Mary Allen
Like us humans, pigeons also like to put on some fat deposits in winter. If the following breeding period is to be successful, it is a good idea to bring the animals back into their best condition. Optimal body weight is very important.
The rich feeding and the rest in the autumn and wintertime have meant that the pigeons have put on fat deposits. If these are too plentiful, it can lead to the breeding performance being unsatisfactory. Above all, heavy form pigeon breeds are affected by this phenomenon. But smaller, more agile breeds also have their proverbial burden with the additional weight.
Just as we humans should detox every now and then, this is also good for the deaf. If the fat deposits have disappeared, the pigeons are in better condition. The ovaries and testicles produce egg cells and sperm “easier”, which is one of the decisive factors for breeding success. To “melt” the fat, exercise and reduced feeding are the best basics. If you keep your pigeons in free flight and can let them fly in winter despite attacks by birds of prey, you have an advantage. But even aviary pigeons can be encouraged to be more active. Small amounts of food, which are offered daily at different places, are a first incentive to go “on the move”. It should not be in the same place every day, as the pigeons get used to it very quickly and the desired effect is lost.
If a pigeon doesn’t come to the trough immediately, it may not be fit
But all this is of no use if the feeding continues to be substantial. Calorie reduction is, therefore, the top priority. The simplest methods have proven to be to shorten the usual feed ration and stretch it with low-calorie grain. Barley is the most commonly used. It is easy to get and an indicator of the right amount of food. The pigeons do not like to eat barley and so the ratio can be reduced if there is still some left in the trough. One option is to increase the proportion of barley to two-thirds and remove the trough after about ten minutes. The next day the ration is reduced by the remaining amount in the trough. This feeding method causes the pigeons to come immediately and eat greedily. On the other hand, it is a good indicator of the health of the pigeons. If a pigeon doesn’t come to the trough immediately, you can assume that something is wrong with it. Because a pigeon is not allowed to sit around lazily under any circumstances.
Rice can serve the same purpose as barley but is more difficult to obtain. However, it is sufficiently contained in the diet feed mixtures of the specialist trade. These represent a good alternative and have been used more and more in recent years. This also applies to the dried vegetable pellets, which are either already added to the diet food or can be bought separately. They have the advantage that they always have the same quality and size. As a rule, they are also picked up by the pigeons without any problems. In order to then break them down in the crop, the water intake is increased.
The Pigeons Have to Get Used to Vegetables, but Then They Like to Eat Them
If you are looking for an easy way to feed vegetables, here is the solution: chop fresh vegetables such as carrots, beetroot, onions, and celery in a food processor and then mix them into the grain feed. On the one hand, this gives the pigeons vitamins and, on the other hand, reduced-calorie feed. In this form, by the way, you can feed vegetables all year round. During the current slimming phase, the vegetable portion can easily make up 30 percent of the total feed ratio. After a short acclimatization phase and correspondingly little feeding, the animals are happy to eat the vegetables.
You will quickly notice how the pigeons reduce weight. This is accompanied by a significant increase in inactivity. One of the prerequisites for successful breeding.