Best feeding way

[chickenshiha]

So I got some pigeon . I been feeding them on the floor I used to have a long feeder or whatever they are called. So what is better . floor or feeder

 

[Kusanar]

So I got some pigeon . I been feeding them on the floor I used to have a long feeder or whatever they are called. So what is better . floor or feeder

I don't know the current thinking, but there is an old army guide to homing pigeons and it said to have sand in the floor of the loft, to clean the sand well, then toss one small handful of feed to the ground and let the birds eat, when the feed was nearly gone, toss another handful, as soon as the first bird left the feed and went to get a drink, they would stop feeding.

My pigeon is on a sand floor and I just put his feed in the corner for him, when I get his loft made, his feed will be in a feeder on the wall where he has to reach through a wire fence to get to his feed and water so he doesn't dirty it up.

 

[JackBaker]

Hi

So technically speaking there is nothing wrong with feeding them on the floor as this is how all wild birds will eat, however in captivity there are some major problems with this. One is it landing in their feces. Now when pigeons are housed together eating food contaminated with feces is the easiest way of spreading disease. Also its just very unhygienic for any living thing to eat. Secondly rodents will love any remains of food left and this is also a very easy way to attract them to your birds house. I would always use a feeder just for them and their hygiene.

 

[LamarshFish]

I would put their feed in a feeder of some sort (there are many available for sale, and nearly endless ways to make homemade ones), but they will eat feed from the floor as well. I wouldn't put feed on the floor if it is dirty, however.

 

[Kusanar]

I wouldn't put feed on the floor if it is dirty, however.

Exactly. Felix is in his cage by himself, so any poop he may eat is his own so no disease spreading, plus, I always feed him in the same corner and he doesn't poop there often. I still scoop that corner with a kitty litter scoop and run the top inch or so of sand through a fine mesh sieve that is just big enough for the sand to go through but not any of his poop or food and anything that is collected is thrown away. The rest of the cage I scoop with the kitty litter scoop nearly daily and then once every other weekend or so run the top few inches of the entire cage through the sieve to get out anything he has buried (he still grows some of his seeds.... )

 

[Sunshine 123]

Chickens walking in the house,

 

[purslanegarden]

I like to think the birds I raise want a clean living area, so I tend to feed them in feeders, even though they can eat off the ground or platforms, etc

 

[jak2002003]

Feeder, so the food won't get covered in any poop and spread worms or diseases.