Baby Pigeons.

[Stoneface]

I've never had to deal with baby pigeons, just caught birds as I needed. Now, though, I've got a coop with some birds I bought a couple months ago and they're starting to nest and lay. I feed gamebird feed, which I believe has been formulated to compensate for grit, but with babies coming on I'm not sure if I should put a bowl of grit in the coop too, or just let them have the gamebird feed. What do you guys think?

[Brittguy]

I have been feeding what is called Big4. which is a game bird, feed also Turkey starter etc. Birds do fine with it. I am assuming yours is a pellet not any grain. I raise a lot of babies this way.

[cjhills]

The parents feed the babies milk for the first three weeks or more so just feed the the parents what they have been eating CJ

[DonF]

I don't think it's really milk, it's vomit! Not a pretty thing! I buy pigeon grain and just keep some grit around in there. I also have free flown ferals for years and never gave them grit.

[ezzy333]

If all you are feeding is pellets then you can get by without grit. I would suggest feeding a little grain along with the pellets but then you should use some grit if you do. Whatever works for you is OK.

Ezzy

[rinker]

I have always thought that I I was flying the birds out on a regular basis that they would find their own grit, usually in my driveway. Is this correct?

[ezzy333]

They probably will if they have to but it is hard to know what else they are picking up. Most people try to keep them from landing on the ground since that is where you can pickup all sorts of deseases.

Ezzy

[mountaindogs]

They probably will if they have to but it is hard to know what else they are picking up. Most people try to keep them from landing on the ground since that is where you can pickup all sorts of deseases.

Ezzy

Is there a way to discurage "loafing around" before they return? Mine are rollers - not true homers and they arr bad abut taking their time time to come all the way in.

[gotpointers]

Don't forget they are called flying rats for a reason. Chicken scratch will do them fine. They will pick up whatever they need to survive. Unless they are never flown and are kept on a wire floor. Worming is a bigger concern, diamateocus earth aka fossil shell flour sprinkled over the scratch along with fresh water is all that they need if kept on a dirt floor. I have been doing this for 28 years now.

[bluestemkennels]

I've been using sratch grain and grit they sell at the feed store (1lb of grit to 40lb of grain per the grit bag) and game bird feed at a 50/50 mix. Not sure if that helps you, but the birds seem to be doing fine.

Bluestem

[V-John]

They probably will if they have to but it is hard to know what else they are picking up. Most people try to keep them from landing on the ground since that is where you can pickup all sorts of deseases.

Ezzy

Agree, and the more often they land on the ground and such, the higher the likihood that they will get killed.
I don't want them landing anywhere, other then the landing board.

Rowdy, I assume, like everyone else, that they would be fine without the grit if you are just feeding the pellets. However, I do think that they could use the minerals in the grit, and honestly, what would it hurt? Regular grit ain't super expensive and better to have it and not need it then vice versa.

[Stoneface]

...what would it hurt? Regular grit ain't super expensive and better to have it and not need it then vice versa.

Duh. Drop I don't know how much a month on vet, feed, bird feed, gas, etc, and I don't want to fork out $10 for some grit. I feel smart.

P.s.- Moxy's last brace of the year was a Derby stake against a Vizsla that had won the Puppy nationals (AKC) in Georgia the weekend before. Moxy saw the running order, remembered Sis and developed a terrible complex. She has nightmares now and has started to smoke pot. She says it's medicinal, but I haven't seen the script yet.

[V-John]

You guys did alright in that stake, didn't you?
As far as the grit, well I figure better be safe then sorry. After all, the pigeons are worth more alive then dead...

[mountaindogs]

P.s.- Moxy's last brace of the year was a Derby stake against a Vizsla that had won the Puppy nationals (AKC) in Georgia the weekend before. Moxy saw the running order, remembered Sis and developed a terrible complex. She has nightmares now and has started to smoke pot. She says it's medicinal, but I haven't seen the script yet.

THAT is funny.