Ways Pigeon Producers Can Manage Feed Costs

• control flock inventory by removing and destroying unhatched eggs and euthanizing young birds while they are still in the nesting box.
  
  
• dim lights, extending periods of darkness and using intermittent lighting can decrease bird activity and thus reduce feed consumption in broilers. This may also work with pigeons. Some producers are limiting light to two to four hours per 24 hour period, splitting the lighted periods on a 12 hour rotation.
  
  
• maintain birds under comfortable, thermo-neutral environmental conditions to reduce feed consumption.
  
  
• incorporate lower cost feed ingredients into a maintenance type ration in the short term (i.e. - supplement ration with higher levels of whole/cracked grains, screenings, turkey finisher, duck feed, etc. discuss this option with your feed supplier.
  
  
  
• implement strategies such as temporary feed restrictions or feeding at specific times of the day.

• use caution when feeding lower quality or quantity of feeds in hot weather because feed intake decreases during heat stress. Increasing the density of nutrients in the diet may be needed to ensure baseline nutrition.
  
  
• feed non-medicated feed can reduce feed costs, but may also have implications on flock health. Contact your veterinarian/feed supplier before making any decisions to change feed medication regime. If planning to process pigeons for meat, ensure adequate withdrawal times are observed.
  
  
• remember that all appropriate medication withdrawal times must be observed before may be processed for human consumption.