Mary Allen
Green fodder also has a special meaning for pigeons. Especially in spring and summer. But even now, in autumn and winter, you should feed them fresh greens. The stinging nettle is particularly suitable for this
We humans associate very individual feelings with the seasons. Now in autumn and winter, these are often depressing for friends of summer. The days are getting shorter, and they are often foggy and damp. When the rain just doesn’t want to stop, some people really long for spring. Then it greens and sprouts again in all corners. And pigeon breeders can provide their animals with fresh green again. The choice is then huge. If the pigeons are used to green fodder, they are very keen on it and eat everything.
Things are a little different now in the fall. The vegetation is slowly going into hibernation and you have to search carefully to find something green. It would be a shame if you didn’t. In contrast to artificial preparations, vitamins in natural form are always to be preferred. But green fodder is not only the first choice as a source of vitamins. It is not uncommon for other ingredients to be important for the organism and support it in a variety of ways.
Look for Mowed Meadows
Anyone who is currently walking through nature with open eyes will still discover lush areas of stinging nettles. As a rule, these are the plants from the spring, which are now very lignified. The stinging nettles still show a few leaves, but they are usually very large and coarse. Even if you can feed such plants, they are not the best solution for pigeons.
Young nettles have higher quality ingredients and can be found wherever they have been mowed in the summer. This is often the case on paths, but also on meadows. The stinging nettle continues to develop even when other plants have long since adjusted to winter. She remains in excellent condition until night frosts finally wither her.
Breeders should definitely collect the young autumn nettles and offer them to their pigeons. Of course, fresh is best. To do this, take the stinging nettles and cut them into small pieces. If they are used to it, the pigeons pick up the leaves without any problems. As a little tip, sprinkle a pinch of salt over the nettles. At the latest then the pigeons are completely infatuated with it. And once you know the nettles, you will soon no longer need salt.
Dried and as Pesto
Stinging nettles are not only in demand when they are fresh. A good variant is to chop the nettles with a little oil in a blender. The nettle pesto made in this way can be kept. Even if there is snow outside, it enhances any grain feed. One to two tablespoons per kilo of feed is sufficient. Then the lining has to be tied off. Feed lime or brewer’s yeast is ideal for this. As a result, the pigeons do not smear their plumage.
If the effort with the nettle-oil mixture is too time-consuming, you can also dry it. Just like chicken farmers have always done. The best way to do this is to tie fresh bundles and hang them in an airy, rain-protected place to dry. Once dry, the nettle leaves can be easily and safely plucked off by hand. Because while you should always wear gloves with fresh stinging nettles, the nettle hairs no longer burn when dried.
An interesting alternative is to offer the whole bundle or parts of it to the pigeons for pecking. The pigeons really love it when they have to work out their food for a change. The dried nettle leaves can also simply be sprinkled over the grain feed if some oil or even water has been given beforehand so that it sticks.
Basically, it doesn’t matter what method of preparation the breeder chooses. The pigeons, at least, don’t care. But there is no question that the effort is worth it. Especially in terms of protein content, the young nettle plants are real bombs. There are also high levels of vitamins.