Instructions on how to properly raise pigeons in cages

Instructions on how to properly raise pigeons in cages

Prepare before raising 

The first thing to determine before raising pigeons is to determine the area where the birds will be raised. The breeding location needs to be well-ventilated, have clean water sources and adequate natural light. In addition, the sewer and sanitation systems around the farming area also need to be cleared.

Regarding breeding equipment, farmers need to fully prepare equipment such as feeding and drinking troughs, in accordance with the standards of the breed of bird being raised. These are also the two most basic items that need to be cleaned and disinfected before being used by birds.

Pigeon cage

The cage is the second important factor that bird breeders need to pay attention to. It is necessary to choose a pigeon cage that is sturdy, spacious and can prevent damage from other creatures such as cats, mice, snakes, etc.

The roof of the cage and surrounding walls must be well designed, resistant to rain or drafts, and cool in winter and cool in summer to ensure the bird’s health. In the cage, there should be a separate area to place feeding and drinking troughs along with nests for the birds during the breeding season.

Food for pigeons

When choosing food for pigeons, you should prioritize corn, wheat, beans, rice, cereals, etc. because these are nutritious foods and are loved by birds. Among them, corn is the main ingredient that should be given priority. Seeds for birds need to be clean, of good quality, and free of termite problems.

Depending on each breed of pigeon, there will be an appropriate diet. Farmers should carefully learn about the bird breed to determine the appropriate amount of food for the bird. Normally, the amount of food each time the pigeons will eat will be 1/10 of their amount.

Besides food, farmers also pay attention to giving birds water regularly. In particular, the water source for birds to drink must be clean and renewed daily. To keep the bird healthy, some vitamins or antibiotics can be added to the water to prevent some common diseases.

Instructions on how to raise pigeons to quickly lay eggs

To ensure that pigeons can lay eggs quickly without affecting their health, breeders need to ensure a complete and comfortable care environment. If pigeons are raised in the best conditions, their laying performance will also be better without harming their health.

Below are some necessary conditions in the breeding environment so that pigeons can quickly lay eggs:

Choose foods that are nutritious and good for your health

The issue of weight is extremely important and affects the reproduction of pigeons. If pigeons are overweight or underweight, reproductive performance will also be problematic. Therefore, when raising them, you need to pay attention to their nutrition and weight if you want to achieve perfect fertility.

It is best to feed pigeons at fixed times during the day. The best feeding frequency is about 2-3 times a day. 

Regarding nutritional ingredients, it can be mixed with other types of chicken and duck feed, with all the necessary nutrients. In addition, rice, rice, and green beans should be added to the pigeon’s diet to get more vitamins and minerals for the body.

Keep the living environment temperature stable

If the bird’s body temperature is too cold, it will affect their reproduction. Therefore, farmers can add a small incandescent lamp in the cage to increase the temperature of the cage, creating a warm and comfortable environment for the birds to relax.

Another way to keep the pigeon coop warm is to use straw to warm the coop. Especially in the cold season, severe cold and monsoons can easily affect pigeon health. Therefore, farmers need to pay attention to making sure the cage is warm and stable enough for both the cold season and the summer.

Build a cage large enough and comfortable for the bird to live in

One thing to note when building a pigeon cage is to ensure space for them to move and live comfortably. Pigeons will lay eggs faster and more often if they live in a spacious, comfortable environment.

In addition, breeders should also ensure that the pigeon’s nest is not too full or too cramped. If they discover that the nest is full of eggs, they will not lay any more eggs to avoid overcrowding. 

To help pigeons lay eggs quickly, birds should be raised at a density of 6 to 8 birds/m2. 

Separate bird eggs from parents

If you want pigeons to lay eggs quickly and prolong their egg-laying time as long as possible, take the birds’ eggs out of the parent pair when they have laid 2 eggs. At that time, the parent pair will continue to lay more eggs within the next 2 to 3 weeks. 

If you do so regularly and in the right cycle, each pair of parents can lay eggs up to 25 – 30 times per year. This equates to about 60 eggs a year.

Common diseases when raising pigeons in cages

Typhoid

Typhoid in pigeons is a disease caused by a type of bacteria. Almost all ages of pigeons can get typhoid if not properly cared for, especially in the cold season. 

Some symptoms of birds suffering from typhoid include lack of exercise, lack of food, drinking a lot of water, moodiness, shortness of breath, and diarrhea that is yellow-gray or green and mixed with blood.

When seeing the above symptoms, farmers should separate sick pigeons from the flock and contact veterinary facilities for timely examination and treatment.

Coccidiosis

Coccidiosis is a disease commonly seen in young pigeons from 1 to 4 months old. Some common symptoms of coccidiosis are diarrhea, stools containing mucus, sometimes mixed with blood. Usually occurs in spring – summer or fall – winter. 

When birds have the above disease symptoms, separate sick individuals from the flock to avoid spreading. At the same time, please contact the medical center for support in treatment and disinfection of the livestock area.

Hair loss, feather pecking

When the bird cage is too dense but the amount of food is not guaranteed, individual birds may peck each other’s feathers, especially parent birds pecking the feathers of their young birds. In addition, birds losing feathers may also be due to a lack of trace minerals or some necessary vitamins during the period of raising chicks.

So with the information compiled above, surely farmers also know some measures to help pigeons give birth quickly and some notes in how to raise pigeons in cages. Nutrition is an extremely important factor in animal husbandry, so regularly pay attention to their diet to ensure birds grow healthily.