Every poultry farmer who breeds birds from the pigeon family probably wondered more than once what to feed the pigeon at home. After all, the speed of their development and growth, as well as their reproductive ability, depend on proper feeding.
It should be remembered that the differences from what street pigeons eat are very, very significant. This article is designed to help you deal with the question of feeding your birds in different periods of their life cycle and age.
What do pigeons eat in nature
A common stereotype is that pigeons should eat bread. The reinforcement of this opinion is the fact that in any park or other public place you can find a lot of people crumbling various pastries for pigeons, which, in turn, actively absorb it. This, by the way, is one of the reasons why the life of street birds rarely exceeds five years. 
However, in reality, the diet of these birds should be balanced and consist of various herbs, seeds and grains of various plantswhich they predominantly eat in autumn and summer. Due to the fact that people constantly mow plants in places where street pigeons can feed themselves, they are forced to consume seeds, cereals and bread.
Did you know? Pigeons are owners of a truly amazing view, allowing them to find the smallest grain in a pile of stones. This is due to the specific connective tissue that is included in the structure of their eyes, which is able to change the density depending on environmental conditions.
Feeding for domestic pigeons
Different breeds of these birds, contained in the home, require completely different diets. In this article we will try to give generalized recommendations on this issue with a few examples for each of the periods of the life cycle. 
During the molting period
A very long period in the life of pigeons, which is superimposed on some other periods. It lasts from the beginning of March to the very November. During this period, it is extremely important to provide the birds with a rich, full-fledged diet, which should include as much protein products as possible.
Did you know? An adult bears about 10,000 feathers, some of which emit a special sound when flying, which is one of the means of communication for these birds.
If the feed is poor in protein component - the terms of molting will be significantly lengthened. In addition, there is a risk that the quality of the plumage formed under conditions of protein deficiency will not be good enough - feathers are formed with a narrow veil, not long enough and too light. As a result, the aerodynamic properties of the bird will deteriorate, or it will not be able to fly at all. 
Examples of mixtures recommended for this period:
- Pea - 20%
- Vika - 10%
- Wheat - 10%
- Millet - 20%
- Barley - 10%
- Corn - 10%
- Oats - 20%
During the breeding season
This period is better to start in March - early April. Later breeding can adversely affect the offspring and parents due to the fact that they do not have time to properly molt.
Important! A useful additive to feed in any period is fish oil in small concentrations - 10 ml per 1 kg of feed. It helps the correct processes of formation of the core of the feather and skeleton of young individuals.
During this period, it is recommended to give your feathery mixtures with a high concentration of protein, minerals and amino acids, which will positively affect the reproductive functions of pigeon pairs, growth and normal development of the young. 
Mix Example:
- Barley - 20%
- Wheat - 50%
- Vika or pea - 20%
- Oats - 10%
During the laying period
Starts in 7-10 days after mating and lasts for 18-21 days.
The mixtures given to your birds during this period must be rich in vitamins, minerals and amino acids, which is especially important for female pigeons, because they have to perform the main task, from which this stage of their life cycle is called. 
During this time, it is recommended to add a bit of greenery to the feed of birds, potassium iodide and vitamin E, which is contained in the preparation "Tocopherol" - since these substances have a positive effect on the processes of egg formation and its fertilization. Potassium iodide needs to add about 70 mg per 1 kg, and vitamin E about 2-3 drops.
Read also about the nuances of poultry feeding: laying hens, quails, hawks.
Mix Example:
- Wheat - 30%
- Crumbled rye bread crackers - 15%
- Sunflower - 5%
- Hemp - 4%
- Oatmeal - 15%
- Vika or pea - 15%
- Millet - 15%
- Yeast - 1%
In winter
At this time of the year, it is necessary to minimize the amount of protein contained in the mixture in order to moderate the sexual activity of your birds, which will help to prevent unnecessary egg-laying.
Important! In order to help your wards maintain a presentable state of feathering in winter, you can add flax and rapeseed seeds in their daily menu in an amount up to 4 g per 1 kg.
It will be useful to treat the birds with harvested greens, for example, lettuce, dill or parsley. For this period, it is recommended to completely eliminate legumes and reduce the amount of wheat to a minimum. Pigeons during this period can be given a mixture of boiled potatoes and wheat bran.
An example of a mixture for feeding:
- Barley - 40%
- Oats - 40%
- Crushed corn - 10%
- Mineral top dressing - 10%
What to feed pigeons chicks
There is nothing difficult in how to feed a pigeon chick at home, especially if, apart from you, its parents will also look after the young. It is not necessary to touch just born chicks, at least until they have acquired feathers, otherwise their parents can “refuse” them.
At first, his parents will feed the chick, burping half-digested food from the goiter into his mouth. After the chick learns to fly and is able to leave the nest, it will gradually become accustomed to the adult diet.
Learn how to feed chickens, broiler chickens, and goslings.
At first, young pigeons need more wheat crops and almost no need of legumes at all. In the first weeks it is recommended to wet the food for young pigeons with fish oil or trivitinom. Over time, it is necessary to reduce the percentage of wheat in the mixture and add peas or vetch. The rate of feed consumption for a young pigeon is about 35-40 g per day. 
What not to give pigeons
Here is a list of what do not feed pigeons under no circumstances:
- Black bread. It causes fermentation processes in the stomach and subsequent digestive problems.
- Meat products. The digestive system of pigeons does not have the necessary enzymes to digest such food. Its consumption can lead to their death.
- Milk. The intestines of birds contain a low amount of fermented milk organisms, and therefore feeding with milk can cause dysbacteriosis and a decrease in the level of calcium in the avian organism.
- Cheese. Due to the high content of preservatives and fats, it is life threatening to birds.
- A fish. It is unsuitable as food because it contains too much phosphorus, which the avian organism will simply not be able to process.
After reading this article, you should no longer have to ask whether you can feed pigeons with any isolated crop or porridge, for example, only millet or only oats. Remember that the best food for birds is a balanced mixture of different crops, which should be adjusted according to the life cycle of your pigeons.
