Boy do pigeons love peanuts!

[Garye]

I decided to give my feral friends a new type of seed - mixed - just to give them some variety. It has corn, sunflower seeds, pink seeds, white seeds, the regular seed variety and peanuts. At first they didn't know what to do with the peanuts. Some would pick one up with their beaks and then when they couldn't crack it open, they'd spit it out. But after a while, some got proficient with eating them. They pick it up with their beaks, toss their heads back, and scarf it down their throats.

Now that they've learned how to eat the peanuts, they're all looking for them in the seed! They'll pick all over the seed, even by-passing the sunflower seeds to find that elusive peanut. Then it's a pick up with the beak, a quick toss of the head back, and a slide down the throat - they've learned to scarf down those things so well. Even Bronson surprised me with her proficiency at scarfing down peanuts. She's an expert now.

I have also noticed that somehow these birds can shell seeds and eat only the insides, spitting out the shells. By the time they're done, there's empty shells all over the place. I watched Garye doing it and I'm amazed at how she can do it.

I would love to know what these pink seeds are in the bird seed. They seem to like them after the peanuts and sunflower seeds.

[Reti]

I am sure your flock appreciates the variety of seeds. Most pigeons love peanuts, only mine seem not to care for them.

Reti

[pdpbison]

Huh...

They are 'shelling' them then?

How totally cool...!


Phil
Las Vegas

[alvin]

Yup the pidjies do love peanuts. Especially ferals. I think it's because the fill them up quick. So if the flock is disturbed, or the bird gets muscled out of the way by a bigger bird, at least they have a relitivly full tummy.
Kind of more bang for the buck so to speak.

BTW. they HATE red lentils. And brown peas for some reason....

[Trees Gray]

Garye,

I'm glad your ferals have discovered the "joy" of eating peanuts.

Yep, as soon as they acquire a taste for them they LOVE to eat them. It should only be given as a snack, though, not as part of a meal. I used to give them frequently but everytime they saw me they would go into a feeding and begging frenzy...."like where are the peanuts?"... and they wouldn't eat their seed, so we cut back completely.

I usually break them up in smaller pieces, so they digest easier. Peanuts are great for making friends with pigeons and training them, but use sparingly.

[LondonPigeon]

Do pigeons and dove also like

Cashew Nuts, Walnuts, Pecan Nuts, Hazelnuts, Brazil Nuts, Pine Nuts, Almonds,

becuase maybe I could give it to them as a snack

[christina11]

Yep pigeons can realy love there peanuts for shur lol..

I feed a local flock by the lake sometimes and when i bring peanuts over to them there all over me for those peanuts and espeacaily the ones who can't open the peanuts by them self.It can be funny seeing them flip back there heads and wave those peanuts around till they get the yummy centre of it.

Max {A wild pigeon I named} he realy loves peanuts the other day I went to the bank and i seen him and lucky I had some peanuts on me when my parents came over and seen me feeding him they were amazed at how tame he was and when ever he wanted more peanuts he would actualy shout at me lol I could even catch him and hold him while he ate his peanuts.

Maybe ill get some pics of Max somtime when i go to the lake.

[John_D]

Originally Posted by LondonPigeon

Do pigeons and dove also like

Cashew Nuts, Walnuts, Pecan Nuts, Hazelnuts, Brazil Nuts, Pine Nuts, Almonds,

becuase maybe I could give it to them as a snack

I doubt they'd eat most of those, and some may be actually bad for them. I believe the exception may be the pine nut kernels (expensive tastes ). Small, raw peanuts are best - plenty of oil content.

John