I didn’t sleep well last night, and I woke up super early this morning, and couldn’t get back to sleep. Today, my Utility King pigeons were coming in the mail, and mailing live creatures is always a little perilous. I was reassured by the pigeon breeder, who said he’s been doing this a long time and has never lost a bird in the mail – but I couldn’t relax entirely until those birds were safely in their new coop.
They arrived in a fairly large box.
And although all the ventilation holes were covered in breathable fabric so I couldn’t peek at them, I knew they were both alive by the amount of movement inside. As the postal worker said, as she handed the box to me, they were “kicking!” It did feel a bit like a can-can was going on in there!
As soon as I got home, I opened the box.
Meet Emerson and Peabody, my first pair of Utility Kings!
They are quite large. Unlike quail, which I can easily pick up in one hand, these birds are definitely a two-hand operation.
They were obviously and understandably a little freaked out by their experience in the United States Mail, but still remarkably calm about it. I think once they get used to their new home and to me, I’ll be able to handle them without difficulty.
I’m very pleased with them, and if you’re in the market for a new breed of pigeon, I highly recommend Foy’s Pigeon Supplies.
Out of Eden 
They are beautiful!
They look like . . . Superpigeons! Actually, the look like mountain doves, which are of course, much better than pigeons. (Mountain doves eat elderberries and madrone berries and such) Are they white?
They are pure white, and quite lovely. I think I read that somewhere back, they are descended from mountain doves! I’ll have to see if mine will eat elderberries.
Ask others who raise them first. Too any uncooked elderberries can make people sick. (Although I think they taste too icky raw to eat enough of them to get sick.) I doubt they are toxic to pigeons or doves, but it is worth asking.