Pigeon food

[turkey]

I'm not sure I'm doing this right. I have a canary finch seed mix, but Turkey only eats the tiny white balls from it. She does not eat the thin black ones (thistle?) or the sunflower seeds that are unshelled, not even the small pieces of it, that I've noticed, but she picks them up and puts them down.

I have always thought she is thin, but she eats a lot of those tiny white seeds, so I was just happy she was eating.

When I was at the feed store, they showed me pigeon food, but it had bigger white balls. A little smaller then a pea. I couldn't imagine that she will eat it so I didn't get it. I did get something that was gruond up that he said was scratch feed. I don't notice her eating that either. What should I get for her to eat?

I was eating pistachios and gave her some tiny pieces, she acted grateful, but dropped them.

By the way - if you notice any extra letters in this note, that would be because Turkey tried her typing skills.

Here's a little Turkey update. The past two nights she has finally flown to me as well as away from me. Tonight she is all over the place practicing her flying skills. To me, away from me, etc... Although she still prefers away from me. I've had to turn off my ceiling fans.

She is still nervous about me petting her, but doesn't attack me as much.

I have decided on an indoor cage. I am making it myself and it's taking a while. I guess my biggest problem will be that nest that Turkey has made in my tv entertainment center. I want to get rid of it, and give her other options. I don't think she will like it, but I'm sure she'll get used to it. As it is now she is free to the house in the day time, but she only goes from her nest(tv) to her perch, which is beside our mirrored wall in the living room. She is getting used to the mirrors. She still tries to go to them, but turns away and lands somewhere else.

At night (it's 1:17AM) she becomes active and flies around the house. Maybe it's because my kids are in bed and it's quiet now. But, I did find Turkey on the street at 5AM, so maybe she's just a late nighter. Plus it's cooler now.

Turkey and I would be grateful for any advice on the food.

Julie

[WhiteWingsCa]

Good Morning Julie

Turkey would like popping corn. Just for now though. You really do have to find some good pigeon food or pellets for her.

The reason she is dropping the sunflower seeds is because it is a new texture to her. Pigeons LOVE peanuts...but at first, they drop them, 'cos they feel "different". (btw...peanuts are just a treat...high in fat, kinda like chocolate bars to us!)

Pigeons eat whole grains...that's why she won't eat the scratch.

Even tho the pigeon food looks "large", she will eat it. Our pigeons get a mix of corn, peas (special pigeon ones), millet, sunflower seeds, hemp, safflower and barley. All whole, all in the shell. (Peanuts, however, are fed shelled). All raw grains too...nothing roasted (included peanuts).

Perhaps you could contact the AU office, and find a club member near you, who would be wlling to sell you a small amount of feed?

[Psion]

If Turkey is a wild pigeon, it is best she have an outdoor cage. Wild birds just can't handle being inside. About the food, since it is a canary/finch mix it is meant for smaller birds, and has alot of different seeds than a pigeon would eat. Pigeons eat mainly grains. If you could buy it in bulk, your best bet would be to make a mix yourself, of corn, safflower, and different grains. Also, unpopped popcorn I hear is good as well. Or, just get the pigeon food. It looks big, but trust me, size doesn't matter with pigeons, they aren't exactly dainty. Scratch feed is for chickens, stay away from it. But, GET THE PIGEON FOOD, trust me, she'll eat it.

Nick

[turkey]

I'm on my way to get the pigeon food. Corn? Like cracked corn? I have some of that.

Yes, Turkey is a wild pigeon. I'm making the cage for indoors, but it is being built so that it can easily be taken apart and moved to the outdoors.

Julie

[raynjudy]

PIGEON TREATS:

Find more on pigeon nutrition on the home page--just click on the care section.

Bernie absolutely loves thawed, frozen peas! He'll scarf up 20-40 at a time, if sweet talked while he's eating. He also likes dried split peas and lentils. Another favorite of Bernie's is Niger thistle seed. Sometimes he binges on these!

Then, there's safflower, that holy grail of seeds (unless they prefer hemp!).

Many pigeons love peanuts--whole or crushed.
Others enjoy diced greens & natural wild rice.

Carl's bird, Lucky, enjoys warm tea, Honey Nut Cheerios, and crushed pretzels.

Harrison's pigeon pellets are prized by many, as being near prefect nutrition.

I've also seen thawed, frozen, mixed veggies (chopped) scarfed up by domestic pigeons.

PIGEONS FOREVER!!!

--Ray

[raynjudy]

You said, in part, "Wild birds just can't handle being inside."

Nick, Nick, Nick. Check your e-mail...



--Ray

[Psion]

LOL Ray, I checked it. *Bows down before Ray* Ahahahaha! Good stuff.

Nick

[turkey]

I bought the pigeon food with the bigger stuff in it. This is day 2 and Turkey is just throwing it around. I also gave her popcorn, but that gets tossed around also. There is something different in this mix that Turkey is eating though. It looks like wheat.

When do you suppose she might start eating the bigger stuff? I had given her the finch mix from the beginning and it has sunflowers without the shell. She has never ate them. It's been two weeks. I'd think that she would get used to the texture by now.

Clueless,
Julie

[raynjudy]

Hey, clueless...

Spoiled! Spoiled! Spoiled!

They are not of a piece. Given half a chance, they're as individual as everybody reading this.

PIGEONS FOREVER!!!

--Ray

[turkey]

So, do you think it is possible for Turkey to get a good enough nutrition on the two small seeds that she eats? She's eating the tiny white balls, and the same width, but longer seeds that look like wheat.

Julie

[Wild Dove]

Hi Julie!

Turkey sounds exactly like the finicky diner my Ah...Poo was...all white millet and wheat!

The little balls are millet and come in the "white" variety as well as "red". If Turkey likes the white, she'll probably go for the "red" as well. You can buy red millet that is smaller than what is in pigeon mix separately, and add it to her food.

Ah...Poo also used to like flax seeds , (small brown flat seeds),and a bit of sesame seed. Flax seed is very nutritional, but don't over do it as we wouldn't want Turkey to get the scoots.

Some other suggestions:
1) Try giving Turkey "flaked grains" like rolled oats or barley flakes, (usually available in bulk food sections of grocery stores. My doves eat these and love them.
2) Try some chopped up bean sprouts, (grocery store again). Sprouts are HIGHLY nutritious for birds and are my doves' FAVORITE.
2) Try a pelleted diet made for doves, quail, etc. which will be smaller than pigeon pellets and should provide complete nutrition, (I got Ah...Poo to eat some of these by dying afew red like the red millet so she would pick them up and try them "by mistake"...eventually, she would eat them undyed). I use a pellet diet that was suggested by my avian vet called "Harrison's" although there are probably others.
3)Make sure Turkey is getting a water soluble avian vitamin supplement added to her drinking water because, at this point, she is probably not meeting her nutritional requirements by being so selective about what she eats.
Hope this helps.

[turkey]

[quote]but don't over do it as we wouldn't want Turkey to get the scoots.

What are the scoots?

This is what's going on... Turkey has still been throwing her food around. She doesn't like the big things. She seems to get irritated when I add more food, so that she has to throw the big things out.

Her droppings have been solid, similiar to rabbit pellets, but a little softer. But, as of yesterday, they have been even softer and a little runny (messy). Maybe from the change of her diet?

I'm a little concerned about the grit. I put a tiny amount in a seperate dish, but I don't think she takes it. It usually soils it and I have to throw it out.

Julie

[turkey]

I think I will experiment and get a little of everything the next time I go to the Feed Store. And I will be getting the vitamin supplement.

Julie

[Wild Dove]

Sorry Julie...
The scoots is my childhood term for "the runs", "the trots", or...er...diarrhea.

The messier droppings may be a result in change of diet, but if they continue, or get worse, (if Turkey starts to have soiled feathers around the bum), I would be concerned.

I have heard that millet and wheat are much easier to digest than corn, peas, etc., and this may be why Turkey is choosing them. One thing that helped Ah...Poo with her digestion was papaya...it is very good for digestive upsets. I used to whiz a bit in a blender until smooth, and then syringe a small amount to Ah...Poo twice a day. Papaya has special enzymes in it that help with digestion...it may not help, but it won't hurt Turkey.
As for the "seed tossing"...Turkey isn't mad, she's looking for what she considers to be the "good stuff". If you add more, it's exciting because that means there might be more "good stuff" in there to find, and more "rejects" to toss out!
If you are concerned that Turkey is not getting her grit you can:
a) Measure what you put into the grit bowl, then measure what you throw out...say a teaspoon or a tablespoon, (allow a bit for any spills).
b) Spinkle a bit of grit in her food as well. She may find it in there and eat it when she's looking for "good stuff".
Hope this helps.