Pigeons are one of those common birds that you can easily find in the city(especially in countries like India or Pakistan) as well as in the wild. unlike homing pigeons, wild pigeons are omnivorous birds which means they can eat almost everything just like crows and chickens.
So in this article, we are going to tell you everything you need to know about what to feed a city pigeon and what to feed a wild pigeon.
What exactly do pigeons or doves eat?
Pigeons are those kinds of animals who can eat almost anything they find on the land. Let's dive in deep and see what do pigeons or dove eat naturally.
What does my pigeon or dove naturally eat?
Naturally, pigeons are omnivorous birds like crows or chickens who can literally eat anything they find on the land, pigeons or doves can eat any small insects or any small thing that is edible even human waste.
Here is the list of thing these pigeons eat naturally:
- grains (wheat)
- seeds (sunflower seed)
- berries
- fruits (lettuce, carrots)
- snails
- earthworms
grains -
pigeons or doves prefer grains with small sizes. which they can easily swallow. mostly they eat wheat.
which you can get it here
seeds -
pigeons do like seeds that are small in size, like sunflower seeds.
Fruits - pigeons also eat small and soft fruits. like lettuce, carrots.
small animals -
pigeons also eat small animals and insects like mice, earthworms, and snails.
Now we know it's very hard to find these natural foods for pigeons, and that's why you should give that food which is easily available in Around Human Habitation.
What do pigeons eat in the city?
pigeons are highly adaptive birds and what I mean by that is they can adjust themselves according to the environment.
so in the human habitat, they can adapt their diet according to it.
In urban areas, pigeons don't have to look for food where food is easily accessible for them.
here in city pigeons usually eat human's leftovers.
A normal adult size pigeon can eat about 30 grams of food each day to keep himself in good condition.
What do Baby Pigeons eat naturally?
handling and caring for a young baby pigeon is totally different and difficult work from big grown-up pigeons.
Naturally, baby pigeons drink crop milk or pigeon milk, which is produced by both male and female parent pigeons in their crop. Crop milk is basically half-digested food eaten by the parent pigeon.
It is a little whitish in color resembling milk, but it is not milk. Birds don’t produce milk as mammals do. It is comfortable for a baby pigeon to drink and digest.
What to feed a rescued or a pet baby pigeon?
Rescued or pet baby pigeons can’t be fed with crop milk as parent pigeon produces it. In this case, I advise you to buy proper baby pigeon food from the pet store. Kaytee Exact Hand Feeding for Baby Birds is the one that I recommend.
In an unexpected situation, when you can’t buy baby pigeon food from the store, you can prepare a diet yourself. So, baby pigeons, in this case, can be fed with oat + water mixture or dog biscuits + water mixture with the help of a tube.
Before refeeding, always make sure that the baby pigeon’s crop is empty. You can check it by touching its crop. If you feel some food in it, then don’t feed the pigeon as overfeeding can harm it.
What can pigeons not eat?
Here are things that you shouldn't feed to pigeons and doves.
Chocolate
Chocolate is only good for us humans and it is not suitable for the health and well-being of your pigeons.
Why?
Because it is laden with caffeine and theobromine, which can cause hypersensitivity in your pigeons.
Symptoms of hypersensitivity include seizures, tremors, increased heart rate, diarrhea, and vomiting, all of which can cause death in pigeons.
Xylitol
xylitol is an artificial sweetener used in a variety of diet foods. Studies have shown that it causes liver damage, hypoglycemia, and could cause death in animals.
it can be dangerous for pigeon and other small sensitive animals because of their faster rate of metabolism. So, even a small amount can affect the pigeons. Therefore, it’s recommended to not offer any food that contains Xylitol to your pigeons.
Salty food
salt in small quantity won't hurt much for pigeons but try to give as less as you can to pigeons, as salty food can cause dehydration, extreme thirst, and dehydration to pigeons and dove. It could cause death if the pigeon consumes too much salty food. Therefore, try to avoid salty food.
Avocado
even though green vegetables are healthy foods, avocado can be toxic to pigeons, try not to feed avocado leaves to pigeons because they are toxic for pigeons because they contain a substance called persin that disseminates fungus contained in the plant.
list of Best Pigeon Food:
- Cereals
- Wheat
- Corn
- Oat
- Pulse
- Peas
How to feed water to a pigeon?
Before giving water to a pigeon or dove, here are the things you need to know:
Water is an essential part of every bird. It helps in the proper digestion and absorption of nutrients in their body.
all birds need freshwater and it should be served at least two times per day in a separate bowl.
Don’t forget to wash the dishes regularly. If you see the bowl is empty at any time, refill it with fresh water.
FAQ (frequently asked question):
do pigeons eat bugs and worms?
yes, pigeons and doves do eat small bugs and earthworms.
what do pigeons eat in the winter?
they eat the same thing all the season, i.e, grains, seeds, and small animals.
Do pigeons eat rice?
yes, pigeons do eat rice. they prefer raw rice mostly.
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