Pigeons make interesting and unique pets for people who enjoy avian companions. Like any pet, pigeons require proper nutrition to stay healthy and happy. Feeding pigeons the right diet is easy with some basic knowledge of pigeon nutrition and access to the necessary supplies.
What do pigeons eat?
Pigeons are primarily seed-eating birds in the wild, consuming a wide variety of grains, beans, seeds, and vegetation. The staple diet of a domesticated pet pigeon should include:
- High-quality pigeon feed mix containing various small seeds, beans, corn, wheat, rice, milo, and peas
- Pigeon grit to help grind up food in the gizzard
- Fresh fruits and vegetables like kale, spinach, carrots, apples
- Clean, fresh water
Pigeons enjoy variety in their diet. Supplementing pigeon feed with fresh produce and a calcium supplement provides well-rounded nutrition.
How much and how often should you feed pigeons?
Pigeons generally eat 1-2 ounces of feed per day. They should be fed once or twice daily. Provide fresh feed in clean bowls, replacing and cleaning bowls regularly. Ensure fresh water is always available.
When feeding pigeons:
- Feed 1-2 tablespoons per pigeon per feeding
- Provide feed at the same times daily; pigeons thrive on schedule
- Do not leave feed out overnight
- Supply grit 2-3 times weekly
- Offer fresh fruits/veggies a few times per week
Adjust feed amounts based on your pigeon’s weight and activity level. Very active pigeons or breeding pairs may require more food. Overfeeding can lead to obesity and health issues. Ask your avian vet for personalized feeding recommendations.
What are the best practices for feeding pet pigeons?
Follow these tips for safely feeding your pet pigeon:
- Purchase high-quality pigeon feed and grit from pet supply stores
- Store feed in rodent-proof, tightly sealed containers
- Discard moldy or insect-infested feed
- Wash food and water containers daily
- Use heavy bowls that won’t tip over easily
- Remove uneaten fresh foods within a few hours
- Keep feed areas clean to prevent contamination
- Do not make sudden changes to diet; transition gradually
It’s also important to monitor your pigeon’s droppings for signs of illness associated with dietary changes. Healthy droppings should be solid, brown, and white. Runny, discolored, bloody, or otherwise abnormal droppings indicate a problem requiring veterinary attention.
What foods should be avoided?
Some foods are not safe for pigeons and should be avoided:
- Chocolate, caffeine, alcohol
- Avocado
- Processed human junk foods
- Sugar and high-fat treats
- Dried beans or peas
- Moldy, rotten, or contaminated food
- Lawn clippings, garden waste
- Salty foods
Pigeons should also never be fed gravel or sand, which can impact their digestive system. Only feed pigeon-specific mineral grit.
Monitor children around pet pigeons to ensure they do not feed the bird something harmful. Many common human foods can make pigeons very ill.
What kind of grit do pigeons need?
Pigeons naturally ingest small pebbles and gravel to grind up food in their muscular gizzard. Pet pigeons also need grit, which can be purchased at pet supply stores. Look for coarse, insoluble crushed granite, mineral, or oystershell grit specifically marketed for pigeons.
Provide a small pile of grit in a separate dish 2-3 times per week. The grit will wear down over time and needs replenishing. Allow free access to grit; healthy pigeons will consume only as much as they need.
Do not provide sand, cat litter, crushed eggshells, or gravel from outside as grit. Ingesting these incorrect materials can make pigeons ill.
What should I know about baby pigeons?
Caring for very young pigeons requires some specialized feeding techniques:
- Handfeed new hatchlings with an avian handfeeding formula every 2-3 hours
- Use a small syringe without the needle attached
- Let crop empty between feedings
- Transition to soaked pigeon feed as pigeon grows
- Introduce small seeds around 3-4 weeks old
- Provide grit when 3 weeks old
- By 6-8 weeks old, feed normal adult diet
- Supply extra calcium for developing bones and beaks
Baby pigeons grow very quickly and their nutritional needs change rapidly as they mature. Work closely with an avian vet to ensure baby pigeons get proper nutrition at each growth stage.
What health problems are caused by poor nutrition?
Improper diet is a common cause of illness in pet pigeons. Nutrition-related health issues include:
- Overgrown beak – Usually from lack of grit
- Obesity – From overfeeding and lack of exercise
- Skin/feather problems – From poor diet lacking nutrients
- Diarrhea – From spoiled or inappropriate foods
- Malnutrition – From imbalanced diet deficient in vitamins/minerals
- Egg binding – Often from inadequate calcium for breeding hens
- Stunted growth in babies – From nutritional deficiencies
Catching nutrition issues early allows them to be corrected with diet changes. Have sick or poorly growing pigeons evaluated by an avian veterinarian. Medications or supplements may be prescribed to get their health back on track.
What is the best diet for overweight pigeons?
Overweight pigeons need a lower calorie, controlled diet to get back to a healthy weight. Recommendations include:
- Gradually reduce daily feed amount by 10-15%
- Change to a lower fat feed formula
- Increase exercise; allow outdoor flights
- Stop treats and human table scraps
- Increase fruits, vegetables, greens
- Continue offering grit
- Provide clean water at all times
Weigh the pigeon weekly. When a healthy weight is reached, transition back to a maintenance diet to avoid further weight fluctuations. Consult an avian vet if obesity persists despite diet changes. Underlying health issues may need treatment.
How do I transition pigeon diets?
Sudden changes to a pigeon’s diet can cause digestive upset and stress. Make all dietary changes slowly over 5-7 days:
- Gradually mix in new food while reducing old food
- Transition over a week until completely switched to new diet
- Monitor droppings for normal consistency
- Allow access to grit to ease transition
- Consider probiotics to support gut health
- Watch for signs of illness, including fluffed feathers, lethargy, or weight loss
- Call avian vet if you have concerns
Going slow gives the pigeon’s digestive system time to adjust. Some diet adjustments like introducing lower calorie feed for weight loss may take 2-4 weeks for a full transition.
What household foods can I share with my pigeon?
Some healthy household foods can supplement a pigeon’s regular diet:
- Cooked brown rice, barley, quinoa
- Chopped kale, spinach, lettuce greens
- Chopped sweet potato, carrot, bell pepper
- Berries like strawberries, raspberries, blueberries
- Apple, pear, melon cubes
- Sprouted seeds or beans
- Whole grain toasted bread or pasta
- Hard boiled egg
Introduce new foods slowly to watch for allergies or digestive upset. Offer only bite-sized pieces, limiting household foods to under 10% of total diet. Avoid sugary, salty, and high fat human foods.
Conclusion
Caring for a pet pigeon requires learning some specialized dietary information, but with research and attentive feeding, pigeon owners can easily meet their birds’ nutritional requirements. Pay close attention to each pigeon’s health, weight, and droppings to ensure their unique needs are met. A balanced, varied diet will keep pigeons active and healthy for years to come. Consulting an avian vet provides helpful guidance for any pet pigeon owner.
