What can I feed my pigeon? Is wheat okay, and should I soak it?

Pigeons eat a variety of grains, seeds, greens and fruit. they will occasionally dine on insects or earthworms. A commercial pelleted pigeon diet should comprise about half the diet. the other half can be a combination of fresh, chopped greens, vegetables and fruits. Your pigeon can eat almost anything you do. Do not feed avocado, chocolate or anything greasy or oily. A comprehensive list of appropriate foods is too long to fit here, but you can get an idea of what to feed at the link below. http://www.pigeonrescue.org/birds/care/pigeon-feeding-dove-feeding/

Thanks for reaching out about Sheephony. The entire hard boiled egg, including the shell can be chopped and offered, probably once weekly. Fruits are not that healthy and should be offered sparingly. Vegetables should include green leafy but also red/yellow/orange vegetables to provide a wide range of vitamins/minerals. Good luck.

Thanks for reaching out. Rice is a carbohydrate and has little nutritional value and can lead to obesity. The carbohydrate could lead to intestinal bacterial overgrowth. A little should be okay but should not be offered much. Good luck.

Thanks for reaching out. Since pigeons can not masticate (chew) the pieces should be small enough to swallow without causing an esophageal obstruction, so chop the size of small seeds. Remember that seeds and nuts can not exclusively be feed to birds as lack many vitamins and minerals. A wide variety of vegetables (green, red, yellow, orange) is needed, as well as a protein sources such as legumes and beans (also chopped small). Good luck.

If your bird has been injured it would be best to have the injuries addressed by a veterinarian first to make sure they are not impeding his ability to eat and causing him to worsen. Your vet may also want to give fluids or other IV medications if he cannot eat properly or is too weak to. If he is able to eat food that is in a mash, you can offer something such as baby bird food in a syringe or his regular diet blended and then mixed with water. This will help provide him with more balanced nutrition while he recovers. Rice cereals don't provide as much nutrition as a diet formulated for birds would. Monitoring how full his crop is (it will feel like a balloon under his chin) can let you know if you're feeding enough or not.

I would not give her too much as the oil and seed itself is fatty and doesn't provide much nutritional value, but would keep trying to offer her the seed without oil as an option. As a treat once in a while, it may be OK, but I would look toward finding healthier alternatives such as fresh fruits and veggies that Sheephony may enjoy more instead.

Thanks for reaching out about Sheephony. Grit is for the grinding of food in the stomach and does not provide any nutrients. Oyster shell or cuttlebone can supply some calcium, generally lost in the forming and laying of the egg. Green vegetables will also help with calcium. If she is weak, a veterinary visit is recommended for caloric, nutrient and fluid administration. Give heat support in the 80-85 F range for aid. Good luck.