How to raise pigeons so they breed quickly? Feeding methods are key
Homing pigeons have a long history of being raised in China, and meat pigeons, as an emerging farming project, have been developing in China for more than 20 years. So, how do you raise pigeons so they breed quickly?
1. Pairing period
For pigeons that have already matured, according to the breeder's purpose, pair a male and a female together and keep them in a pigeon cage so they develop affection and eventually mate and lay eggs. This period is the pairing period. Most pigeons can develop affection during the pairing period and become a devoted “couple,” living together, producing together, and never separating. This stage lasts about 10-12 days. If during the pairing period the pigeons are found to be incompatible, they should be separated in time.
2. Incubation period
This is the process after the male and female pigeons have successfully paired, in which the two mate and lay fertilized eggs, then take turns incubating them. This period lasts about 17-18 days. The brooding period is the stage from the squabs' birth until they can live independently. After the squabs are born, the male and female pigeons produce pigeon milk accordingly, jointly care for the squabs, and take turns feeding them. During this period, the pigeons begin mating again, and after the squabs are 2-3 weeks old, they lay another clutch of eggs. This stage requires 20-30 days.
3. Brooding period
From birth to full development, squabs need 4 months; some early-maturing breeds need only 3 months. At this time, the pigeons have all the characteristics of mature pigeons: they go into heat, mate, and have reproductive capacity. However, it is inappropriate for pigeons that have just approached maturity to be paired for breeding. They should wait until they are fully mature before being paired for production.
If you want pigeons to breed quickly, when pairing, they generally need to reach 6 months of age, when the body has already developed sufficiently, so they can mate and breed normally, and only then will the breeding speed be faster.