Transcriber’s Notes:
Italic text is marked _thus_.
Bold text is marked =thus=.
The spelling, punctuation and hyphenation are as the original, except
for apparent typographical errors, which have been corrected.
_WAR DEPARTMENT TECHNICAL MANUAL
TM 11-410_
_This manual supersedes TM 11—410, 10 September 1940_
THE HOMING
PIGEON
[Illustration: War Office emblem]
_WAR DEPARTMENT • JANUARY 1945_
_DISSEMINATION OF RESTRICTED MATTER._
The information contained in restricted documents and the essential
characteristics of restricted material may be given to any person
known to be in the service of the United States and to persons of
undoubted loyalty and discretion who are cooperating in Government
work, but will not be communicated to the public or to the press
except by authorized military public relations agencies. (See also
par. 23b, AR 380-5, 15 Mar 44.)
_U. S. Government Printing Office
Washington: 1945_
WAR DEPARTMENT
Washington 25, D. C., 1 January 1945
TM 11-410, The Homing Pigeon, is published for the information and
guidance of all concerned.
[AG 300.7 (6 Nov 44)]
BY ORDER OF THE SECRETARY OF WAR:
OFFICIAL: G. C. MARSHALL
J. A. ULIO _Chief of Staff_
_Major General_
_The Adjutant General_
DISTRIBUTION:
AAF (10); AGF (10); ASF (10); Arm & Sv Bd (2); Dept (10); Tech Sv
(2); Sv C (10); PC & S (1); Gen & Sp Sv Sch (10); USMA (1); ROTC
(1); ROTC, Lib (1); A(10); CHQ (10); D(2); Bn(1); Bn 11(2); C
11(5); T/O & E 11-39 (50)
For explanation of symbols, see FM 21-6.
CONTENTS ★★
_Paragraph_ _Page_
SECTION I. GENERAL
Purpose 1 1
Methods 2 1
Origin and history 3 1
Nature 4 1
Utility 5 2
II. DESCRIPTION
General appearance 6 3
Weight 7 3
Plumage 8 3
Head 9 3
Neck 10 3
Body 11 3
Respiratory channels 12 5
Digestive organs 13 6
Bloom or milt 14 6
Molt 15 8
Varieties of feathers 16 9
III. CARE
Loft 17 11
Preparation of loft to receive
pigeons 18 11
Receipt of pigeons at loft 19 11
Watering 20 14
Feeding 21 15
Pigeon feed 22 16
Bathing 23 25
Catching and handling 24 25
IV. LOFT MANAGEMENT AND RECORDS
Routine 25 28
Classification of pigeon colors 26 28
Records and reports 27 29
Banding 28 37
Loft equipment 29 39
Message holders 30 42
V. TRAINING
Responsibility for training 31 45
Qualifications for pigeoneers 32 45
Introduction to pigeon training 33 46
Settling pigeons 34 46
Training for messenger service 35 50
Delivering pigeons by parachute 36 58
VI. MATING AND BREEDING
Mating 37 62
Sex 38 62
Selection of stock 39 62
Line breeding 40 64
Nests 41 64
Control of breeding 42 64
Laying 43 65
Hatching and feeding 44 65
Identification 45 65
Culling 46 65
VII. DISEASES AND MEDICINES
General 47 67
Prevention of disease 48 67
Control of disease 49 67
Anatomy and physiology 50 68
Indications of sickness 51 69
Diseases 52 69
External parasites 53 73
Internal parasites 54 77
Treatment of injuries 55 81
Medicines 56 82
_This manual supersedes TM 11-140, 10 September 1940_
SECTION I
GENERAL
1. Purpose
This manual provides instructions for proper breeding, care, and
training of the homing pigeon, and for the selection and training of
enlisted pigeoneers. With certain modifications this information can
be used by all pigeon units serving field forces, both in theaters of
operations and in the zone of the interior. Instructions in FM 24-5 for
units using the homing pigeon in communication have not been repeated.
The mission, function, and operation of a signal pigeon company and the
tactical employment of pigeons are described in FM 11-80.
2. Methods
The methods prescribed in this manual are based upon experience.
Accordingly, if any new procedures are found by experience to improve
pigeon communication they should be submitted to the Chief Signal
Officer for consideration.
3. Origin and History
The homing pigeon used by the Army for signal communication (referred
to in this manual as “pigeon,” “homing pigeon,” and “bird”) is a
distinct variety created through careful cross-breeding to obtain
maximum distance and speed in controlled and directed flight. Homing
pigeons are grouped in families or strains usually identified by
the names of the civilian pigeon fanciers who bred them for many
generations to develop certain characteristics of performance and
appearance. When the several varieties of pigeons used to breed the
modern homing pigeon actually originated is not certain. It is known,
however, that the following varieties existed in England and Belgium
before the nineteenth century, although the exact percentage and order
of their blend have not been determined: Smerle, Horseman, Cumulet,
Dragoon, Carrier, and Owl.
4. Nature
The principle of using homing pigeons as messengers is based on their
instinctive attempt to return to their home lofts whenever they are
removed some distance and released. They will do this even with an
attached message or other light article. This desire to return is
largely based on natural urges of hunger and reproduction. Because the
pigeon has only one mate the reproductive urge is often the stronger.
These impulses can be stimulated by _controlled_ feeding, mating, and
breeding without harming the pigeon’s health.
5. Utility
The pigeon’s usefulness to the Army is measured by the reliability
and speed with which it returns to its loft. Speed and reliability
are largely determined by the pigeon’s strain, physical condition,
training, and treatment. Therefore any lowering of standards for
these factors will be a serious handicap. Further handicaps are
discussed in _e_ below. Section V sets minimum ability standards for
properly-trained, well-bred, healthy birds to be used by combat units
as message carriers.
_a._ BREEDING. Since physical characteristics and homing instinct are
usually inherited from the parents, records are maintained for each
pigeon. Then pairs are selected, mated, and allowed to produce young
birds on the basis of these records, plus other desirable attributes
described in section VI.
_b._ CONDITION. The physical condition of a pigeon greatly affects its
performance. Therefore, study physical characteristics of pigeons and
enforce procedures prescribed in sections III and VII for feeding,
watering, and maintaining proper physical condition.
_c._ TRAINING. Training of the pigeon begins at an early age, and is
progressive and constant. The object is to settle the pigeon in its
home loft in order to develop reliability and speed as described in
section V.
_d._ TREATMENT. The pigeon is highly sensitive and responsive to
kindness, firmness, reward for good performance, and calmness of
personnel handling it. Make the loft as attractive as possible because
the pigeon prizes its home.
_e._ HANDICAPS. Bad weather, darkness, and injury, as well as
inadequacies in breeding, conditioning, and training, reduce efficiency
of pigeons (see par. 9_c_).
(1) _Bad weather._ This includes snow, fog, rain, and adverse winds, or
any other conditions which reduce visibility or oppose the flight of
the pigeon. Generally, flights may be predicted according to certain
atmospheric conditions as follows:
_Conditions_ _Results_
Blue sky, high ceiling with white Very fast speed.
fleecy clouds, and low humidity.
Solid grey or bluish grey sky with Very slow speed, losses may
low ceiling, no clouds, and high occur.
humidity.
(2) _Darkness._ Pigeons never lose their initial fear of flying at
night, but it is possible to train them to overcome this fear to a
great extent. Their natural instinct and intelligence will come to
their aid. Night operation, however, is considered impracticable for
the Army pigeons because of the highly mobile tactics of modern warfare.
(3) _Injury._ Injuries are commonly caused by improper handling,
predatory birds (such as hawks), enemy shellfire, or obstacles pigeons
strike in flight. Protect pigeons by destroying all hawks in the
vicinity of the lofts with shotguns provided for that purpose. Select
safe locations for releasing pigeons. Minor injuries rarely prevent a
homing pigeon from returning to its loft as long as they do not hamper
it from determining the proper course of flight. When vitally injured,
the pigeon will continue its return flight until physically exhausted.
Any injury which permanently impairs the eyes or wings of a pigeon
makes it unsuitable for any employment except breeding.