Erzurum retiree rents house for 40 pigeons

Ahmet Özkalıpçı, a 58-year-old retired senior master sergeant, has dedicated his retirement to fulfilling a childhood passion for pigeon breeding in Erzurum, Turkey. After serving 32 years in the Turkish Armed Forces, Özkalıpçı began focusing on his interest in Shebap pigeons in 2019.

He has rented a 3+1 apartment in the Gürcükapı neighborhood of the Yakutiye district specifically to house approximately 40 pigeons, including 'Miski' and 'Gök' breeds. The monthly costs for the birds, which include 3,500 lira for rent plus expenses for electricity, water, feed, and heating, total approximately 10,000 lira.

While the total value of his pigeons is estimated to be in the millions of lira, Özkalıpçı stated that he does not breed them for financial gain. Instead, he uses the rented space as a social hub to meet with friends and enjoy his hobby.