Carrier pigeons need to be able to fly long distances, what they eat influences their health which influences their ability to fly. So, what do carrier pigeons eat?

The base of a carrier pigeons diet is what an everyday pigeon would eat but with additional supplements. The base of this birds diet can include carbohydrates, fruits and vegetables. The supplements that you can add to this diet include oyster shells, minerals, grit a feed mixture that has a high maple pea content

When the likes of cell phones and computers didn’t exist humans used to use carrier pigeons to send messages. This was an ingenious way to communicate between two locations in a reliable way. We don’t use these birds to send messages today but they are still being used by hobbyists and tourist places. If you’re interested in this bird you may ask yourself what do carrier pigeons eat. This article looks into it.

A pigeons diet, weather carrier or otherwise, is important for the health of the bird. For carrier pigeons to be able to fly long distances they need to eat well. So if you’re a pigeon lover, bird watcher or are simply curious this article will help you understand more about the carrier pigeon diet.

What do carrier pigeons eat

Carrier pigeons are derived from the rock dove, what makes them different is that they are selectively bred to be able to find their way home from any location over long distances. So, what you would feed a regular pigeon you would feed a carrier pigeon, the only difference would be that you would add supplements and protein to the carrier pigeon’s food.

As a base, you can offer them cooked rice, breadcrumbs, mashed eggs, mashed potatoes, cooked pasta, commercial feed specially designed for pigeons, and meal worms for treats. You also need to make sure that you have fresh clean water available to them at all times.

The supplements can include oyster shells, minerals and or grit. Oyster shells are great for adding added calcium to the pigeon’s diet. You should also feed them a feed mixture that has a high maple pea content. This will give them a good amount of protein.

In addition, it will be good to give your carrier pigeon fruits and vegetables daily. Great fruits and vegetables that you can offer the bird include carrots, blueberries, apples and broccoli, ensure that they are cleaned and chopped. Do not give your pigeon, especially a carrier pigeon a seed only diet. Giving them a seed only diet will result in a calcium deficiency.

What can pigeons not eat?

Pigeons need a lot of water, more water than most birds need. To maintain the water levels in their bodies they should not be given salt or any foods with salt. Unfortunately, pigeons love salt and if given a chance, they will attack salt blocks. You should also avoid giving pigeons meat as meat can contain bacteria. A pigeons body won’t be able to fight off the bacteria and this will be dangerous for the pigeon’s health.

Summary

In summary, you can feed carrier pigeons a combination of carbohydrates, fruits, vegetables and supplements. These include cooked rice, breadcrumbs, mashed eggs, mashed potatoes, cooked pasta, commercial feed specially designed for pigeons, mealworms as treats, carrots, blueberries, apples and broccoli. The supplements you can give them include oyster shells, minerals, grit and a feed mixture that has a high maple pea content.

You should avoid giving pigeons salt as this can easily dehydrate the birds and you should also avoid giving them meats. Meats can give pigeons bacteria that they won’t be able to fight off, this can be dangerous to their health.

If you enjoyed this article then you may also be interested in other pigeon related articles. Here are some articles that you may be interested in: What do pigeons eat in summer? Why do pigeons attack humans? How do pigeons lay eggs? Why do pigeons make noise when they fly? How do pigeons communicate? What do pigeons do for the environment?