Is it possible to feed pigeons with millet. pigeon feeding

The main food for most species of pigeons is grain. It contains a large amount of protein, fats, carbohydrates, vitamins and minerals, as well as up to 20% of fiber, which is poorly absorbed, but is necessary for normal digestion.

Millet for pigeons

Millet makes up a large part of the diet of pigeons, especially small doves. It comes in white, yellow, gray and red. In mixtures for dwarf turtledoves, millet can make up 40-70% of the mass of the entire grain. Brightly colored varieties of millet contain more vitamins: red - carotene (provitamin A), yellow - vitamin B. Millet without a shell (millet) is given in the form of boiled crumbly porridge, which all pigeons willingly eat. Millet porridge is especially suitable for feeding short-beaked breeds.

Oats for pigeons

Oats are a valuable, well-digestible food, but contain a lot of fiber and husks (up to 40%). Only large pigeons eat it. It is recommended to give part of the oats steamed, especially when feeding chicks. To obtain steamed oats, it is boiled for 10-12 minutes in salted water. After boiling, the water is drained, and the oats, after drying a little, are given to the pigeons.

Wheat for pigeons

Wheat is a high protein feed. It is a complete food for pigeons of all kinds. However, there is little calcium in wheat, so when you include it in the diet, you need to make sure that there is always a mineral supplement in the cage or aviary. Wheat is usually given in a semi-ripe or germinated form. Sprouted grains contain a lot of vitamins E and B, which are necessary for pigeons, especially during the period of growth, molting and reproduction.

Pigeon barley

Barley is considered the main and best food for domestic pigeons. This grain contains all the necessary nutrients, so barley can be fed to pigeons almost all year round.

Corn for pigeons

Corn is a good and complete food, but can only be eaten by large species of pigeons due to its size. In crushed, boiled or sprouted form, almost all pigeons readily eat it. In terms of digestibility and energy value, corn is superior to other feeds, but it is poor in essential amino acids. Therefore, the amount of corn in the diet of pigeons should not exceed 20%.

Small lentils, field beans for pigeons

Small lentils, field beans are an excellent addition to the diet for short-beaked breeds of domestic pigeons. You can feed rice, it is healthy and well eaten by birds.

Canary seed for pigeons

Canary seed is one of the best foods for small turtledoves. These are the seeds of the canary grass that grows wild in the Canary Islands. However, some hobbyists sow canary seed in their home gardens and supply their birds with complete food. But you can’t feed a bird with one canary seed, because. it is high in fat and can lead to liver disease or obesity in the bird.

pigeon lettuce seeds

Seeds of lettuce and various herbs are readily eaten by small turtledoves, they can be included in the grain mixture or given separately. But often the pigeons refuse to eat these seeds, which happens most often for two reasons: either the seeds of weeds are spoiled by quick drying, or the birds have not yet been accustomed to them.

Kira Stoletova

Every poultry farmer knows that health largely depends on the quality of nutrition and the correctness of the selected diet. And in sports pigeons, not only the state of health, but also success in competitions depends on the diet. Consider what pigeons can eat, and what to give birds is strictly prohibited.

We make a diet for birds

Pigeons, like humans, need a balanced and varied diet. The basis of the diet is oats rich in various microelements, and pigeons get vitamins from green fodder. As for the serving size, it depends on the size of the birds. Meat breeds, for example, are much larger than sports breeds, so they need more food.

The diet and portion weight varies depending on many factors. In winter and spring, birds, for example, are fed differently. Flyers who are preparing for competitions also have a specific diet. And, of course, during the fattening of poultry for meat, special feeds are used. Let's take a closer look at how to organize meals at home, how the diet changes depending on the situation, and what constitutes the basis of the diet in each case.

Permitted products for pigeons

Since the bird eats almost everything with pleasure, before making a diet for birds, you should find out what you can and cannot feed pigeons. The list of allowed products includes:

all cereal crops;
legumes;
stones;
granular food.

Consider each group of permitted products separately.

There are no restrictions on cereal crops. Feathers can be safely fed with any grain. It is necessary to alternate cereal crops, which diversifies the diet of birds. In addition to cereals, seeds are given to birds. Be sure to include buckwheat in the diet, which cannot be replaced by anything. Feathered hemp is also pampered. But as for wheat, which pigeons eat with great pleasure, then it should not be abused. With excessive consumption of wheat in birds, obesity occurs, which has an extremely negative effect on health and flight qualities.

Legumes are a delicacy for pigeons, but they are quite heavy food, so they should be given infrequently. On hot days, it is best to remove legumes from the diet altogether.

Sometimes the grain is partially replaced with stones, which act as a mineral supplement for birds. But not any stones are suitable, but mineral ones, which can be purchased in specialized stores. Before giving stones to pigeons, they grind them. You can also give crushed red bricks to birds.

Specialty stores sell granular feed for pigeons, which should also be included in the diet of birds. No matter how you try to pick up food, they will not contain all the necessary vitamins and minerals. Granulated feed will make up for the lack of certain microelements in the bird's body.

The amount of food consumed

It is very important not only what pigeons eat, but also how much. Each poultry breeder, focusing on the behavior and condition of the birds, selects the optimal dose of feed on their own. But there are general points to be aware of.

When choosing grain crops, preference is given to barley. It should account for 40% of the daily norm of grain crops. According to the norms, a pigeon consumes from 30 to 50 g of feed per day. But you should not feed the birds with one grain. This amount also includes green fodder, which can be grown independently at home. Barley is periodically replaced with barley. Also included in the diet of millet. But this grain should account for no more than 10% of the daily norm of grain crops. About 30% should be wheat. The remaining 20% are seeds, peas, flax, rape, sorghum.

During molting, the diet changes slightly. During this period, you need to strengthen nutrition. This is due to the fact that the body needs more nutrients than usual to form new feathers. This is especially true for protein. During this period, it is advisable to increase the amount of barley and oats in the diet. But the amount of wheat consumed should be reduced. Be sure to feed pigeons with rapeseed seeds, and as green food they give feathered cabbage, or rather, its leaves. The pigeon eats more during this period than usual. The daily rate during the molting period increases by 10-15 g.

Diet in winter

Feeding pigeons in the same way as in summer is not possible. This is due to the fact that it is extremely difficult to get green fodder in winter, and in some months it is impossible at all. Have to look for an alternative. It is also worth taking into account the fact that in winter the birds are preparing for breeding, which also leads to a change in diet.

So, what do you need to feed pigeons in winter? First of all, feed with a high protein content is minimized. This must be done in order to reduce the sexual activity of birds. Pigeons hatched in winter have little chance of survival. Record holders for protein content are legumes. Accordingly, they are excluded from the diet. The place of legumes in the diet is replaced by barley and oats. Also in the winter period, potatoes are added, previously boiled in salt water.

Separately, it is worth mentioning the feeding of carrier pigeons. Their diet should be more nutritious than the diet of other types of birds. The basis of the carrier pigeon's diet in winter is a grain mixture that can be made at home. To do this, take 4 kg of oats and barley and 1 kg of lentils and pre-chopped corn. When changing the number of components, proportional dependence is maintained. Birds should be given this mixture at the rate of 35 g per adult.

To make the plumage soft in the winter, rapeseed and flax, or rather, the seeds of these plants, are added to the diet of birds. The norm of flax and rapeseed per day is 4 g.

Diet during the summer

Pigeon food during this period should be more nutritious than in winter. This is due to the fact that in spring and early summer, pigeons are engaged in feeding pigeons. Also during this period, birds spend much more time in the air, which consumes a lot of energy and strength, and sports pigeons begin training and competitions.

Feeding pigeons during this period involves the use of foods high in protein. Also, the body should receive a large amount of vitamins. In addition to the fact that the feed should be rich in protein and vitamins, they must be nutritious, otherwise the pigeons will not be able to feed the young as they should, and this will have a negative impact on the health of the pigeons. And in order for the young to form a strong skeleton, vitamin complexes and top dressing are additionally included in the diet.

The basis of the diet during this period is a mixture of vetch, peas, wheat, corn, millet, barley and oats. As for the percentage, barley, millet and peas are taken in equal parts. Their total mass in the finished mixture should be 60%. The remaining ingredients are also taken in equal quantities. But they account for 40%. During this period, the daily norm of food for an adult is an average of 50 g.

In addition to the grain mixture, young greens are given to birds. In this case, there are no restrictions, but you need to collect grass away from the roadway. Plants are full of toxins there. The use of such plants can lead to eating disorders in pigeons.

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Diet for "athletes"

The feeding of pigeons participating in competitions is significantly different from feeding in any other period.

During long flights, birds spend a lot of energy, which they need to replenish when they return home, so feeding sports pigeons at home requires the presence of carbohydrate-rich foods on the menu. Many carbohydrates are found in barley, corn, rice and wheat. In order for the bird to show the maximum result during sports, it is pampered with sugar. After the completion of sports, the pigeon should be given oilseeds (rapeseed, for example).

The grain mixture for pigeons participating in competitions must consist of 35% peas, 20% barley, 40% vetch, corn, oats and millet, 5% wheat. Dove eats less in winter than in summer. The daily intake of a mixture that can be prepared at home is 45 g.

Pigeon transportation

Separately, you need to think about feeding pigeons during transportation, because decorative, for example, pigeons sometimes spend a long period of time on the road. Care must be taken that at this time the birds feel as comfortable as possible.

When transporting pigeons, feeds that do not cause thirst should be given. Accordingly, legumes are excluded, after which you want to drink. If this advice is neglected, then a pigeon during the competition, in order to quench its thirst, can sit down by the reservoir, and stops for athletes are very expensive.

During transportation, as well as the day before, the birds are fed with a mixture consisting of 50% wheat, 30% vetch and 20% corn.

Nutrition during the breeding period

Feeding domestic pigeons during the breeding period is costly, since birds need vitamins, especially group B. During this period, females form eggs, respectively, the body spends a lot of effort on this process. With an insufficient amount of trace elements and vitamins in the body of the dove, the eggs will have low incubation qualities, which will negatively affect the hatchability of the chicks.

In addition to the feed mixture, which is prepared from cereals and legumes, pigeons are given green food and supplements containing minerals. It is advisable to give doves vitamin complexes. Especially during this period, birds need vitamins A, D and B2. With a lack of at least one of them, the egg production of the dove will decrease. And the laid eggs will have a thin shell, and the embryo may not be viable.

It is very important that the pigeon receives all the necessary trace elements, especially during the breeding season. If you notice that a bird is looking for pebbles, eating clay or chalk, then there is a lack of certain nutrients in the body. Accordingly, it is necessary to give mineral baits to the wards, which are sold in specialized stores, where a specialist will help you choose the right complementary foods.

street birds

We figured out how to feed pigeons. Not a single pigeon breeder advises giving bread to domestic pigeons. Accordingly, such food is not useful for street pigeons. But most often in parks, people give bread to feast on feathered products. As a result, due to the negligence of people, the life expectancy of birds is reduced by almost 3 times. It is better to treat wild pigeons with millet - this is a favorite food for birds. If there was no millet at hand, then you can grab any cereal with you. You can feed wild pigeons with rice or buckwheat, which are in every home. Reduces the life span of street pigeons and improper diet.

Pigeon feeding

Sometimes a dove refuses to feed a chick (gull-doves are especially guilty of this), and the question arises of what can be fed to a dove. If the parents refused to feed the newborn chick, then the chances of its survival are minimal. This is due to the fact that at first the dove gives goiter milk to the cubs. At present, no mixture has been invented that would be similar in composition to this product. The value of goiter milk is that it is rich in bacteria necessary for normal digestion. Really feed a pigeon, which parents left at a week old.

How to feed a little pigeon depends on the age. A week-old chick is given a boiled and pre-chopped egg. As the pigeon grows older, a grain mixture is introduced into the diet. It is made from the same grains that are used to feed pigeons. Since a growing body needs a lot of energy, it is very important that the food is nutritious.

In addition to grains, the diet includes beans, lentils, sesame, flax and rapeseed seeds, oats (peeled), brown rice. White rice is not recommended for birds.

You can give pigeons food intended for feeding parrots. But before buying such a feed, you need to familiarize yourself with the composition and opt for feeds without oats. If, nevertheless, oats are present, you must first clean it from the husk. It is impossible to feed the chicks with bread.

Diet

Novice pigeon breeders often have questions about whether it is possible to feed domestic pigeons at different times of the day and whether the feeding regime changes when daylight hours change.

Birds need to be fed at a strictly defined time. In summer, feeding is carried out 3 times a day, in winter - 2. Feeding poultry with 3 meals a day should be started early in the morning, especially if they have offspring. The first feeding should take place between 4 and 5 am. The second meal falls at 13.00. Birds have dinner from 19 to 20.

In winter, birds begin and finish feeding later. This is due to the fact that the street is darker early and the sun rises late. The first meal takes place from 8 to 9 am, the second - around 16 pm.

You can give food to birds both in the dovecote and on the street. At the same time, do not forget about the observance of the drinking regimen. Birds drink ordinary water.

Foods that should not be given to pigeons

If the pigeon stopped eating, it is quite possible that the diet was made incorrectly, which led to problems with the digestive tract.

It is strictly forbidden to feed birds with black bread: this leads to disruption of the digestive system, and it is not recommended to feed birds with white bread. Also, do not feed pigeons with meat. The organism of birds is designed in such a way that they are simply not able to digest meat, like all other animal products. The taboo is also imposed on dairy products.

All of the above prohibitions apply to street pigeons.

Conclusion

The digestive system of birds and humans is arranged differently. This must be taken into account when formulating a diet. Despite the fact that the bird eats almost everything, the products must be selected carefully. If you have any doubts about whether it is possible to feed domestic pigeons with a particular product, you should consult an experienced pigeon breeder. During the breeding season, they increase nutrition, in winter they remove high-calorie foods. As for urban birds, they need to be fed with grain, and not with bakery products. As a last resort, opt for white buns. If we talk about seeds, then their overabundance can harm birds. Subject to the rules of feeding, a pigeon lives up to 20 years.

In the cold season, street pigeons need good nutrition, but under a thick snow cover, the chances of finding food are zero. Caring people build feeders for the city's feathered "friends" and bring a variety of food there.

Many products replenish the necessary energy reserves of birds and help them survive on frosty days, some can lead to various diseases and death. In order not to harm the gray-winged birds during feeding, you should familiarize yourself with the features of the winter diet for pigeons.

Rooftop Wildlife

The rock dove is the progenitor of domestic thoroughbred and city pigeons. Wild birds gather in flocks to get food and settle in human habitats. Such birds are classified as synanthropic (living at the expense of humans) animal species. They settle under the roofs of multi-storey buildings, in attics, in parks and squares. They feed on food waste from garbage containers, cereals scattered near railways, seeds from shrubs and trees, fruits and berries.

It is difficult for street pigeons to survive the harsh Russian winters. Unable to find food under the snow, they form entire colonies and fly to places of large concentrations of people, where they are fed with a variety of products. Birds rush to any food to satisfy their hunger. City dwellers throw bread crumbs and fried seeds instead of food, thinking that they are doing good, thereby causing great harm to the health of gray-winged birds. Due to malnutrition, street pigeons live no more than 5–6 years, while domestic or wild pigeons have a life cycle of 15–20 years.

Wild pigeons are a threat to human health. Some of them may be carriers of a dangerous infectious disease - ornithosis. City birds need to be fed with care.

Food for chicks

Sisari hatch chicks at any time of the year. If the pigeons are born in the winter, it is especially difficult for their parents to provide the children with good nutrition. Babies up to one and a half months after hatching are in the nest. They are fed by the female and the male with a special curd secret - goiter milk, gradually adding solid food to the diet.

In the habitats of pigeons, you can find a chick left by its parents. To save his life. he is taken to a warm room and fed for about a week from a syringe, which is equipped with a tube. It is brought to the baby's stomach, milk is injected through a syringe with the addition of chicken egg yolk. Then, other vitamins and microelements necessary for the growth and development of the pigeon are gradually added to the diet.

Winter diet for outdoor birds

Pigeons are granivorous birds, but some prefer fruits and vegetables. The average adult eats 20–50 grams of food per day. The most favorable for them are foods that are close to their natural diet.

Basic food and supplements

The main food of pigeons should be varied, nutritious and healthy. The most suitable grain mixtures with the following composition:

millet - the main nutrient, a source of carotene and vitamin B2;
rape;
superka;
sunflower seeds are nutritious, they are given raw, in limited quantities, so as not to overfeed the bird;
flaxseeds - very nutritious, give limitedly;
wheat;
crushed corn is a favorite food for pigeons;
cereals;
hemp seeds (previously boiled and dried) - have a beneficial effect on the plumage of a bird.

It is important to know that supplements are mixed with the main food so that the animal does not develop gastrointestinal disorders.

In the form of complementary foods, grated vegetables are added to cereals: boiled potatoes, carrots, cabbage, chopped lettuce. You can also diversify the nutrition of birds with compound feed for poultry, washed and boiled cereals (rice, millet), mineral components (crushed egg shells, shells, charcoal), prepared pre-dried wild grass.

In winter, legumes are excluded from the diet of gray-winged beans. They contain a large amount of protein, which awakens birds to sexual activity, which is undesirable in the cold season. Beans are replaced with oats and barley grains.

Products harmful to pigeons

Birds have structural features of the body and susceptibility to various foods. Many foods can cause pain and disruption of the stomach and intestines, and kill the bird. Do not feed pigeons the following products:

black bread provokes bloating;
white bread is rarely given, in small portions, as an addition to the main feed;
meat and fish - the bird's stomach is not able to digest this food;
dairy products can cause intestinal dysbacteriosis;
rye contributes to indigestion;
roasted seeds have a detrimental effect on the liver;
spoiled, moldy products, waste from the human table will inevitably lead to toxic poisoning of the bird;
raw seeds are rarely given, little by little. They contain oils, excessive consumption contributes to obesity and puts more stress on the liver.

What you need to know about feeders and features of feeding "feathered friends"

In winter, bird food scattered on the ground may be covered with snow or trampled by people. To keep the food clean, and not mixed with droppings and garbage, and not to attract small predatory animals, caring city residents build special feeders for gray-winged birds. They are made from wood, plywood, plastic bottles and cans.

Usually the feeder is made with a roof and sides, not cramped and stable. The suspended structure should not sway much - this will scare the feathered one. The built dining room is periodically cleaned of dirt and filled with food - it should not be empty.

When feeding pigeons on the street in winter, you need to know some rules:

1. Pigeons quickly remember who cares for them and often pursue their benefactor. To avoid this inconvenience, the birds are fed the same clothes (cloak, robe).
2. Fix the feeder near your windows or balcony - it's convenient, but you shouldn't do it. Grey-winged will bring a lot of trouble for the owner of the apartment and his neighbors: in search of food they can climb into the windows; clog window sills, glass, ebbs with garbage, feathers and droppings. The dining room for birds is located away from residential buildings, in a place protected from the wind, near bushes and trees.
3. During severe frosts and ice, pigeons need enhanced nutrition. When the temperature drops to -10 degrees and below, birds spend much more energy than usual to keep warm. During this period, the patrons of the sizars make sure that the feeder is not empty.
4. When a thaw occurs, food for birds is temporarily stopped until the next cold snap, so that the winged birds do not lose the ability to get food on their own.

Very beautiful and gentle birds - pigeons, domesticated them for a long time. Everyone knows that in ancient times, when there were no postmen, their work was performed by those who were able to deliver messages over long distances. The birds never forgot the way.

Natural mail delivery was used by such famous historical figures as Julius Caesar, Genghis Khan and others. The maintenance and breeding of pigeons is practiced by all peoples, in all countries these birds enjoy universal love. Pigeon breeding was most developed in China and India, a little later Northern and Central Europe joined these countries. These birds are very easy to care for, and feeding pigeons also does not present any particular difficulties for the poultry breeder. Of course, there are some rules and conditions for keeping beautiful feathered creatures, but for the sake of such homely beauty it is worth making a little effort and learning the secrets of dealing with delicate pets.

Lovely birds - domestic pigeons

The white dove has long been considered a symbol of peace, prosperity and love. A person who at least once came into close contact with beautiful birds will no longer be able to forget these wonderful impressions. Pigeons can simply bewitch with their gentle appearance, ease of flight and romantic cooing.

In the modern world, keeping pigeons for breeding, training and competition is becoming increasingly popular. A variety of various breeds is striking in its beauty. Feeding domestic pigeons, caring for them, preventing diseases - all these issues are of great interest to beginners in such a business as breeding. Now it is not difficult to find out such information, the main thing is to follow all the rules so that feathered pets do not suffer from mistreatment.

Some people are enthusiastically engaged in breeding work, breeding new colors of plumage of birds, others breed pigeons for the sake of participating in sports competitions, but there are also such lovers for whom just talking with such beauty is a pleasure and relaxation. All pigeon breeders are united by a great love for celestial creatures that cause only positive emotions.

What are the conditions for keeping pigeons?

Domestic pigeons, like their wild counterparts, always keep in flocks, they just need contact with their own kind. Naturally, certain relationships are established between members of the pigeon family. The territory of the dovecote and the aviary is strictly divided into nesting areas, in the center of each of them is the nest itself. The male defends his territory and his female. Together the birds eat food, drink water and sit down for the night.

Based on the foregoing, every pigeon breeder should take seriously how to keep feathered pets and how to feed domestic pigeons. Every day, watching the flock, you need to establish who owns which part of the dovecote, where young people can rest, and where birds of the lowest rank are. Very rarely, if absolutely necessary, it is possible to move the nest box to another place; it is also undesirable to very often replace one pair with another. Such actions are always accompanied by stress for pigeons, because a hierarchy has been established in the flock, into which a person so rudely invades.

If the birds are kept in a calm environment, then they behave similarly. They give the best results in sports competitions and show themselves from the best sides in cages at competitions and exhibitions.

You also need to know how and what to feed pigeons in order to accustom them to you. It is necessary to ensure that the birds are not afraid to take food from their hands and calmly react to the cleaning of the dovecote. The very first rule to follow is to come to your pets in the same clothes. The second is to regularly feed them with their favorite treat - sunflower seeds. At first, the seeds simply fall into the feeder, after a while they can be scattered around you, then carefully try to give food from an open palm.

If it is necessary to capture one or another pigeon, then it is not recommended to do this during the day. The best time for this is twilight. If there is a need for trapping in daylight, then the room must be darkened.

Caring for domestic pigeons

In order for feathered pets to feel comfortable, they need proper care. In the pigeon house, droppings should be cleaned regularly. Particularly in need of frequent cleaning of the nest with chicks and young. Growing birds leave a lot of droppings behind. Also, the poultry farmer must know that the eggs in the clutch must be clean. If the testicle is at least partially contaminated, then the shell in these places will not let air through, and the embryo may suffer from this. Light cleaning should be carried out daily, thorough - once a week, general - 2 times a year, in spring and autumn in warm weather.

You need to check your pets every day. This procedure is carried out during feeding. If the bird is in good health, then it quickly flies up to the feed and eats with appetite. Sick pigeons peck weakly or do not approach the feed at all and sit to the side, closing their eyes and pulling their heads into their shoulders. Sick birds must be isolated immediately.

Very often, balls of droppings form on the claws of birds, which make it difficult for them to move. They take such pigeons in their hands and carefully remove these lumps from their claws.
In addition to proper care, winged pets need vitamins. It is also very important what food is used for pigeons in one or another period of their life.

Feeding during the winter months

Every pigeon breeder should know how to feed pigeons in the winter. It begins in October, when the birds stop laying eggs. It is from this point on that you need to feed them grain with a moderate protein content. This is done so that there is no sexual arousal.

It is also necessary that the feed promotes the formation of subcutaneous fat. This will help the pigeons keep their internal warmth and will serve as the starting material for building down and feathers when it's time to molt.

Based on the above facts, we conclude that in winter the best food for pigeons is a mixture of barley and oats (70% / 30%). Another mix of barley, oats, split corn and lentils (40%/40%/10%/10%) is also great. Useful in the cold for handsome feathered potatoes, peeled and boiled in salt water. It is recommended to add clover flour, wheat bran and crushed lime to it.

A day later, flax and rapeseed seeds are given as top dressing, for 15 pairs about 45 grams.

Feeding during mating season

What to feed pigeons during the breeding season? It is imperative that you know the answer to this question. After all, at this time the birds need special attention. They should eat foods that are rich in minerals and protein. If pigeons feel a deficiency of the latter during the mating season, this can lead to a decrease in the reproductive function and vitality of pigeons.

The best food at this time are legumes. It is from them that the diet of birds should consist to a greater extent. Beans are voluminous feed, with their help the birds are quickly saturated. Be sure to include peas in the menu of pigeons during the mating season. The following feed mixes are recommended:

1. Peas - 20%, vetch - 10%, wheat - 10%, millet - 20%, barley - 20%, corn - 10%, oats - 10%;
2. Vetch - 20%, corn - 20%, wheat - 15%, millet - 10%, peas - 15%, barley - 10%, oilseeds - 10%.

How and what to feed the young?

Another important point in pigeon breeding is the question of a pigeon at home. Babies weaned from their parents in the first weeks need enhanced feeding. Only when the iris of the eyes of the cubs becomes the same color as that of the parents, food portions can be reduced. Young people are fed three times a day. In the morning and afternoon - small portions, and in the evening the chicks receive the bulk of the daily allowance.

Grains are recommended to be moistened with fish oil, at least a few drops. So that the chicks do not lag behind in growth, they are fed large quantities of wheat, adding a little vetch, barley and peas to it. When young people are already flying, gathering in flocks, wheat can be given in smaller quantities, replacing it with peas and vetch.

Pigeon Vitamins

Like all living things, birds need healthy supplements to their main food. Vitamins for pigeons should be given based on the weight of the birds, what state of health, what physical activity the birds will face. In addition, the period of the life cycle is taken into account: growth, molting, egg formation, feeding of chicks.

For sports pigeons, strengthening supplements are simply necessary. Feathered athletes are recommended multivitamins in the form of dragees, you can also dissolve them in drinking water. Give before and after the competition. In winter and in stressful situations, vitamins for birds are necessary.

What is not allowed to feed pigeons

What can not be fed to pigeons so that the birds do not get sick and die:

Fish contains a lot of easily digestible phosphorus, pigeons are unable to process it;
. the body of a bird cannot digest meat products; after eating meat, it may die;
. pigeons have few lactic acid bacteria in their bodies, if you give them milk, this can lead to a decline in calcium and dysbacteriosis;
. cheese contains a lot of preservatives and fat, they are contraindicated for birds;
. the most forbidden product for pigeons is bread, especially black bread. The fact is that it causes fermentation in the stomach, which can cause problems with digestion.

Did you know that pigeons have simply unique vision! Neither the sun nor bright glare from an electric welding machine can blind them. Even flashes of lasers do not harm the retina of a pigeon's eye.

In the 11th and 12th centuries, when there were no telephones or mail, a pigeon was valued at the same price as a thoroughbred stallion.
. In ancient times, the dove was considered to be the protector of man. She favored only women.
. Christians consider pigeons to be God's birds. In ancient times, they were placed in the graves of martyrs as a symbol of resurrection.