Pigeon keeping is a tradition that is older than Ancient Egypt.
For thousands of years Egyptians have reared pigeons both for sport and for food.
References to pigeon husbandry can be found in hieroglyphics and Mesopotamian cuneiform tablets from more than 5,000 years ago.
A pigeon tower in Cairo.
Image credit:Egyptian Studio/Shutterstock.com
In earlier times, raising pigeon was a hobby for the rich.
Now its the opposite.
The more underprivileged and shabby the neighborhood is, the more likely youll find pigeon coops there.
Many pigeon fanciers in Cairo today are young men who had inherited their flocks from their fathers.
Others had fallen in love with the hobby and started their own at a young age.
The pigeons are raised primarily for hobby.
Others are trained for show, racing and competitions.
At this point, the breeder will trap these birds and keep them.
Some breeders specificallytrain their pigeonsto lure in birds from rival groups.
Pigeon coops in Cairo.
Image credit:Rachid H/Flickr
Related:The Pigeon Towers of Iran
Breeding pigeons is an absorbing pastime.
Not long after, al-Muzaffar Hajji was deposed and killed.
On his death, a poet wrote: You intelligent people, think about the strong al-Malik al-Muzaffar!
How much wrong and injustice did he commit, till the pigeon play became the seriousness of death!
Ive never done drugs, been in trouble, not even smoked a cigarette.
For some, pigeons have almost replaced family.
Without the pigeons, I would have married years ago,tells one pigeon breeder.
The pigeons are my wife.
The pigeons are my children.
Checkout photographerAmanda Mustard’swebsite for some beautiful photos of Cairos dovecots.
An old woman selling pigeons in a Cairo market.
Image credit:Kirsty Bisset/Shutterstock.com
