What are the methods and precautions for raising pigeons?

AbstractThe breeding site needs to be built in a quiet place with convenient transportation and water access, and the surrounding area needs to be enclosed with fencing. Then select pigeons with strong immunity and strong reproductive capacity as breeding pigeons to raise. Breeding pigeons are divided into pre-laying feeding and post-laying feeding, while meat pigeons need to be fed more concentrated feed while maintaining balanced nutrition, to promote rapid fattening of meat pigeons. During the raising period, clean the waste in the breeding site and pigeon cages in a timely manner, and take disease prevention measures in advance.

I. Methods for raising pigeons

1. Building the breeding site

Pigeons are relatively timid animals that are also easily startled, so the breeding site needs to be chosen in a relatively quiet place with convenient transportation and water access. Cage rearing is mainly used, and a certain amount of exercise space is needed. At the same time, simple greenhouses can also be used for raising, which will reduce the cost of building the breeding site. The surrounding area of the breeding site needs to be enclosed with fencing, because pigeons have the ability to fly, and if they are not properly enclosed, they may fly away.

2. Seed selection and breeding

High-quality breeding pigeons are the basic condition for raising pigeons, so it is necessary to select pigeons with strong immunity, strong reproductive capacity, and strong resistance as breeding pigeons to raise. Breeding pigeons should be able to reproduce at least 6 pairs of pigeons each year. Different breeds of pigeons can also be raised together. The weight of breeding pigeons is not recommended to be too heavy. During the breeding period, records need to be kept well, and then high-quality breeding pigeons are selected for core raising, while the others can be appropriately culled.  

3. Feeding techniques

(1) If there is a lack of breeding knowledge and techniques during the raising process, then the economic benefits obtained later will not be very high. Feeding is mainly divided into brooding period feeding, young pigeon feeding, as well as breeding pigeon feeding and meat pigeon feeding. They also differ in feeding methods. During the brooding period, pigeons need to be forced to eat, so that they gradually feed themselves.

(2) Young pigeons need to have their immunity enhanced and their nutritional balance maintained, so that they can grow normally. Breeding pigeons need to be divided into pre-laying feeding and post-laying feeding, while meat pigeon feeding is mainly for fattening for sale, so concentrated feed should be strengthened while maintaining balanced nutrition, so that meat pigeons can fatten quickly.

II. Precautions for raising pigeons

1. Daily management

During the raising period, clean the breeding site and the waste in the pigeon cages in a timely manner. Generally, cleaning can be carried out once every 2-3 days or so, and a thorough disinfection can be carried out once every 15 days or so. At the same time, anti-escape measures need to be taken well to prevent pigeons from escaping and causing unnecessary losses.

2. Disease prevention and control

At present, the incidence rate of pigeon diseases, as well as pigeon diseases themselves, are increasing. Therefore, during the raising process, measures to prevent diseases need to be taken in advance. Among them, the more common ones are Newcastle disease of pigeons and pigeon pox, which can be injected with targeted vaccines. The dosage should be determined according to the age of the pigeons, and when a disease is found, isolation and treatment should be carried out in a timely manner to avoid infecting other pigeon flocks.