133. Chinese Owls with Dick Holmberg

133. Chinese Owls with Dick Holmberg

From All About Pigeons by Word On The Wire Productions

March 25, 2026 · 27 min

About this episode

Phillip Fry interviews Dick Holmberg about the unique characteristics and history of the Chinese Owl pigeon breed.

In this episode of the All About Pigeons podcast, host Phillip Fry sits down with Dick Holmberg to talk all about the Chinese Owl pigeon. Dick has been involved with the breed for decades, serves in multiple roles with the National Chinese Owl Club, heads up the judging program, and has earned multiple Master Breeder Lifetime Achievement Awards. They get into how Dick first got started in pigeons, what drew him to Chinese Owls, and what makes this breed so unique. He shares the surprising history behind the name, how the breed developed over time, and how Chinese Owls have changed in the United States through selective breeding and careful refinement. The conversation also covers temperament, housing, breeding setup, fertility, fostering, bath routines, parasite control, vaccinations, and how to properly prepare birds for the show cage. Dick also breaks down the judging system for Chinese Owls and explains what breeders should be focusing on to continue improving the breed. If you are interested in Chinese Owls, fancy pigeons, breeding for the show room, or learning from someone with a lifetime of experience, this is an episode you will not want to miss. They also discuss Dick’s…

People in this episode

Host: Phillip Fry

Guest: Dick Holmberg

Topics covered

  • Chinese Owls
  • pigeon breeding
  • show pigeons
  • pigeon care
  • pigeon history

Keywords

  • Chinese Owls
  • pigeon breeding
  • show pigeons
  • pigeon care
  • National Chinese Owl Club

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: National Chinese Owl Club

Books & works: A Guide to Success in Breeding and Exhibition of the American Chinese Owl

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