The Old Fashioned Oriental Frill pigeon (also called Classic Oriental Frill pigeon) is a breed of exhibition pigeon from Turkey. It is from the Owl family and specially bred for the Ottoman Sultans. It is known as Hünkari: the bird of the Sultans in it’s native area, Turkey.
It is known that, this special breed of pigeon was bred upon the sultan’s request. And the pigeon breeders of sultan developed this unique breed.
It was actually bred in the Manisa Palace, which is an old Ottoman city in Western Turkey. And the breed was kept away from the general people for centuries.
That’s why the Old Fashioned Oriental Frill pigeon is still known as the bird of sultans in it’s homeland. The white spots on the tail of this bird is called ‘the seal of the Sultan’. And that’s the reason it is an important feature in the standard of the Satinettes.
The “Hünkari”, or as it’s known today outside Turkey, “the Oriental Frill” was first imported to England by H. P. Caridia in 1864 from Izmir.
It was first exhibited in National Columbarian Society in 1879 in America. Currently the breed is available in some other countries outside it’s homeland, and it has strong followers at home and abroad.
The modern Oriental Frill pigeon breed was created from this breed via selective breeding methods. However, read some more information about the breed below.
Old Fashioned Oriental Frill Pigeon Characteristics
Old Fashioned Oriental Frill pigeon is a small to medium sized breed with very beautiful and unique appearance. It is a cobby bird, with a jaunty disposition. These birds have a breast frill and peak crest.
They have grouse muffs and their beak is medium-short and thick. Two common and popular varieties of this breed are Blondinettes and Satinettes. The Satinettes are tail marked birds with white bars or laces on their shield and Moon Spots or laces on their tail.
On the other hand the Blondinettes are whole colored birds which also posses white bars or lacing on the shields and Moon Spots or lacing on the tail. Some varieties may have the lacing extending over most of the body.
Head of the Old Fashioned Oriental Frill pigeons is roundish to slightly oval, substantial and wide. They have arched forehead that flows in a smooth, continuous curve from the tip of the beak to the tip of the peak. Their wattle is small and neat.
Their beak is of medium short in length, thick and blending into the forehead in a smooth, uninterrupted curve. They have large, bright and prominent eyes. Eye cere fine in texture and flesh colored.
Old Fashioned Oriental Frill pigeons have needlepoint peak crest which is upright and central, and it is rising at least as high as the highest part of the head.
Their neck is short and strong, appearing thick due to the mane at the back of the neck, and the gullet. Their neck is held proudly and upright, so that the eye is directly over the juncture of the toes with the ankle.
Frill of the Old Fashioned Oriental Frill pigeon should extend from the middle of the gullet and continue into the breast. And the breast is broad, well rounded and held forward prominently.
These birds have strong wings which are lying close to the body and covering the back, and the back is tapering towards the tail. The back is firm, compact and cobby.
There are no more than 2 feathers in the tail in width, shorter rather than longer, just clearing the floor when in show position. As a small to medium sized bird, average mature live body weight of the Old Fashioned Oriental Frill pigeon is between 310 and 340 grams.[1]
Uses
Old Fashioned Oriental Frill pigeon is an exhibition breed. It is raised mainly for show or exhibition purpose.
Special Notes
The Old Fashioned Oriental Frill pigeon is a very beautiful bird with uncommon appearance. The original breed possess less exaggerated feathers unlike the modern Oriental Frill pigeons.
But they can still feed their squabs, by regurgitation, because their beaks have not been bred down to such an extremely short and blunt shape as the new style show birds.
Although there are no need for foster feeders of another long-beaked breed for feeding the squabs.
The breed is pretty good flyer but it is not bred in large sizes. Along with using for exhibition purpose, the breed is also very good for raising as pets.
Currently the breed is very popular in it’s native area and abroad. However, review full breed profile of the Old Fashioned Oriental Frill pigeon in the following chart.
| Breed Name | Old Fashioned Oriental Frill |
| Other Name | Classic Oriental Frill |
| Breed Purpose | Show, ornamental and pets |
| Special Notes | Beautiful birds, small and sweet, uncommon appearance, short beak, pretty good flyer, excellent for exhibition, very good for raising as pets, popular in homeland and abroad |
| Breed Class | Small to medium |
| Weight | 310 to 340 grams |
| Climate Tolerance | All climates |
| Flying Ability | Good |
| As Pets | Very good |
| Color | Many |
| Rarity | Common |
| Country/Place of Origin | Turkey |
