I've got a very diversive question. Please let your ideas fly but try not to get into any heated arguments, debating is great but keep it clean please I know some of you too well. With that said, my question. Do you, have you or will you ever use pigeons as food for your bird/birds? I as well as many of you I assume raise pigeons and I am wondering what your thoughts on pigeons as food are. I am well aware of the threat of Coccidosis and Frounce but I treat my pigeons for those on a daily bases. Also these are not just PIGEONS these are racing homers/competitors not just your regular city pigeon. With that in mind please let your oppinions fly.
I know of several folks that feed captive bred pigeons to their birds and several of these raptors have died from other disease that came from the pigeons. Herpes is a BIG killer and there is no treatment or cure. Some folks have fed it all there life with no problems, some only once and had a dead falcon on their hands. I would have to say it is up to you, but personaly, the risks are there and I won't take the chance. There are other choises for food that are equally good for my bird.
Eagles may soar, but weasels don't get sucked into jet engines "Give a man a fish, and you'll feed him for a day; give him a religion................ and he'll starve to death while praying for a fish."
My sponsor raises doves with commies and homers but only for training purposes and as baggies when needed. If the bird gets even a taste of any of these doves/pigeons its because he hasn't gotten there fast enough with an old kill or quail.
I would say if you want to raise food for your hawk/falcon raise quail. The quality of meat is better anyways, and why take the risk?
Thanks Ooby you have been a great help thus far. As well as Weasel you guys are great. But be prepared to answer thousands more of my crazy questions . Where would I go about finding quail to raise. I have the facilities. I've looked in northwoods' food adds but non of those quail are live. I also have looked at our local country general store and the don't get any until spring.[shadow=red,left,300]TEXT[/shadow]
"You're a smart kid Johny, you really are, but as long as I'm around you'll only be second best." The Godfather
You would have to look around for someone in your area who sells live quail. Hell check the phone book although local falconers should be able to tell you. Just buy a bunch of male and female birds and let em "go at it."
Keep in mind though. When you buy feeder birds from distributors they GARUNTEE that thier birds are in good health and disease free. You will need to study up on what to feed your quail and ensure they are kept free of disease also.
I did a little research in quail feed, as i want to ensure the distributor i buy from feed thier quail a multi pellet. Basically it is a pellet type food that has vitamins and other suppliments in it. Don't feed them only corn as some people do, and don't buy quail that has been raised only on corn. They do not contain the needed vitamins, for a healthy bird.
I agree with you about the corn, bad idea to get birds raised just on corn. I race pigeons so I have a good idea of what a well rounded diet for a feeder bird is. What exactly is the name of the brand that you use. I also just checked the phone book and no one in my area sells quail. Do you know of a Nation wide breeder that I might be able to buy from?
"You're a smart kid Johny, you really are, but as long as I'm around you'll only be second best." The Godfather
Post by Master Yarak on Aug 25, 2004 12:50:10 GMT -5
I feed almost exclusively what I catch. She eats alot of squirrel. If I give none of it away I can catch enough to feed year round. I also give chicken necks and beef heart. All with vita-hawk, a little with every meal. Birds in the family colombidae CAN be the worst food. Yes some of the diseases are treatable but that is not very good prevention. Yarak
If a man does not keep pace with his companions, perhaps it is because he hears a different drummer. Let him step to the music he hears, however measured or far away
What kind of bird is it you are looking to feed? If it's a falcon then definately try the quail, a friend of mine is just starting a breeding colony and is having troubles because she got the breeders all at the same place and they told her there was a good chance of inbreeding so she just ordered some more from another place to freshen the gene pool. If it's a Redtail you're intending to feed, I would suggest using birds only occationally. For best health it is usually best to feed what they would eat in the wild, and for a RT that would be ground quarry and rats are just as easy to breed if not easier since you wouldn't have to worry about incubation and such. In otherwords, I agree with Yarak. If your not hunting with the bird, try to feed it a diet that's as close to what it would get when it IS hunting. just my 2 cents
Swweeet! Ya know, a longwinger friend of mind breeds white homer pigeons for baggies so that he can also rent them out for weddings and such.... just a thought.
Post by austringer84 on Jan 21, 2006 4:56:57 GMT -5
I try not to feed any pigeon to my hawk, he tends to catch jeuvenile wood pigeons now and then, and I do worry,butluckily this has only occured a few times. He also caught a feral pigeon, which looked to be questionable, so i was slightly concerned boutthat to. I wouldtry not feed pigeon where possible, we feed alot of quail and rodent here (myself and the birds of prey centre i work at) and rodent is a top food. Personally I utilise as much of the quarry Inca (my hawk) catches, especially partridge, rats, rabbits and any ground game.
Good luck breeding quails, we've had varying success at the birds of prey centre, and personally I find breeding rats far easier, I've also bred excessive amounts of gerbils, hamsters and mice...happy hunting.