When I go, I want to come back as one of your birds. LOL. You spoil them. Mine used to throw food all over the loft, as they knew they would get fresh feed the next morning, and so they just picked out what they wanted and threw the rest. Pigeons are often just throwers by nature, as some even throw seeds they like. You would not believe the seed that I allow this one particular hen to waste, because I always fill the dish in her nest box. That makes it easier for her to not have to go down to the floor and be harassed by the males while trying to eat.
I finally got sick of the waste several years ago, and tried a couple of feeders that make it a lot harder to throw the seed from. I have one now that I love. Very rarely do you get a seed on the floor. Maybe you need to get feeders that they cannot throw the seed from.

Since your birds are out a good deal of time, then why do you give them seed dishes in their cages? Couldn't you just let them out and feed them in the morning? You could put in enough seed for the whole day if you like. That's what I do. Or just feed them in their cages. Mine do have little dishes in their boxes, but now I only use those if I miss an egg and have an oops baby, or a bird with a handicap that just makes it easier on them to have a dish in their box, or if I want to put a little treat in them on occasion.

I mean this in the nicest way.................Freda...............your birds are spoiled! LOL.

They only need about 1 1/2 ounces a day. If they are hungry, they will eat it. That would be a coffee measure and a half. If they pick out what they like and are still hungry, they will eventually try the other things. If they eat it all, then you can add a little more. If they don't eat it all, give a bit less. Many of mine don't like corn, but they like the large cracked corn. Mine usually finish what I give them in a day. If I go in at the end of the day and they have eaten almost every seed in the feeder, then I will throw in a couple of handfuls, and those who are hungry will come down and eat.I can remember saving it, and then adding to it the next day to get them to eat the other seeds. It did help. They are so much better than they used to be...................except that one spoiled little hen who still gets it in her box.
Pigeon feed is very expensive and we can't afford to be wasting it. Besides, it's healthier for them to eat all the different seeds. You need to make them learn to eat their veggies.
Tough Love Freda.............You can do it. I know you can.

 

Lol Jay, I suppose they are spoiled in some ways - they even have three baths out so they don't have to squabble and they're changed once one has used a bath. They don't so much throw the seed out as just not eat certain grain and when I get the feed tub out they gather round like they're starving, so I give the old to the wild birds and put new out for mine.
I use these for feeding because they can't poop in them and there's not much mess around these days.

I have a spare cage with the entire front taken off which has two feed bottles, one water bottle and a small grit bottle - it's their outside 'feed station' as well as what they have in their cages. Devoted hens like Olive and Gully who rarely leave their eggs have an egg cup in their nest with food too.
I think I'll measure the food out and instead of changing it every morning I'll leave it til bedtime and perhaps they'll eat more grains. I don't really expect them to eat the maize because even the wood pigeons outside leave that til last, it doesn't seem very popular with them either.
I suppose I just over feed and that's why they are picky. Going to be hard when they look for their new feed in the mornings though because the first thing they do once I've cleaned out the cages is go in and sort out their food. I know they must eat variety and obviously will only eat their favourite if they can get away with it.

 

Bye the way - look at my sweet little Cherry Chick now.

She's one week short of four months old and because she isn't paired she is ultra inquisitive when I'm working in their room. She doesn't like my hands unless she's in charge but she's so adorable and the other six get on very well with her. I don't leave her cage open at night in case the boys decide to chase her but so far they usually just ignore her. I've told them she's mine and not theirs, lol.

 

Those feeders are great. I stole the pic to show others looking for solutions. I have mentioned to do that, but now I have the pics, if you don't mind that is.

Lots of mine don't care for the corn or even the pop corn either. So why not buy feed that doesn't contain corn. You can buy them without it. I do, and then I add the cracked corn as they do like that. That cuts down on waste. The corn in the mix adds weight on in the shipping too.
Birds kept outside go more for the corn when it starts getting cold out, as it is good to put fat on for the cold weather. But mine like the cracked corn all year.
What other seeds do they not like?
What lucky little birds to have you as a keeper.

 

Of course I don't mind Jay. I usually get Versele Laga breeders mix but this time I tried their classic mix although it's got too much corn so I won't get that again- both have a lot of variety but I also buy treat packets of linseed, sesame seed, hemp and lentils, in fact anything I see in the supermarket that I think they'll like. They know the little packets when they hear the rustle - so sweet how they come over to look.
The feed I'm using now contains French crib maize, maple peas, dun peas, yellow peas, large green peas, white pigeon wheat, milo, Carly, white pigeon barley and brown linseed. They're not too keen on wheat either.
It's not as good as the breeders mix but I notice Olive, the rescue once wild feral, eats everything and hasn't been overfed like my guys it seems so she isn't picky.

 

Many aren't too keen on the wheat. I know it sounds harsh, but making them eat it or being hungry, will get them to eat it all. It worked with mine when I got tired of spending money on seed to throw outside. Let me know how they do. It may take them a while, as they will expect that you are going to replace it with new, so they will wait for that. I wouldn't. I would just add a little of the fresh and mix it in. Just enough to give them their daily amount. Try to be strong Mom.

 

Thanks Jay, I'll do my best and see how it goes. I've let them sort out their differences too, like you suggested, and the boys rarely scrap these days, they even share the same perch occasionally so that was good advice. Thanks for that - makes life much easier to just leave the cages open for all to come and go as they please.

 

In watching my birds in the loft, we run into all the same things. I try different things and then pass along what works here. Pigeons are pigeons. But thanks.
I'm so glad they have worked things out. I know that sometimes it's hard to just stand back and let them. Believe me, there are still times when I interfere to change behaviors a little. LOL. There is never a dull moment, believe me.