Martham

Martham is a little-documented domestic pigeon breed or local strain named for Martham, a village in Norfolk, England. It appears in breed lists as one of the many regional pigeons developed from Columba livia by small groups of fanciers, but it has never had the worldwide visibility of racing homers, rollers, or large exhibition breeds. Available references give few consistent details, so the name is best approached as a scarce British fancy pigeon label whose exact standard may depend on the source.

For keepers, the first question is authenticity: obtain birds from a breeder who can explain the line, its expected type, and any club standard being used. Husbandry is ordinary pigeon care, with a dry, predator-safe loft, clean nesting bowls, grit, and a balanced grain mix. Rare local strains are vulnerable to being diluted by casual crossing, so small breeding groups benefit from exchanging stock carefully and keeping notes on parentage, color, fertility, and any traits that define the Martham line.

Colors: Almond, Ash Red, Bar, Barless, Black, Blue, Brown, Checker, Dilute, Dun, Grizzle, Indigo, Mottle, Opal, Pied, Recessive Red, Red, Silver, Splash, Spread, White, Yellow