What To Feed Pigeons For Optimum Health

 

When you are caring for animals such as pigeons, it is your responsibility to know which foods you need to give them so that they will have optimum health. For pigeons, choosing the most suitable feeds require knowledge about food ingestion and digestion by the birds. Proper nutrition accounts for the bird's health. You can find various feeds in pet stores. Pigeons are known for eating different kinds of foods, but care should be given to allow the bird achieve optimum health. Here are several points to remember when feeding the birds.

• Good quality nutrition can be achieved remembering that an adult pigeon would need about 500 grams of feeds.
• All pigeons typically need a diet that is low in fiber.
• Keep in mind that pigeons love seeds. Various types of seeds may be fed to the birds like canary seeds, linseed, safflower, barley, green peas and corn. Be careful in considering giving corn-based feeds to pigeons. Corn is a good food to feed pigeons particularly during cold seasons or months. Corn has fat contents that help keep the birds well insulated against the cold. At the same time, such fat contents are unhealthy because they can make your bird heavy. Feeds that contain dried field peas are a favorite of pigeons. Feeding them with such foods will make the birds healthy and happy. Peas help enhance the muscles, feathers, bones and internal bodily functions of pigeons. Another kind of wheat that pigeons are known to like is sorghum. It can provide a steady nutrition base for the birds. This wheat is small and are easily opened, easily digested by the pigeons and easily afforded too. Barley is a great occasional feed for pigeons that offer hearty sustenance for the birds. Additional wheat grains in pigeons' food may also be good, especially redder grains with hard outer surface. Pigeons do not like soft wheat because it does not work out their beaks.
• Pigeons may also feed on vegetables. Fresh greens can be added to the birds' diet; like watercress, spinach, chickweed and endive. Ensure the safety and freshness of vegetables you feed your pigeons. The cage should always be cleaned to get rid of leftover foods that may cause growth of bacteria. Allowing these leftovers will just pose high risk to the birds' health.
• Fruits are also healthy for pigeons. They serve as health supplement. Examples of fruits that can be fed to these birds are berries, pears, apples, oranges and water-soaked raisins. Like vegetables, these fruits must be ensured clean and safe. Leftovers must not be left inside the pigeon cage to keep it free from bacteria.
• Pellets help supplement the health of pigeons with protein from real meat. These pellets have high amounts of amino acids and proteins that pigeons need.
• Avoid adding antibiotics with pigeon feeds.
• You need to supplement the birds' health with minerals and vitamins such as calcium.
• Always offer your pigeons with fresh, clean water and foods. Aside from cleaning the cage, always change the water for the pigeons to drink.