Detailed Explanation of Artificial Feeding Formulas for Squabs
Pigeons are altricial birds. From hatching to around 10 days of age, squabs rely almost entirely on their parent pigeons for feeding. Generally, only around 20 days of age can squabs begin to peck at some easily digestible feed on their own. Generally speaking, the longer the brooding period, the fewer clutches the parent pigeons produce per year. If artificial feeding techniques are applied to squabs of appropriate age, it can not only improve their feed utilization rate and growth speed, but also improve the growth uniformity of squabs and improve the quality of pigeons sent to market. In addition, it can reduce the brooding burden on parent pigeons, giving them a chance to rest and recover, and enter the next laying period earlier, thereby shortening the egg-laying interval of parent pigeons.
Fattening targets: squabs aged 15-17 days with individual body weight of 350 grams or more.
Artificial Feeding Formula One for Squabs
1. Formula
Corn meal 57%, soybean meal 25%, fish meal 5%, flour 5%, bone meal 2.6%, yeast powder 2%, salt 0.3%, poultry trace element additive 1%, poultry compound enzyme 0.1%, vegetable oil 1%, poultry multivitamins (added according to instructions).
2. Feeding method
First weigh out the required ingredients, add hot water at a feed-to-water ratio of 1:3, and mix the feed into a paste. After about 30-60 minutes, use a feeding device to press the paste through the esophagus into the squab's crop. During feeding, the movements should be quick and gentle. It is appropriate to feed 50-100 grams per bird, 4 times a day. After feeding, the fattening house should be kept slightly dim to help squabs rest and gain weight. Generally, after 7-10 days of fattening, the weight gain of squabs increases by 7%-12% compared with natural brooding. The feeding device can be a poultry feeding device or made from a soft plastic bottle.
Artificial Feeding Formula Two for Squabs
1. Formula
Mix 35% rice, 23% paddy rice, 15% wheat, 10% peas, 12% soybean meal, and 5% sesame into a powdered feed, then add 2% yeast powder, 0.4% multivitamins, and a small amount of trace elements. Provide health grit separately.
2. Feeding method
First soak the prepared feed in boiling water for 4-5 minutes. After it is cooked, add an appropriate amount of cold water and mix well. The mixed feed should have a certain temperature, preferably slightly warm to the touch. Ultimately, the feed-to-water ratio of the feeding mixture should be between 1:5 and 1:3.5 to ensure that squabs do not have diarrhea or feed accumulation. Use a syringe to feed at fixed times three times a day at 8:00, 14:00, and 19:00. The daily feeding amount per squab is 60-80 grams, with each feeding amount accounting for 3/8, 2/8, and 3/8 of the total daily feeding amount respectively.