[RajibSuba]

Hi . So I have been having this little guy since almost 2 months come into my house. I have been giving him all the mix grains, and some additional grains/seeds added. Sometimes chopped spinach,carrots, brocolli sprinkled. It does seem to eat properly and I have been trying hard. But he seems very quiet sluggish and inactive. Most of the time I find him dozing off. Can I give him Vit B complex in liquid for babies and mix in his water. Why is he so quiet and slow/sleepy all the time. He doesn't make any noise and only likes to hide or stay alone.

 

[Marina B]

Pigeons are not that active. In nature they fly around in search of food and chase other pigeons away from their nesting sites. Yours don't need to do that. Do you have a mirror for her? Put this next to her favourite roosting site. This will help her feeling less lonely.

Make sure the syrup don't have added sugar, as this will harm her in the long run. She might not drink the water due to the taste. You don't have an agricultural store nearby where you can get vitamins for chickens?

 

[RajibSuba]

Thanks will search for vitamins for chicken

 

[RajibSuba]

Pigeons are not that active. In nature they fly around in search of food and chase other pigeons away from their nesting sites. Yours don't need to do that. Do you have a mirror for her? Put this next to her favourite roosting site. This will help her feeling less lonely.

Make sure the syrup don't have added sugar, as this will harm her in the long run. She might not drink the water due to the taste. You don't have an agricultural store nearby where you can get vitamins for chickens?

Hi marina, and by the way why does it tend to sleep most of the time. Is it normal?
Below is the grains iam feeding mixed with carrot, dill leaves ,spinach and a green herb called gerger leaf.
Do u think the feed is less nutritional?
The mix contains black+blue+yellow lentils,fox millets, finger millets, soybean black seed, barley, brown soyabean seed,pearl millet,flaxseed. All of which I bought from grocery shop individually and mixed them
As it does not eat big sized grains

 

[Marina B]

The mixture looks fine. Can you post photos of the droppings.

 

[RajibSuba]

The mixture looks fine. Can you post photos of the droppings.

Please see these droppings below. I might have given it a bit extra carrots. Also I found an agricultural store and bought another bag of mixed pellets for birds for a change in it's diet. How many times in a day can I feed? Since it doesn't eat properly Iam force feeding. I got a mirror for him and ever since he seems to be happy and cooing thinking it to be a mate

 

[Marina B]

The droppings look fine. What ingredients are in the pellets? Are these for seed eating birds? You can also handfeed defrosted green peas in addition to the seeds. Defrost in warm water till soft. Feed him 20 peas 3 times a day (total of 60 per day) and encourage him to eat seeds inbetween.

I'm glad he is responding to the mirror.

 

[RajibSuba]

The mixture looks fine. Can you post photos of the droppings.

Please see these droppings below. I might have given it a bit extra carrots. Also I found an agricultural store and bought another bag of mixed pellets for birds for a change in it's diet. How many times in a day can I feed? Since it doesn't eat properly Iam force feeding. I got a mirror for him and ever since he seems to be happy and cooing thinking it to be a mate

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The droppings look fine. What ingredients are in the pellets? Are these for seed eating birds? You can also handfeed defrosted green peas in addition to the seeds. Defrost in warm water till soft. Feed him 20 peas 3 times a day (total of 60 per day) and encourage him to eat seeds inbetween.

I'm glad he is responding to the mirror.

The guys working in the store were saying that it for birds, got all the vitamins and that it's mixed grains and some additionals probably some veggies. My pigeon eats them and sometimes when it's unable to grab them by it's beak, I open it's beak and insert them one by one in his mouth. Hope it's ok to do that.
I also got mix bean soaked in water the previous night and chopped them fine with garlic and carrot. The mix is kidney beans,green n yellow beans, chickpeas. Since they don't fit in his small beak, I had to soak overnight and crush the next day.
The one in bottle with red cap is the normal daily seed which I used to feed earlier mixed with green veggies and carrot.
While the one in black plate is the soaked organic beans with greens and carrot I started giving from yesterday which I plan on giving alternate days.
The pellets I plan to feed everyday with it's regular seed and force feed if necessary. Hope it's ok

 

[Marina B]

Sounds good. Stop forcefeeding him for a day and let him practise eating by himself. That is the best way for them to learn how to pick up seeds. Rather put the vegetables in a seperate dish for him.

 

[RajibSuba]

Sounds good. Stop forcefeeding him for a day and let him practise eating by himself. That is the best way for them to learn how to pick up seeds. Rather put the vegetables in a seperate dish for him.

Hi Marina, first of all a huge thanks for all your important and superbly useful guidelines.
I have a few more doubts though:

1) Ever since I started keeping a mirror, my little friend seems to be more active and confident. It makes some growling noise while looking its head down and restlessly n actively walking around back n fourth and inflating its chest/throat. Hope that its a sign of good health.

2) What I observed so far is that if I give him these pellets, he is frequently excreting/dropping poo. Will it not become weak because of constant emptying of stomach?
I dont know but I just somehow feel that pellets seem better than seeds as it easily dissolves in water and might be easily digested by him and nutrition could be gained in proper manner.
(I experimented these pellets by putting them in a glass of water and saw them dissolving within 15-20 minutes easily)
so which is better, seeds or pellets?

3) Is there any technique by which I can know that his stomach is full or still empty and whether I should give him more of the grains/pellets.

Can you check the below two videos and see if it seems to be healthy to you
and if its stomach is well fed or not

March 11, 2023

www.youtube.com

 

[Marina B]

He is looking good! He is just doing what is normal for a male pigeon. Trying to chase off the intruder in the mirror. That is all normal behaviour. If you think it upsets him too much, remove the mirror for a couple of hours every day. But at least it's keeping him occupied.

I've never given pellets to my pigeons. But I've read it can affect their droppings. Why don't you give 1/4 pellets and 3/4 seeds?

Did you let him practise eating? The crop is located in the front of the breast, a little bit to the right side (when he is facing away from you so you are behind him). You will feel a bulge when the crop is full. Put his seeddish in front of the mirror. When he sees his reflection pecking at seeds, it might encourage him to eat more.

 

[SilverFeral]

Sorry I did not read all but your pigeon looks completely OK for me. I answered on the other post about the poop for food etc. But again your pigeon, by its stance, eyes, and courting looks 100% for me. A well fed, relaxed, and happy pigeon sleeps a lot and sometimes even sleeps like a human - completely out