Raising Pigeons Requires Good Daily Management and Disease Prevention

Pigeon raising is a common farming activity in both urban and rural areas of China, and by purpose it can be broadly divided into meat pigeons, racing pigeons and fancy pigeons. Pigeons are gentle in temperament and highly adaptable, so they are suited both to large-scale loft operations and to small flocks kept in a courtyard, and the barrier to entry is relatively low.

In daily keeping, the loft should be sited on higher ground with good ventilation and ample light, kept dry and hygienic, and disinfected regularly. The feed consists mainly of grains and legumes such as corn, peas, wheat and sorghum, supplemented with health grit to aid digestion, while clean drinking water must always be available. Management priorities differ by season: in spring, as temperatures rise, attention should be paid to moisture control and to management during the breeding period, while in winter the birds need protection from the cold and warmth retention, with the feed mix adjusted accordingly.

Pairing and breeding are an important part of pigeon keeping. To prevent inbreeding from causing population decline, breeding pigeon records should be established, pairings should be chosen scientifically, and individuals whose productivity has declined should be culled in good time. If pigeons stop laying eggs, it is usually related to factors such as age, nutrition, environmental stress or disease, and each of these needs to be checked one by one and the keeping conditions adjusted.

In terms of disease prevention and control, common problems include hard crop, pigeon pox, and digestive and respiratory diseases. Normally the pigeons' feed intake, general condition and droppings should be observed; if abnormalities such as a swollen, hard crop or poor appetite appear, the birds should be isolated and treated promptly, and prevention should be carried out in line with the immunization program, so that the flock stays healthy and stable.