Logical Pigeon Management

Jack Prescott
(Internet Published) Aug 2001

If a man cannot afford to keep his pigeons on a healthy diet he can either cut his costs by using the cheapest grain or he can reduce his stock and use better stuff. Here in Sheffield the cheapest grains are Barley, Wheat and cracked maize all at roughly the same price. Out of these three, I declare that Wheat is superior. Nevertheless, good viable squabs cannot be raised on wheat, even when it is dressed lightly with some kind of oil. Frankly, I wouldn't use barley or cracked maize even if I could get it free of charge.

At the age of about 5 days young pigeons begin to accept a little grain along with the crop milk supplied by both parents. In another couple of days they will be on grain only. It is essential that such squabs get a high protein grain, which is easily regurgitated, into them by the parents. Small brown peas, a 1/4 inch in diameter is ideal. I find that Tick beans are too large to be pumped down such tiny gullets. It is very easy for parents to fill their young ones with these small peas.

At times the crops of such squabs seem to be packed to an alarming size, but all is well and during the night the vast majority of feed is digested. At about 8:00am on the next day the parents will pump them full again.

For flying just for my own pleasure I use lightly oiled wheat. My only additive is a mix of clean sand, a little powdered lime and a little salt. Then of course the water supply has to be very clean.

All good viable squabs should be able to pick dressed wheat up at the age of 25 days and should be separated well away from the parents. Otherwise if left in the breeders' section they will become a nuisance and probably get scalped. They can be weaned on wheat and the above mentioned additives but barley and cracked maize will probably retard development. Barley may have its uses at a later date (as a fill belly) but it has little food value.

Then there are the starvation tactics, whereby pigeons can be broken. I say BROKEN not trained for it is proven that malnutrition strops the brain from working properly - Try it yourself sometime!

Bear in mind that lost pigeons in a state of malnutrition have only few hours before they come severely handicapped and torpid. If they get into a loft where the feed is more liberal then they will remain there. In their situation I would do the same.

[Internet Published Aug 2001 at http://www.tipplers.com/jack/]