Winterizing

[Connie0403]

Hello all,

I have a couple questions about babies I have raised for 2 months. I found them when they were 2 days old and they are doing great! The big question is does anyone know what I should be feeding them to get them in shape for winter outside. I live in Las Vegas so not to cold. They are in a coop because I am to attached to let them go,and my husband doesnt think I should keep them in the house . Tried to let them go but to hard on me so I will keep them safe in the coop. I feed them seed and give them defrosted corn and peas every morning which they love. But, I feel that they need to put on more weight to keep warm. How well do they tolerate the cold? I worry about them staying warm. They have a box which I dont see them in at night when I check on them at night. Any ideas would be greatly appricated.
Thanks
Connieundefined

[John_D]

Hi Connie,

Pigeons are hardy birds. The pigeons I had on my balcony (in the UK) a few years back managed to raise a baby in mid-January when night temps were down to 32 and day wasn't much better Don't know what kind of winter temperatures you can expect?

At 2 months they would be well able to eat a purpose-mixed pigeon food, if you have a supplier near you. A sack should last you a good while. It is mixed to provide a good, well rounded diet including the items which help their systems to keep the night cold at bay. Do they have grit to help them digest? Some greens are good, too. Once pigeons recognize lettuce as food,for instance, they often develop quite a taste for it. Small raw, unsalted, unroasted peanuts are good as a treat.

If they are outside in a coop, I'd be more concerned with predators than the temperature. Is it of a tough wire, like hardware cloth? When you mention the box, do you mean the covered in section of the coop or, literally, just a roosting box? A good, weatherproof section for them to spend time in is ideal.

Always a tough one, whether to keep or release: pigeons are social birds and like to be with a flock on one hand, but on the other hand when they are raised by us from tiny babies, they haven't developed the skills and street smarts for survival 'out there'.

John

[cyro51]

Hi Connie,

I don't think I could release babies I had raised myself. I have trouble releasing emaciated juveniles I have taken in to fatten up!

Pigeons keep warm by burning food and by fluffing up their feathers (they have their own duvets) , which is why it is important to feed ferals before they go to roost in winter (so that they are warm during the night) and first thing in the morning (to recover from the energy they lose during cold nights trying to keep warm).

Some birds put on extra weight in winter so that they can live off the excess for a couple of days if they can't find food, rather than because the extra flesh in itself keeps them warm.

Cynthia

[re lee]

Pigeons do not very much season to season in weight. A regular pigeon mix should be avalible at the local feed store. Pigeons over fed in coops without exersise get a little fat. Good health Is the best preventive. So clean water and good feed. Then clean living area. Grit .

[maryco]

Whole corn, hemp, safflower, sunflower and peanuts (raw and unsalted) are fattening seeds and quickly put weight on a pigeon.

[ZigZagMarquis]

Winterizing... I'll usually flush and fill the radiator and make to make sure you've got a fresh, stong, mix of anit-freeze in there... I usually use Prestone. Also, make sure you empty and fill the windshield washer fluid resivor with washer fluid instead of straight water; water will freeze, that blue washer fluid will not. While I'm at it, I'll do an oil change and grease the front end too. Also, its not a bad idea to run past the tire shop and get a rotate and balance... and... depending on where you're at and how fast winter is setting in, you may want to sawp out the regular tires for snow tires.... ummm... you were asking about winterizing a car, right? ... wouldn't do any of that to a pigeon...