Loft Lahore
About Lahore
Origin For a very long time this bird was bred in the present area of Lahore, Pakistan. It was imported into Germany around 1880 and became popular among pigeon enthusiasts at the beginning of the 1960's. They are usually found in the area of Iran and are some of the most colorful pigeons. These ornamental pigeons from ancient Persia were once bred for their meat, but today they are raised for their beautiful plumage and colorful patterns. Their calm and gentle natures also make them delightfully tame pets.
Appearance The Lahore is large for a pigeon, approximately 10.5 inches tall and 11.5 long. From shoulder to shoulder, it measures 5.5 inches. Its markings are also unusual: the base color is white, with a secondary color beginning at the juncture of beak and wattle and spreading in an arc over the eyes and across the back and wings. The rump and tail are to be white, though in pigeon shows the majority of attention is paid to the quality of the head, neck, and wing markings.
The neck should be heavily feathered and should lead to a full, broad chest. Cheeks should be plump, and the beak should be "broad and stout and rather blunt at the tip." Feet and legs are feathered so that the bird appears to be wearing thick stockings.
Appearance The Lahore is large for a pigeon, approximately 10.5 inches tall and 11.5 long. From shoulder to shoulder, it measures 5.5 inches. Its markings are also unusual: the base color is white, with a secondary color beginning at the juncture of beak and wattle and spreading in an arc over the eyes and across the back and wings. The rump and tail are to be white, though in pigeon shows the majority of attention is paid to the quality of the head, neck, and wing markings.
The neck should be heavily feathered and should lead to a full, broad chest. Cheeks should be plump, and the beak should be "broad and stout and rather blunt at the tip." Feet and legs are feathered so that the bird appears to be wearing thick stockings.
Breeding for Perfection
The Lahore Standard
HEIGHT: Approximately ten and one-half inches (10 ½")
LENGTH: Tip of tail to chest extremity approximately eleven and one-half inches (11 ½")
WIDTH: Approximately five and one-half inches (5 ½") at widest point of the body, from shoulder to shoulder.
* The measurements listed above are for old cocks; hens and young birds would be somewhat smaller accordingly.
TEMPERAMENT: It is desired that the Lahore be calm and stately in the show pen.
MARKINGS AND DESIGN
MARKINGS: The base color is white with the secondary color conforming to a specific design. Basically the secondary color starts at the wattle, with a line continuing from the juncture of the beak and wattle, up over the eye and down the neck to the wing butt, with the entire wing being colored. The rump, tail, and the remainder of the bird is to be white.Slight mismarkings in the thighs, etc., are of less importance and should receive less point cuts according to the severity while being judged. It should be remembered that slight mismarkings such as "bishoped-wing" (slight white feathering under the wing butt) or color in the thigh, etc., are not disqualifications but faults, and should be dealt with as such.
HEAD AND NECK
HEAD AND FACE: The head is to be large and as broad as possible, with a full frontal and well developed back skull. Top of skull being not too round, but oval. The head and face are to be more masculine in cocks than in hens. The face of the bird is to be very pleasant with the cheeks being full enough to give the face a rather chubby appearance.
NECK: Full and powerful, medium in length, and heavily feathered, flowing from the back of the head without undercut, into the smooth continuous black line. There should be as little undercut from the beak into the breast line as possible. This stout "Bull Neck" flowing smoothly into the large chest is a most desirable characteristic.
EYES: Bright and prominent showing health and vigor. To be "bull" in color.
EYE CERE: To be fine, smooth, and narrow as possible. May vary from flesh colored to red.
BEAK: To be broad and stout and rather blunt at the tip. Medium in length, measuring approximately seven eighths of an inch (7/8") from the feather line above the wattle to the tip of the beak. Shorter is better than longer. Must be pinkish white in color, without any sign of horn color or dark staining.
WATTLE: Medium in size and fine in texture, powdery white in color. Slight staining is allowed but not desired. The nostrils are to be the dividing line between the wattle and beak.
BODY AND SIZE
BODY AND KEEL: Body to be slightly larger than medium, broad, well fleshed and solid, with a feeling of strength and smoothness. The keel should be moderate in length curving like the rocker of a rocking chair, with no crooks or indentations. The keel should have enough flesh so the keel bone itself is not prominent, but rather give the feeling of smooth, even roundness when held in the hands. The desire is to have a broad, well-fleshed bird.
CHEST: To be broad, well rounded, and very prominent. The chest should extend well beyond the wing butts and appear round and full when viewed from either side or the front.
BACK AND SHOULDERS: Back to be broad with well rounded shoulders. Wedge-shaped when viewed from above, wide at the shoulders, diminishing rapidly toward the tail. Shoulders should blend into the neck feathers smoothly. The back of the bird should slope at an angle of 35 to 45 degrees when standing in show station.
WINGS: Strong and wide, held snugly to the body, laying smoothly on the rump and tail with the tips ending approximately one inch (1") from the end of the tail. The wing butts are to be well covered by chest feathers blending into the chest smoothly. The covert feathers should come together enough on the back so the bird does not appear sloppy in the rump area. The wings should blend into the rump and tail area smoothly, without any sign of "sails".
TAIL: Neatly folded, medium in length, and approximately one and one-quarter (1 ¼) feathers wide. Lines to follow the sweep of the back with the tip being carried not too far off the floor.
COLOR
COLOR: All colors to be recognized. The standard show classifications are: Black, lavender, red, yellow, bars, checks, and A.O.C. Bar and check classes consist of any color bar or any color check, and checks can be either light or dark check. Duns and all other colors not already mentioned are to be shown in the A.O.C. class. These color classes are established for the convenience of our show secretaries, and to create competition. All intense colors should be rich and lustrous, with bars and checks being clear and crisp and true to their various colors.
PLUMAGE: To be smooth, neat, and clean. The feathers of the head, neck, and chest should have just enough length and looseness to enhance the fullness of those areas.
FEET AND LEGS
FEET AND LEGS: Legs should be set well apart and not too long. Feet should be well covered by feathering, which should be a heavy grouse, but not so long as to appear too "muff-like". The feathering of the legs should blend smoothing into the tail cushioning without any indication of "vulture hocks" (long, loose feathering in the hocks). Toenails are to be pinkish white in color.
TRIMMING: Trimming of the plumage to enhance markings is legal when showing. However, this practice should be approached with caution as disqualifications may result if excessive or not done correctly. (Judges discretion).
HEIGHT: Approximately ten and one-half inches (10 ½")
LENGTH: Tip of tail to chest extremity approximately eleven and one-half inches (11 ½")
WIDTH: Approximately five and one-half inches (5 ½") at widest point of the body, from shoulder to shoulder.
* The measurements listed above are for old cocks; hens and young birds would be somewhat smaller accordingly.
TEMPERAMENT: It is desired that the Lahore be calm and stately in the show pen.
MARKINGS AND DESIGN
MARKINGS: The base color is white with the secondary color conforming to a specific design. Basically the secondary color starts at the wattle, with a line continuing from the juncture of the beak and wattle, up over the eye and down the neck to the wing butt, with the entire wing being colored. The rump, tail, and the remainder of the bird is to be white.Slight mismarkings in the thighs, etc., are of less importance and should receive less point cuts according to the severity while being judged. It should be remembered that slight mismarkings such as "bishoped-wing" (slight white feathering under the wing butt) or color in the thigh, etc., are not disqualifications but faults, and should be dealt with as such.
HEAD AND NECK
HEAD AND FACE: The head is to be large and as broad as possible, with a full frontal and well developed back skull. Top of skull being not too round, but oval. The head and face are to be more masculine in cocks than in hens. The face of the bird is to be very pleasant with the cheeks being full enough to give the face a rather chubby appearance.
NECK: Full and powerful, medium in length, and heavily feathered, flowing from the back of the head without undercut, into the smooth continuous black line. There should be as little undercut from the beak into the breast line as possible. This stout "Bull Neck" flowing smoothly into the large chest is a most desirable characteristic.
EYES: Bright and prominent showing health and vigor. To be "bull" in color.
EYE CERE: To be fine, smooth, and narrow as possible. May vary from flesh colored to red.
BEAK: To be broad and stout and rather blunt at the tip. Medium in length, measuring approximately seven eighths of an inch (7/8") from the feather line above the wattle to the tip of the beak. Shorter is better than longer. Must be pinkish white in color, without any sign of horn color or dark staining.
WATTLE: Medium in size and fine in texture, powdery white in color. Slight staining is allowed but not desired. The nostrils are to be the dividing line between the wattle and beak.
BODY AND SIZE
BODY AND KEEL: Body to be slightly larger than medium, broad, well fleshed and solid, with a feeling of strength and smoothness. The keel should be moderate in length curving like the rocker of a rocking chair, with no crooks or indentations. The keel should have enough flesh so the keel bone itself is not prominent, but rather give the feeling of smooth, even roundness when held in the hands. The desire is to have a broad, well-fleshed bird.
CHEST: To be broad, well rounded, and very prominent. The chest should extend well beyond the wing butts and appear round and full when viewed from either side or the front.
BACK AND SHOULDERS: Back to be broad with well rounded shoulders. Wedge-shaped when viewed from above, wide at the shoulders, diminishing rapidly toward the tail. Shoulders should blend into the neck feathers smoothly. The back of the bird should slope at an angle of 35 to 45 degrees when standing in show station.
WINGS: Strong and wide, held snugly to the body, laying smoothly on the rump and tail with the tips ending approximately one inch (1") from the end of the tail. The wing butts are to be well covered by chest feathers blending into the chest smoothly. The covert feathers should come together enough on the back so the bird does not appear sloppy in the rump area. The wings should blend into the rump and tail area smoothly, without any sign of "sails".
TAIL: Neatly folded, medium in length, and approximately one and one-quarter (1 ¼) feathers wide. Lines to follow the sweep of the back with the tip being carried not too far off the floor.
COLOR
COLOR: All colors to be recognized. The standard show classifications are: Black, lavender, red, yellow, bars, checks, and A.O.C. Bar and check classes consist of any color bar or any color check, and checks can be either light or dark check. Duns and all other colors not already mentioned are to be shown in the A.O.C. class. These color classes are established for the convenience of our show secretaries, and to create competition. All intense colors should be rich and lustrous, with bars and checks being clear and crisp and true to their various colors.
PLUMAGE: To be smooth, neat, and clean. The feathers of the head, neck, and chest should have just enough length and looseness to enhance the fullness of those areas.
FEET AND LEGS
FEET AND LEGS: Legs should be set well apart and not too long. Feet should be well covered by feathering, which should be a heavy grouse, but not so long as to appear too "muff-like". The feathering of the legs should blend smoothing into the tail cushioning without any indication of "vulture hocks" (long, loose feathering in the hocks). Toenails are to be pinkish white in color.
TRIMMING: Trimming of the plumage to enhance markings is legal when showing. However, this practice should be approached with caution as disqualifications may result if excessive or not done correctly. (Judges discretion).
