Description of Challenge
Domestic breeding of pigeons for nutrition and local trading.Pigeons are bred mainly in traditional towers above houses in countryside for domestic nutrition, and local trading.
Solution
Pigeons have been bred in Egypt since the ancient Egyptian periods. Pigeons stuffed with rice is considered a special Egyptian meal. In addition breeding pigeons is practiced as a traditional hobby, specially those type of pigeons called ‘Zagil’ which are the first historical messages courier.
Breeding pigeons is considered a good business for people in countryside specially that pigeons are easily fed with grains such as lentils, corn and barley. The farmer usually adds simple minerals to the pigeons food for healthy and well balanced nutrition. Unlike chicken; pigeons are less likely to catch diseases. Also a pigeon egg needs just one day to hatch.
If you go around the countryside specially in upper Egypt you will find those traditional towers built over the houses. However pigeons can be simple bred in small brick rooms or in small cages as those used for chicken. However towers are the best since they allow pigeon to fly away and surprisingly they return back to their home towers.
Pigeons towers can be a good source of revenue to be applied in ecovillages. Unlike European or USA where a dish meal can be bizarre its a very famous plate in Egypt specially if stuffed with rice or special form of wheat called ‘Ferik’.