How to feed young pigeons at home. What do street and domestic pigeons eat at different times of the year

Increasingly, dovecotes can be found in the private sector of cities and villages. Pigeon breeding as an agricultural direction is gradually reviving and becoming more and more popular every year. What do doves eat? Is it possible to include the same foods in their diet, regardless of the time of year? What is the difference between the food for street birds and the food for pigeons that are kept at home? We will answer these and other questions in our material.

Each of us has observed the behavior of pigeons since childhood. Many kids love to feed these amazingly beautiful and friendly birds. But not everyone knows what should actually be part of the bird feed and what to do so that the animal does not die from diseases of the gastrointestinal tract. In fact, street pigeons eat almost everything that is offered to them. Maybe that's why the bird lives on average 2-3 years. Moreover, birds kept at home can live 10 years or more. So what does a street pigeon eat?

Feed for urban birds

Many people are accustomed to the street pigeon eating bread. They believe that he can not only eat it, but it is also the best food for the animal. This is a big mistake that hundreds of people make in the squares and squares of major cities around the world. In fact, pigeon food must be balanced and correct. It can include rice, buckwheat, wheat, barley, etc. But it’s definitely not worth making sick creatures out of animals, constantly showering them with bakery products. Zoological science says that the physiological age of pigeons is about 15 years, and street birds in very rare cases live up to 5 years. That's how important it is what the pigeon eats.

In the wild, the bird perfectly uses greens, seeds of various plants, beetles, etc. as food. But in urban conditions, a pigeon eats a lot of food that only harms its body.

Domestic pigeon food

The situation is quite different with the nutrition of birds kept at home. Every experienced pigeon breeder knows what is possible for an animal, and what is better not to give. The first thing to learn is that grass and grain are the best food for pigeons. Such food is well digested in the gastrointestinal tract, well absorbed and brings only one benefit to the bird. As for the quantitative composition of the feed, much depends on the characteristics of a particular breed. But there are average data that suggest that a healthy individual eats about 20-30 grams of food. But representatives of large and weighty breeds can eat up to 50 grams.

On average, the composition of the feed is 40% barley. It can also be replaced with pearl barley. Another 10-15% is accounted for by millet. If there is no such grain, at first the pigeon can eat feathered grain mixtures, which are sold in every pet store.

We should also not forget about the benefits of legumes, wheat, rice, oats and greens. If the pigeon does not have the opportunity to freely peck at the grass, then you need to get succulent bird food yourself. Thus, the composition of wheat in the daily diet takes about 30% of the diet, and the rest falls on other grains and legumes, as well as succulent food.

By the way, the grass can be grown independently or harvested ready-made on nearby lawns. If you are going to breed breeding pigeons, you will need to include vitamin and mineral supplements in your diet. They are widely available in any specialized or veterinary store.

The number of meals depends on the season. Usually in winter they give food 2 times, and in summer you can feed 3 and 4 times. Much also depends on the age and health of the bird. However, on average, the first meal in the summer falls at 8 am, then at 1 pm and 6 pm. In winter, you can limit yourself to feeding at 10 and 17 hours, because. the day is short and the birds do not need more food.

But no matter how balanced the composition of the feed is, we must not forget about water. Ideally, the bird should have free access to the drinker.

The amount of feed can also be different and in many respects it is determined by the poultry breeder independently. The lifestyle of the pigeon plays a big role here. If in summer the animal spends most of the day outside the dovecote, then such birds do not need to be actively stuffed with food, because. they found their own food. But in winter, you should worry about a complete diet, because pigeons simply have nowhere to find food. But what to do with newborn chicks?

Feed for young animals

Usually, newborn pigeons are near the female, who monitors their nutrition on her own. But there are times when she refuses the chicks or you need to separate them for some reason. It should be noted right away that it is better to do this not in winter and only after 2 or 3 weeks of life. The chick will eat on its own. You just need to pay more attention to him and make sure that there is food in the feeders and boiled water in the drinkers. If the female abandoned the chicks, up to 7 days old, then at first they need to be fed with boiled eggs, chalked wheat and cut grass. Then you gradually transfer them to adult feed.

So, let's draw a small line under the described. What will your purebred pet eat?

The composition of the diet looks something like this:

Cereals including rice, wheat, rye, millet, etc.;
Legumes (soybeans, peas, small beans);
Grated vegetables such as carrots, beets;
Yeast;
Grass;
compound feed;
Vitamin and mineral supplements.

And here is a list of foods that should not be present in the diet of a thoroughbred pigeon:

Bread, because it provokes problems with the gastrointestinal tract in birds;
Meat products;
Sour-milk food, which can reduce the level of calcium in the body;
Fish products leading to indigestion;
A large amount of sunflower, which can lead to liver disease.

Now, knowing all the features of bird nutrition, you can raise healthy and active offspring and not harm adults. Keep doing what you love and enjoy the grace, beauty and fidelity of pigeons.

Many city dwellers, especially children, are very fond of feeding pigeons on the street. And in rural areas, many residents keep them at home, along with other poultry. Feeding the birds, being on the street or at home, is really a very exciting experience. But pigeons, like any other birds, must eat properly and in a balanced way. Therefore, before feeding pigeons, you must definitely find out what pigeons eat, which are on the street or at home.

What pigeons eat: the basic principles of feeding

Feeding pigeons on the street and at home are in many ways similar. Both wild and domestic birds eat about the same thing. But you need not only to know how to feed a pigeon, but also to at least approximately imagine the basic principles of feeding these birds on the street and at home. You need to know not only what to feed the pigeon, but also how to feed it.

These principles the following:

Since wild and domestic pigeons have a rather small stomach volume, they must eat often, but little by little;
For the same reason, neither wild nor domestic birds should ever be overfed or force-fed;
Birds must not eat leftovers from the human table, they need their own food;
Birds should only eat food that they can grind with their beaks. When a bird swallows solid food without crushing it with its beak, it may choke, and the food will be poorly digested;
Birds should eat not only their main food, but also, if possible, receive a variety of vitamin and mineral complexes.

Feeding pigeons living on the street

City dwellers traditionally feed these birds with bread. In fact, it is not recommended to do this, since bread is not initially the right food for birds and, in particular, pigeons. They, like other types of birds, should have a balanced and varied diet, especially if it is thoroughbred pigeons that are kept at home. Largely due to the wrong diet, the life expectancy of birds living on the street is rather short and reaches only five, maximum six years. However, under favorable conditions and the right diet, they can live up to twenty years.

The most common additions to daily nutrition are:

Here are the main additions to the diet of birds that enjoy great popularity in birds during the warm period of the year, from late April to early October. However, in the city, landscaping workers actively mow grass and cut trees in parks, squares, streets and squares, birds suffer from malnutrition and willingly accept products that are not the most useful for them from the hands of the townspeople: bread crumbs, cereals (rice, buckwheat, millet) and sunflower seeds.

Features of feeding pigeons

Pigeon chicks are usually born small and defenseless, they are completely dependent on their parents and do not fly outside the nest until at least three months of age. In the event that a male or female suddenly dies, the surviving parent spends all his strength on raising and feeding numerous offspring. He feeds his pigeons with a special "milk", which is produced in the goiter. The chick gradually matures, becomes more and more and begins to consume more and more of such food.

Features of the nutrition of pigeons in the cold season

The most difficult life is for pigeons, and other non-migratory birds, of course, in the cold season. In late autumn, winter and early spring, grains, seeds, and green grass are hidden under the snow. Accordingly, they have to look for alternative sources of food in order not to die of hunger. Obeying the instinct of self-preservation, the birds go closer to the places where people live and willingly accept food from them. Starting in late autumn and ending in early spring, urban garbage cans often become the main haven for wild street pigeons.

in winter a lot of birds die. Most often, the sudden death of a bird is associated with malnutrition. In winter, pigeons consume low-calorie food with low nutritional value, and such food is clearly not enough to ensure that the intensive metabolism does not allow the birds to freeze in the cold. In this regard, pigeons must be fed in winter and autumn. The best option is to design a simple feeder and periodically replenish the supply of various cereals and grains in it.

How to feed domestic pigeons

In addition to the main food - grass (fresh or dried) and grain feed, it is necessary to feed the birds kept at home with feed that is very easy to digest and digested. How much food to give per feeding depends entirely on the breed, since pigeons of different breeds have different sizes and different levels of food requirements. Pigeons of some dwarf breeds eat twenty to thirty grams of food per day, and this is quite enough for them for intensive growth and development. And, at the same time, there are heavyweight birds that need at least forty grams of feed per day for intensive growth and full development.

For pigeons kept at home, forty percent of the total grain ration should consist of barley. Another option is also possible: fifty percent barley grains and fifty percent pearl barley. Ten percent of the total grain diet, as a rule, is millet. In addition, for active digestion and well-being, it is imperative to consume legumes (peas, beans, beans, lentils) as often as possible. Legumes contain a large amount of protein necessary for the full growth and development of birds of any age and any breed.

At different times of the year, the feeding regimen for birds that are kept at home is built in completely different ways. The number of meals per day may also vary. When the birds enter their period breeding or begin to molt, they need to be intensively fed, and you also need to make sure that the food for them contains a lot of protein, is rich in valuable vitamins, minerals and trace elements.

What exactly should be fed to domestic pigeons

In order for birds to eat fully and balanced, they need to be given not only greens and grain food. The diet should include other types of feed. This is a necessary condition for the intensive growth and proper development of pigeons that are kept at home. The following must be present in the diet of domestic pigeons: constituents:

Also, birds that are kept at home must be periodically given such important vitamins and mineral supplements as special mineral mixtures, ordinary table salt, red brick crushed into small crumbs.

What foods should be strictly prohibited in the diet of pigeons

There are a number of products that should not be present in any form in the diet of birds, because they can provoke indigestion, intoxication of the body, and even cause sudden death of the bird. These are products such as:

Vitamin and mineral supplements for feeding pigeons

In winter and early spring, birds often suffer from a lack of nutrients - vitamins and minerals necessary for normal growth and development. This negatively affects the well-being and appearance of birds. Their feathers become dull, they themselves become lethargic, they eat poorly. Therefore, pigeons in this difficult period need special vitamin and mineral supplements. It is also necessary to feed pigeons with vitamin supplements when they breed, molt or feed chicks. Vitamin and mineral supplements have a positive effect on metabolism, digestion and eggshell strength.

The following vital chemical compounds must be present in the diet of pigeons: elements necessary for intensive growth and full development:

Calcium;
Phosphorus;
Iron;
Cobalt;
Potassium;
Sodium;
Chlorine;
Zinc;
Manganese;
Copper.

In the event of a lack of useful vitamins and minerals included in the above list, the life expectancy of pigeons is significantly reduced, and their health begins to rapidly deteriorate. Therefore, vitamin supplements must be given attention when keeping pigeons at home.

Feeding the pigeons domestic conditions is not so difficult. The main thing is to follow the basic rules and try to ensure that the birds have a balanced diet. And then the birds will have good health and shiny feathers, the birds will delight the owners with their beauty and will definitely repay the owner for taking care of them. It is equally important to feed wild pigeons, as feeding pigeons helps people become more merciful and compassionate towards animals and birds. This is of particular importance for children and adolescents.

The main food for wild and domestic pigeons is grain. Street birds are often fed by people with bread crumbs, fried sunflower seeds, and sometimes half-eaten pizza or hot dogs are placed for them. Pigeons do not eat meat, sausages and sausages are not natural food for them. Bread should not be given either. It increases the fermentation process in the intestines, which causes flatulence in birds.

Sunflower seeds are rich in vitamins and protein. They are also added to feed for domestic pigeons, but in a raw, unfried form. Seeing a pigeon on the paths of the park, it is better to throw him some millet or barley. For this, the bird will be grateful. Wrong food shortens the life of birds. Wild pigeons that live in forests can live up to 25 years in the mountains. The life span of city sizars is short. Often they die at the age of 6-8 years. What do domestic pigeons eat? What mixtures are recommended for them?

For proper growth and development, poultry needs a complete diet. It includes protein and carbohydrate feeds, supplements with mineral salts and vitamin complexes. Birds do not have teeth, so that the grain is better crushed in the crop and in the stomach, the birds are given fine gravel. The diet is painted for each season separately. In addition, certain nutrition is prescribed during the molting period, during mating games. Pigeons require special feeding during the season of active flight training. In order to properly prepare the food base for the flock, you need to know what pigeons eat. Flight characteristics, the ability to make long flights, endurance and beauty of plumage depend on their nutrition:

the bulk of all diets are grain mixtures. Wheat, rice, corn, millet - these cereals are rich in carbohydrates. They are shown in spring and summer. The winter diet consists of barley, oats, buckwheat and legumes. From legumes give peas, lentils, vetch;
during the molting period, oilseeds are added to grain mixtures for pigeons. Among them are sunflower seeds, hemp, flax, rapeseed. The vitamin and mineral complex, which is found in the seeds, contributes to the development of dense and high-quality plumage. Wild pigeons eat weed seeds found in the fields;

Root vegetables such as carrots and potatoes are good for birds. Carrots are chopped on a coarse grater or cut into cubes. Potatoes are peeled, boiled, chopped with a fork. Root crops are especially useful during the flight period and during the mating season of individuals;
in summer the bird is given green grass. It is a source of carbohydrates and vitamins. From green fodder recommend alfalfa, lettuce, spinach. Young growth is useful for germinated grains of cereal plants;
rapeseed, cake, meal, yeast are used as protein supplements;
Mineral and vitamin supplements for pigeons are fish oil, shell rock, water-soluble vitamins. From the age of three weeks, young animals begin to give fine gravel, brick chips, pebbles. It is purchased from feed manufacturers.

Domestic pigeons of meat breeds use combined grain mixtures with protein fillers, which feed chickens with meat productivity. On farms, the feeding process is automated. Use automatic feeders and drinkers. Mixtures begin to be given to the bird from a young age. Nutritional supplements promote better growth and accelerated weight gain. For individuals of flying breeds, food for pigeons is made up separately, but mixtures that are intended for parrots can also be used.

Pigeon breeders often ask how to feed the young on their own, without the help of a parental couple. Chicks are born blind and defenseless. They need to be fed right away. They do not have a yolk sac, like chickens, which allows them not to remain hungry for several days. The pigeons are fed by their parents with goiter milk.

Unfortunately, not all females and males can provide their chicks with nutrient fluid. Some have a poorly developed parental instinct, and they fly away from the nest, others are not allowed by physiological characteristics. These include individuals of short-beaked breeds. Ornithologists must look for a nurse. In its absence, they resort to artificial feeding of young animals. It is necessary to learn in advance how to feed a pigeon chick, what mixtures to give it. The first approach must be done within 5 hours after the hatchling emerges from the egg.

Not all individuals on the farm are able to find a pair. Sometimes laying hens lay unfertilized eggs. Such eggs are well suited for feeding chicks. Use a plastic disposable syringe without a needle. Instead of a needle, a dropper tube is put on the syringe. A hole is made in the egg, a tube is placed in it.

Collect the contents of the egg with protein and yolk. This mixture is administered to the chick through the mouth. The liquid immediately enters the goiter. This can be determined by probing. The initial portion is no more than 2 ml. Pigeons are fed every 3 hours. A chick eats 10 ml of an egg mixture per day. Be sure to provide water. It is also administered through a tube.

In the future, the portion of the mixture for the chicks is increased. The young are rapidly gaining weight. By 3 weeks, his body weight reaches 300 g. From 2 weeks, cereals and legumes are added to the chick's food. They are crushed. Enter in small portions through the beak. Be sure to drink the dry mixture with water. The mixture may consist of peas, corn, wheat. If there is no such grain, then millet is laid in the beak. Do it in small batches. To make it easier to introduce food, use an insulin syringe. The upper part is cut off, millet is collected in the resulting hole. It is introduced into the beak by the movement of the piston.

At 12-14 days, mineral and vitamin supplements begin to be used. Vitamins are recommended to be dissolved in water. Mineral top dressing is administered with an insulin syringe or hands, laying it in the beak. You can give rapeseed and whole grains of corn. The corn is steamed overnight. The grains become soft. Through the beak, one grain is introduced. At one time, the chick can eat up to 10 grains. Please note that the corn should be small. When feeding grain feed, young animals begin to be given fine gravel.

Manual artificial feeding of pigeons continues until the age of one month. After that, the young animals are transferred to a separate enclosure, where they accustom individuals to feeders and drinkers. Grain mixtures are recommended to be changed so as not to provoke disorders in the gastrointestinal tract. A portion of feed in 30 days is 30 g. In the future, adhere to this norm. Increase the supply of the mixture during the mating season and in winter.

Whole grains are used to feed the young. For full growth and development, the following mixture is recommended:

With the introduction of protein supplements, cake and rapeseed, the amount of vetch, corn and peas is reduced. For better feather growth, mineral supplements are introduced, but not more than 2 g per head. Drinking is recommended to be given with vitamins. Once a week, soldering with potassium permanganate is carried out.

In order for the plumage of pigeons to be of high quality, they are given fish oil during the molting period. 10% of the diet should be sunflower seeds, flax and rapeseed. Oilseeds are rich in micro and macro elements, which are necessary for the renewal of plumage. Half of the diet is peas and oatmeal. The remaining 50% is distributed between rice, barley, and wheat.

At 8-10 months, the young begin puberty. Soon individuals will prepare for the mating season. The body needs to be replenished with protein. This will ensure the full development of the reproductive organs. What should be fed to pigeons at this crucial time? The daily feed intake increases to 45 g. It is recommended to use the following diet:

the basis is peas, vetch, millet, oatmeal; their volume is 80%; all ingredients are distributed in the same proportion;
add a little corn, 10%;
give a drink with vitamin "A";
recommended carrots and potatoes.

The bird is gradually transferred to this diet. Provide the flock with constant access to drinking water. During the mating period, the portion of food increases to 60 g. The proportions of legumes and cereals change slightly. The pigeon needs not only protein feed, but also carbohydrates. Iodine fillers are added to the mixture. Each individual should eat 2 g of a saturated mixture. Premixes must be added to pigeon feeders. Purchase mixtures recommended for parrots or chickens:

the basis of the diet is corn and peas. They are given at 20%;
wheat and vetch 15% each;
millet and barley 10% each;
necessarily introduce oilseeds. Their volume can be up to 10% of the total diet.

It is recommended that every time after feeding, clean the containers where the grain mixtures were located. The birds will not eat the dried food. They have a reduced appetite. They lose weight, females and males have a reduced desire to mate. Pigeon feeders must be kept clean at all times. In addition, it is a good prevention against infectious diseases.

Pigeon breeders often discuss on forums how to feed a pigeon at home. As practice turns out, the question is a bit incorrect. The diet will depend on the period of the bird's life, on the time of year and on the breed. During the period of body recovery after mating or molting, in the absence of active flight training, the following nutrition is recommended for adults:

barley and barley: the mixture is half the total diet; mix them in equal proportions;
1/3 is wheat or rice;
the rest of the volume is distributed between millet, peas, vetch;
green fodder is introduced in summer;
in the spring it is recommended to give potatoes and carrots.

This food is used for feeding ornamental birds. Sunflower seeds, rapeseed are added to the diet. The additive is necessary to maintain beautiful plumage. Mineral fillers are introduced into the feed constantly. It can be chalk, salt. No more than 1 g of fillers is allowed per head.

Many ornithologists breed postmen. They need to have classes. What do they do in this case, how to feed the postman pigeons? If the bird is actively trained, prepared for competitions, then the main emphasis in feeding is on replenishing energy in the body. It is provided by carbohydrate cereals. Along with green fodder, the following mixture is introduced:

peas - 1/3 of the feed;
barley - 20%;
vetch, millet, corn, oats - 10% each;
wheat - 5%;
4 g per head give oilseeds.

During the training period, the bird receives 30-40 g of feed per day. Delivery is carried out 2 times a day. Is it possible to feed pigeons before the flight? Before flying, birds are fed 1/3 of the total diet. In the evening give the remaining portion. Experts say that the bird should not be full before the flight. Otherwise, she will not be able to show all that she is capable of. It will be difficult for her to fly. During a long rest period or in winter, this diet is not used. It will lead to obesity.

In the absence of active flights or in winter, it is recommended to feed the birds with barley. It is 1/2 part of the mixture. Excessive consumption of protein foods will lead to obesity. In addition, protein supplements stimulate sexual activity in females and males. Together with barley, the bird is given corn, rice and peas. To avoid beriberi, it is recommended to add lime to cereals, but not more than 2 g per head. Gravel is used up to 2-3 g per individual.

The nutrition of pigeons must be constantly monitored. The same cereals are used for feeding, but many factors in the life of birds depend on their proportion in the diet: the development of the body, flight characteristics, mating, and the health of the offspring. Breeding pigeons is a painstaking work that requires a lot of knowledge and patience.

Many today would like to keep birds of the world at home or in their backyard. But not everyone knows what pigeons eat, so at first they face many problems. Of course, you can first observe the birds in natural conditions, find out what they eat. But many modern breeds require special nutrition.

Many of us believe that the best food for birds is bread and seeds. In any case, this is what it is customary to feed street city birds with. But, like any other living creature, pigeons also need the right balanced and varied feed. Especially if the birds are thoroughbred and have a breeding purpose. It is because of malnutrition that many on the street do not live beyond the age of five. Although their biological age is on average 15-17 years.

In nature, the basis of the diet of pigeons is greens, grass seeds and various grains. And due to the fact that in modern cities they often mow the grass and cut the trees, the birds are starving. So they are forced to eat bread, buns and seeds. And it's not their favorite food at all. The natural diet should be maintained.

As you already understood, grains and grass are the main food for pigeons. The main requirement is easy digestibility. As for the volume, it depends on the breed and purpose of the bird. On average, one adult gray-winged light breed consumes 20-30 grams of food per day, heavy breeds - 30-50 grams.

At home, about 40% of the total grain diet should be barley. Occasionally it can be replaced with pearl barley. About 10% of the feed should be millet. If you cannot buy all the grains separately from the market, you can purchase regular food for small pet parrots.

Birds also need legumes, such as lentils, peas and vetch. Shelled oats and oatmeal are also added to the feeder. As for wheat, pigeons love it and eat a lot - about 30% of the daily diet.

Domestic pigeons also need fresh grass. It can be grown either on its own in a pot or harvested from clean lawns. As vitamins, special complexes for thoroughbred birds are added. They can be purchased at pet stores and veterinary pharmacies.

How many times to feed depends on the season. For example, birds are given food three times in summer and twice in winter. In winter, adult birds are given food at 8-9 o'clock in the morning and in the evening at 19-20 o'clock. If pigeons feed chicks, then in summer their first meal should begin at 4-5 in the morning, the second time at 13 o'clock and the last at 20-21 o'clock in the evening.

It depends on the season, on the purpose of the birds, and also on the period of their life. Of course, regardless of all that has been said, the basis of feeding is grain. As we have already said, this is wheat, and barley, and millet, and legumes, and corn, and sunflower seeds. As vitamin supplements, you can give finely chopped lettuce, cabbage, clover, nettle, alfalfa, sorrel and spinach. Be sure to give fresh herbs.

Don't forget mineral supplements. For this, ground shell, eggshell, charcoal or red brick crumbs are suitable. Be sure to give the birds salt at the rate of 20 grams per 1 liter of water.

Each owner sets the amount of food for his birds individually, depending on the way of life. For example, if pigeons fly and the dovecote is open, then the birds are only fed up. Most often, in the warm season, they find their own food in the fields. In winter, of course, they feed plentifully. Pigeons need a stronger diet during special periods, for example, during molting, oviposition, breeding. Let's consider all periods separately.

In summer, from July, pigeons begin to molt. It lasts until mid-autumn. These days, the feathered body needs an enhanced diet, mostly consisting of protein. This substance is needed for the formation of new feathers. However, when feeding protein foods, it is important to ensure that the doves do not provoke sexual excitability. For this, more oats and barley are added to the main diet and wheat is removed.

It is imperative that in these summer-autumn months the birds should be given rapeseed seeds, as well as cabbage greens. The daily requirement of molting pigeons is 40-50 grams of feed. It may include:

Birds that are just getting used to the "adult" diet eat wheat best and legumes least of all. In the first weeks of such nutrition, wheat is moistened with trivitamin or a few drops of fish oil. After the start of flights, the amount of wheat must be reduced, replacing it with peas and vetch. The daily norm is 30-40 grams. Sample diet:

During oviposition, birds especially need proper rich nutrition. Feeding pigeons during this period directly proportionally affects the production of eggs with high incubation qualities. At this time, along with grains and legumes, birds must receive vitamin supplements and greens. Additionally, mineral complexes should be introduced, especially phosphorus, calcium.

Vitamin A is very important in the breeding period, which affects the intensity of oviposition. With its lack or absence in females, egg production may stop altogether. But the lack of vitamin B2 leads to the fading of the embryo. Its source is germinated grain.

So the birds are called when they participate in competitions. Long flights require a lot of energy, so these birds must receive starch and sugar. For example, for such pigeons, the amount of corn is increased and rice is added as a source of starch. During the competition, they are also supplemented with sugar. Before the flight itself, you can’t feed the birds, but after that they give you plenty to get enough of rapeseed, colza or other oilseeds.

During this period, males and females should receive a lot of protein food. The daily dose of food increases to 60 grams. These should be highly nutritious foods rich in vitamins and minerals. Wet mixers are filled with skimmed milk. Sample diet:

20% peas;
20% millet;
20% barley;
10% wiki;
10% wheat;
10% corn and oats;
10% mineral supplements or germinated grain.

Before mating, about two weeks before the birds are given hemp seeds.

Feeding pigeons in winter also requires a special diet from the owner. In the cold season, you need to minimize protein foods, which will lead to a decrease in sexual activity and prevent unnecessary egg laying. That is why in winter legumes are not given to pigeons, replacing them only with barley and oats. Also at such a time it is useful for birds to cook boiled porridge in salted water from a mixture of cereals. To maintain the softness and fluffiness of feathers, flax seeds up to 4 grams and rapeseed are added to the daily diet.

It is useful to give dried herbs to pigeons in winter, such as parsley or dill, carrots and pumpkin. By reducing the amount of grain, you can give the birds a mash of boiled potatoes with wheat bran. Approximate diet in winter:

In total, in winter, an adult bird should eat about 40 grams of feed per day.

In this video, you will learn how to properly and how to feed the chicks of domestic pigeons. Many poultry farmers face this problem, so the specialist will show and tell you how to carry out the procedure.

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Do you need advice?

Tell me, is it possible to give barley with a shell to pigeons? This is the only one we sell on the market.

Yes, definitely, since such barley is included in professional pigeon food. So feel free to buy.

We also gave such barley, went with a bang and everything was fine with the bird.

So, and if barley without a shell or just barley groats, is that bad? And does the bird get enough fiber if I also add wheat millet, pearl barley, barley millet, split peas, flax seeds?

And we can’t find barley, I feed only pearl barley, wheat groats, peas, lentils. Salted bread is eaten once a month. Also finely chopped apples and dill. True, I have never seen them eat greens. Well, in general, everything. I would like to know if it is possible to give buckwheat porridge and raw rice (in grains)?

I found a sick pigeon, it froze, brought it home, its feathers crawled out, in general, it was completely bald. What to do with it, how to get out?

I feed street pigeons on the window. Mainly hercules, wheat groats and peas. One dove flew all the time. But after one day I fed them all with the remnants of pasta (freshly cooked), I have not seen a pigeon for three days. I worry that suddenly something happened to him because of the pasta.

Pasta is an unusual food for pigeons; their digestive system is not adapted to this.

Pigeons are very undemanding birds in feeding. And be sure to have dishes with fresh water.

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mare's foals
Goat lambing

Pigeons can be found on any street in a city or village. These birds have long and firmly occupied a place next to man. Often we observe how people generously scatter various cereals and crusts of bread in order to feed the birds. But how many people are interested in what can be fed to pigeons so as not to harm their health?

Street birds are not too pretentious they eat everything that gets under their feet. The problem is that such nutrition adversely affects the state of their gastrointestinal tract. Over time, the bird develops serious diseases, and it dies. It is significant that this bird lives on the street for about 2-5 years, while its theoretical life span is 20 years. Such a huge difference depends primarily on what the pigeon eats.

What do pigeons eat in nature

Wild pigeons living in nature eat various greens, insects and seeds. But in urban areas food like this is impossible to find. In parks, squares and on street lawns, grass thickets are rarely seen. Usually, all the greenery is mowed, leaving the pigeons no chance to find the food they need. Such living conditions, combined with innate unpretentiousness, forced the birds to eat what is easiest to find. As a rule, these are food leftovers next to garbage cans and various food that people bring.

Feeding street pigeons is a rather controversial practice around which debate has not ceased for a long time. But if you still decide to help the birds, then it is better to do it correctly. You can often see how birds are thrown bread in the form of crumbs or whole pieces. The truth is that such humanitarian aid only brings harm. Bread gives the bird a feeling of satiety, but at the same time it has a negative effect on the state of the body. With regular nutrition of flour products, the bird will not die of hunger, but it will die from various diseases of the gastrointestinal tract.

Like any living creature, the body of a pigeon needs in a balanced diet. Therefore, to feed them, it is better to purchase a special grain mixture at a pet store. You can also make it yourself by mixing several types of grains and cereals: rice, millet, barley, wheat, buckwheat, millet and oats. This mixture will benefit street birds much more than a loaf of bread.

If you suddenly happened to see pigeons in the nest, then you should not try to feed them. Better not to touch these chicks at all. The fact is that pigeon parents are very sensitive to safety, so they can leave their home with their children if they feel the presence of a person. So it's better to just leave. When adults return from fishing, they will feed the chicks with a special goiter milk, which contains all the necessary substances.

What do pigeons eat at home

Pigeon breeding is a fairly lucrative business. But this can only be done if the rules for feeding birds. The nutrition system primarily depends on the breed of the pigeon and the purpose of breeding. For example, birds that are raised to be served on a dish in restaurants need more food than show birds. But the general rules of feeding remain the same for all breeds.

The diet of adult pigeons

The main poultry food products are grain and grass. Grain mixture for feeding pigeons at home most often consists of the following elements:

barley or pearl barley 40% of the total mass;
millet 10%;
wheat 30%;
the remaining 20% is distributed among legumes, oats and millet.

If for some reason it is not possible to prepare the mixture yourself, then you can purchase food for parrots at the pet store. Such food is perfect for pigeons, but it will cost a little more.

Also, the diet of birds must include fresh grass. It is best to grow it directly on your site. But if this is not possible, then you can collect green fodder in some clean meadow. In no case should you tear grass from city lawns, as this greenery grows surrounded by exhaust gases and other harmful substances, absorbing them all.

Vitamins and minerals

Quality nutrition is not complete without the addition of various nutrients. It is most convenient to use vitamins and mineral complexes for feeding, which are sold in veterinary pharmacies or pet stores. But you can get by with improvised means. For example, instead of vitamin supplements, you can give the birds finely chopped nettles, cabbage, sorrel and alfalfa. Greens must be fresh. Ground shells and eggshells are perfect as mineral supplements, charcoal can also be used. Salt is also a necessary part of the vitamin and mineral diet. Its quantity should be at least 20 grams per liter of water.

Number of feedings

Diet is primarily dependent on from the season. An adult bird eats from 20 to 50 grams of food per day, depending on the breed.

What to feed pigeon chicks

At home, as in the wild, the first days of life of newborn pigeons pass with the constant care of their parents. Adult birds feed their babies special goiter milk. This substance is somewhat similar to human colostrum. It contains all the necessary nutrients, vitamins and minerals. The pigeon needs just such food, since the chick must grow rapidly and gain weight.

At the age of 3-4 weeks, the chick can be slowly transferred to adult food. If the dovecote is open, then the parents themselves will gradually teach the chick to fly with them to the meadows and get food there. Otherwise, changing the nutrition system is entirely in the hands of the breeder. To begin with, the chick is offered soaked wheat grains, to which you can add a little fish oil or trivitamin. As the pigeon matures, legumes are added to the wheat. When he has fully mastered this food, you can introduce all the other nutrients of an adult bird.

Sometimes there are situations when a newborn dove is left without parents immediately after its birth. In such cases, he, of course, is deprived of goiter milk, so he needs special compensatory nutrition. In the first week of life, these babies are fed with a mixture of egg yolk and milk. The feeding process takes place with the help of a syringe and a thin rubber tube, which is inserted into the chick's esophagus. After a week, the pigeon can be given liquid milk porridge from lentils or peas.