Rock doves, also known as pigeons, can be found on all of the world's continents, except for Antarctica.Wherever you live, you can visit cities and other urban areas to feed them.They enjoy being fed grains, fruits, and vegetables.Feed your pigeons quality food to keep them happy and healthy, and be aware of the feeding regulations in your area.
Step 1: Purchase a blend of seed or pellet.
Birds eat blends of various grains.Although most people reach for bread to toss to wild pigeons, the difference is that commercial feed is raw and made out of more nutritious grain than your average hot dog bun.Pigeon-formulated commercial feed can be found online or at feed stores.The ideal pigeon food is pellets because they have a lot of calcium and don't have seeds.If you can't find pellets, seed blends are fine.Check the label to make sure that the blends are professionally-formulated and balanced.
Step 2: If you can't find pigeon food, use dove seed and pellet blends.
Both of these city living species are from the same bird family.When pigeon food isn't available, dove food is a good substitute.It is good for pigeons.Commercial blends are labeled as safe for both pigeons and doves because they are so similar.Dove food can be found in some pet stores.
Step 3: If you don't have a commercial blend, mix your own raw grains.
You can make your own pigeon food, but you need to find several raw grains.If you want to make a basic blend, try mixing equal amounts of wheat, millet, corn, red lentils, and rice.You can find these ingredients at grocery stores or online.You can store the mix in plastic containers.You do not need to cook the ingredients.A good blend does not need a lot of preparation.Grains like corn and rice are good for pigeons.Blending different ingredients creates a balanced food for pigeons.Blending corn and wheat with rice helps prevent birds from getting too fat.
Step 4: You can give out bread as a snack.
People reach for bread when pigeons gather.Birds love bread, but the problem is that it's empty calories.It doesn't have any nutrition value.It can attract pests like rats and take on mold.If you are feeding wild or domesticated pigeons, stick to raw grains.Unbleached or unrefined whole wheat bread is better for pigeons.Take it out of the water and make it into small pieces.
Step 5: Birds can eat unsalted popcorn for a snack.
Popcorn is a good alternative to bread for pigeons because it is not cooked.You need to be careful with the popcorn you give them.Remove the butter and salt.Birds can be harmed by high amounts of salt and other ingredients.Before heating up a bag of popcorn, make sure it is free of harmful artificial ingredients.You can check the ingredients on the label.
Step 6: Pick some fruits and vegetables that are good for you.
Fruits and vegetables are colorful and not mostly water.Fruits and vegetables include apples, peas, romaine lettuce, bell peppers, strawberries, and carrots.Pale greens with a high water content should not be eaten.Most fruits and vegetables are safe for pigeons.Provide your pigeons with a variety of foods to balance out their diet.
Step 7: Don't peel the fruit and vegetables.
Pigeons don't mind if you leave the skin on.Some kids are more picky than others.Before cutting any piece of fruit or vegetable, rinse it off under the running water.Cherries have small stones, so be careful with them.Pigeons can swallow the stones if they are removed first.They will be easier to cut once the pits are gone.
Step 8: Bite-sized pieces of fruits and vegetables can be cut up.
When baby pigeons are around, it is a good idea to chop up everything into smaller pieces.The bigger the bird, the more pieces you can leave.Birds don't like full-sized fruits and vegetables.You will have a mess by the next morning.
Step 9: Pigeons can eat 28 grams of fruits and vegetables a day.
If you are feeding pigeons at home, put the fruits and vegetables in a separate container.You will need to give each bird about 30 liters of food.Fruits and vegetables should be equal to the amount of grain you give.Throw away leftovers and reduce the amount of food you provide the next day if food goes un eaten.Fresh fruits and vegetables should be given to pigeons at least 3 to 4 times a week.Pigeons are similar to small children in that they may refuse to eat some food.They will eventually eat it.If you notice your pigeons don't like your favorite food, replace it with a different one.
Step 10: Pigeons digest food by eating grains.
Pigeons and other birds use the same substance.You can buy bags at feed stores.Eggshells and oyster shells can also be used.Baking and smashing eggshells or oyster shells is how to prepare your own grit.The amount of food you need to mix is less than 0.15 ounces.Grain is mixed in some quality seed or pellet mixes.You don't need to provide more shells.The label should be checked first.It's possible that using grit isn't necessary.Many feeders think their pigeons do a good job.
Step 11: If your pigeons need a supplement, put it into the water.
If your pigeons are showing signs of deficiency, a licensed vet can tell you about it.A balanced diet of grains, fruits, and vegetables is what most birds need.If your pigeon needs help, you can purchase a powdered supplement online or at a feed store, and follow the manufacturer's instructions to find out how much to add to the water.Vitamins and supplements can be added to wet food, but should not be applied to dry food.Egg-laying pigeons benefit from calcium gluconate.The calcium they lose in creating the eggs is replaced by a supplement.
Step 12: Feeding wild pigeons is legal in your area if you check.
Pigeons can be found all over the world.There are a few regulations in place for some governments.You can walk to the park and throw out some grains without anyone looking at you.Pigeons are legal in New York City but not in San Francisco.Feeding pigeons can make them dependent on humans.If you feed pigeons from a building, take care.Their droppings can cause a mess and get you in trouble with the law.
Step 13: Take a small amount of food with you.
Pigeons can be silly over the course of the day if many people have the same idea as you.You don't need to give a lot of food to pigeons.Limit the food to no more than 28 grams of each grain blend and fruit and vegetable blend per bird.Less is more.Spread the food between the pigeons.Unless you bring a huge bag of seed to the park, this shouldn't be a problem.Grain blends are ideal for their nutrition.Popcorn and rice are good, but bread and junk food are not.
Step 14: Provide food for pigeons every couple of days.
It's a problem for everyone in your area if you give lots of free food to pigeons.Limit your feeding sessions to no more than 2 or 3 times a week.Large flocks of pigeons are prevented from forming.Birds can become a ritual.Try not to get too attached.Don't forget your surroundings.Pigeons gather in parks and city streets, but don't cross onto private property.
Step 15: Feed pigeons at different locations.
Pigeons are familiar with a meal ticket.A flock of pigeons will be waiting for you if you show up at the same bench every day.They become dependent on you because of this.If you feed pigeons frequently, change your routine to avoid dependency.It will keep you out of trouble if you prevent pigeons from gathering.
Step 16: There are different times to visit the pigeons.
If you can, avoid going to areas at the same time each day.Pigeons get used to your routine when you show up in front of them.If you can, surprise the pigeons by going out in the morning instead of the afternoon.If you don't feed the pigeons every day, you will not have a problem going to the same location.The begging faces may make you feel bad.Resist the urge to feed them.
Step 17: Feed pigeons in the morning.
Birds only need to be fed once a day.They will not eat all of the food at the same time.They don't eat it throughout the day.If you provide all of the food they need, you don't need to do anything else.The food should be in a container.
Step 18: Each bird should get about 28 g of grain.
A pigeon needs two thirds of a seed or pellet mix per day.The pigeon may leave a lot of food in the bowl at the end of the day.When figuring out how much food to give, consider this a starting point.The estimate is per pigeon.Each pigeon should get a certain amount of food.It's possible to put all of it in a single bowl.
Step 19: To see how much food is left over at sunset, check the bowl.
You can expect your pigeons to stop eating at sunset.The food should be taken out of the cage.Remove the bowl and dump it out.Chances are you are giving your pigeons too much food if you notice a lot of food left in the bowl.Pigeons like to pick out the best parts of their food.They like high-fat components such as safflower seeds in their blends, but if they don't eat the rest of the mix, they do not get all the vitamins and minerals they need.
Step 20: Feed your birds food every morning.
Every day, refresh the food bowl with a fresh grain blend.If you do it early in the morning, your pigeons will get all the vitamins they need.They should not be fed food that was in the bowl overnight.The risk of mold or other diseases creeping into the grain is avoided by offering fresh food.
Step 21: The next day you should lower the amount of grain you give the pigeons.
The goal is for your pigeons to eat all of the food by sunset.Give them a little less than you gave them the day before by filling the bowl with your seed or pellet blend.You can check the bowl at night to see what's left.The amount of food needs to be lowered until it's all gone.This will prevent your pigeons from being overfed.