Feeding pigeons and doves

Palomacy recommends these elements for proper pigeon and dove nutrition:

Professionally formulated, nutritionally balanced food plus a multivitamin and mineral supplement.

For pigeons:

High quality pigeon feed includes safflower. Shown with grit & oyster shell mixed in.

Usually sold in Feed rather than Pet Stores

For doves: Base diet (seed or pellets)

Dove food blends can be found in Pet Stores and are fine for pigeons too

Pigeons and doves do best when meal fed, meaning they are given an appropriately sized portion of fresh food in the morning and ideally, all should be eaten by sunset. Fresh food is provided again the next morning. If your birds have lots of food left at sunset, they are being overfed and are likely gorging on their favorite seeds (such as high-in-fat safflower) rather than getting balanced nutrition. Feeding the proper amount also reduces seed-throwing and simplifies clean up.

For each bird, we recommend you start with 2 tablespoons (probably too much) and then adjust the amount down until the amount you provide in the morning is completely consumed by evening.

Bird-safe grit and crushed oyster shell (just a little- sprinkled on their food like a seasoning rather than an unlimited supply)

Pigeons & doves only need a little bit of grit

Veggies or greens (3-4 times per week)

For veggies, you can chop/mince up most anything that is bird safe: carrots, broccoli, snap peas, dandelion greens, kale cauliflower, lettuce, spinach (in small amounts), edamame, bell peppers, etc.

Young king pigeon Elliot snacking on romaine lettuce

Ringneck dove Lily eating minced carrot and broccolini

Ringneck dove Pierre wolfing down his chopped bell peppers

Plenty of clean, fresh water at all times (served in a clean dish every day).

Palomacy recommends adding a high quality avian vitamin and minersal supplement to your birds’ food. We’ve had good success with a variety of quality avian vitamin & mineral supplements that are readily available including Lafeber’s, Morning Glory Calcium Plus, Nekton-S, Petamine & Kaytee’s Molting & Conditioning. We recommend using only one at a time & mixing it into their food (rather than their water) along with just a little bit of grit (add it the way you would use salt and pepper).

See also: Planting Greens for Pigeons (and Doves) for tips from adopter and volunteer Shae Irving.

Quince & Yuzu love their garden greens!

Grazing on greens is healthy & fun

Click to email Tracy with questions or to order

And you can see all of the Purgrain blends & products at www.Purgrain.com