A Detailed Guide to Pigeon Feed Combinations and Techniques

Energy feed Energy feed is also called carbohydrate feed, mainly consisting of seeds of grass-family crops, including corn, paddy rice, wheat, barley, sorghum, millet, and so on.

Mineral feed Mineral feed contains a variety of trace mineral elements, including red clay, fine sand, shell powder, gypsum, old lime, salt, bone meal, eggshell powder, charcoal, and so on, all of which are combined in small amounts to make health grit.

Vitamin feed Vitamins come from green feed. As long as it is non-toxic and free of off-flavors, it can be chopped and fed to pigeons. For example, in summer, watermelon rind and purslane can be used as green feed, which can resist and prevent disease.

Among commonly used feeds, corn contains relatively high energy. Its main components: about 70% starch, with a digestibility as high as 90%, 45% fat, and about 9% protein. However, corn gluten protein is relatively poor, lacking calcium, lysine, and tryptophan, so it cannot be used alone as the daily ration for meat pigeons and must be properly combined with high-quality protein feed and other grains. Paddy rice: as the main feed for pigeons, its effect is inferior to that of corn. Its main components: about 60% starch, 9.3% protein, and 1.4% fat. Its nutritional composition is relatively good, but its palatability is relatively poor, so it is best to process it into brown rice. Wheat contains about 70% starch, 11% protein, and 2% fat. It is rich in B vitamins. However, eating too much wheat causes diarrhea, so it cannot be used as the staple food and should be fed in combination with other grains. Sorghum: its nutritional value is similar to that of corn, with a crude protein content of 9.5%, but its palatability is relatively poor. It can stop diarrhea, and eating too much can cause constipation. If wheat-type grains are the staple food, combining them with an appropriate amount of sorghum can prevent diarrhea without causing constipation, and the two have a complementary effect. Millet: contains relatively much carotene and has relatively high nutritional value. Hempseed contains relatively high protein and higher fatty acids, can strengthen the stomach and relieve constipation, and makes the feathers glossy, but the amount used must not be too much, otherwise it easily causes diarrhea.