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
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: