Pigeon feed

[CCUK]

I have a couple of different feeds that I have for my pigeons. I'm not sure which is best for them at the moment as I'm not flying them so they will spend alot of time in the loft for now.
The first one is mainly seeds and I believe is high protein. I'm not sure what seeds though.

The second is a mix bird seed with mealworms, Suet, sunflower seeds, cracked corn and maize.

The third is a pigeon feed mostly corn, maize, rapeseed, red dari and linseed.

The last is plain wheat.

They do also have grit with redstone, oystershell, charcoal and something that smells like aniseed! I also have a bag of plain sunflower seeds. They are my secret weapon to hopefully get to return when I finally start releasing them! They will literally roll over for them!
So my question is what is best to feed them as they are now and in the future as I progress?

 

[biophiliac]

I have a couple of different feeds that I have for my pigeons. I'm not sure which is best for them at the moment as I'm not flying them so they will spend alot of time in the loft for now.
The first one is mainly seeds and I believe is high protein. I'm not sure what seeds though.
View attachment 1413222
The second is a mix bird seed with mealworms, Suet, sunflower seeds, cracked corn and maize.
View attachment 1413227
The third is a pigeon feed mostly corn, maize, rapeseed, red dari and linseed.
View attachment 1413235
The last is plain wheat.
View attachment 1413236
They do also have grit with redstone, oystershell, charcoal and something that smells like aniseed! I also have a bag of plain sunflower seeds. They are my secret weapon to hopefully get to return when I finally start releasing them! They will literally roll over for them!
So my question is what is best to feed them as they are now and in the future as I progress?

#1. best - similar to what I feed.
#2 has suet which is not good for them, imo.
#3 too fattening with the corn and has no field or maple peas. ( I add corn to my mix in winter)
#4 wheat is the least favorite of my birds.

 

[CCUK]

Thanks. I've noticed that they leave alot of the corn and eat mostly the seeds. They make the best rattle in a tin when I feed them. I also do a bit of a whistle. Sort of association training!

 

[biophiliac]

Thanks. I've noticed that they leave alot of the corn and eat mostly the seeds. They make the best rattle in a tin when I feed them. I also do a bit of a whistle. Sort of association training!

Exactly as you should!!!

 

[biophiliac]

Sounds like a good mix of grits you already have. You could pick up a salt/mineral lick like they sell for rabbits to give them salt and other minerals. They have to lick these rather than scoop up mouthfuls of the powdered form so are less likely to get too much salt. My birds really seem to want these and push them all over licking them.

 

[CCUK]

That will be interesting! I've never seen a bird lick!

 

[biophiliac]

That will be interesting! I've never seen a bird lick!

It's funny.

 

[LamarshFish]

Another vote for feed mix #1. The others appear to lack peas, a pigeon STAPLE for both taste and nutrition. I believe the mix I feed, which is exclusively made for pigeons, is a mix of vetch peas, maple peas, pop corn, milo/millet and I think buckwheat. In the winter I supplement the mix with more corn for very cold temps.

Mix #2 has mealworms. Pigeons do not eat meat/bugs. They certainly do not need it, and likely won't even touch it. I have experimented with meal worms in the past, since chickens love them so much, and my pigeons won't even touch them. Their desire to rip things to pieces just for fun, even when they're not going to eat something (which pigeons do all the time), wasn't even triggered when I put blocks in my loft made of mealworms and sunflower hearts kept together in a block using some kind of malt. The blocks sat there untouched, unpecked for weeks until I removed them. And pigeons must really hate something to not even touch it or play with it.

 

[thinkyesi]

Try not to use cracked corn too much. Whole popcorn is better than regular whole corn too, they love it.
The reason to becaureful with cracked corn is it can sometimes cause cankers.
So if you do feed cracked corn make sure to keep them on a good amount of grit and constanly check their beaks for sores.

 

[thinkyesi]

And they also love black oil sunflower seeds! Thats my pigeons favorite!