.