WilDiets Frugivorous Pigeon Hand Feeding

WilDiets Frugivorous Pigeon Hand Feeding Formula is a specialist continuation hand-rearing diet formulated for frugivorous pigeon species during the weaning period. Designed to bridge the gap between crop milk and solid food, it supports the rapid early growth these birds undergo and is suitable for use from the first days of life through to the end of weaning.

Preparation and Feeding

Mix with hot water at 35–38°C to achieve a creamy consistency, targeting a concentration of around 20–25%. This continuation formula gradually replaces the crop milk produced during the first days of life. Using rock dove as a reference, introduction typically begins at 4–5 days of age, with full substitution of crop milk completed by 10–12 days — though each species will have its own specific protocol.

Daily Quantities and Dosing

Because frugivorous pigeons develop rapidly, transit speed in each individual bird should guide maximum feeding quantities rather than a fixed rule. The large crop capacity of columbiformes means overfeeding is a genuine risk and must be actively avoided. As a guide, rock pigeons consume a daily prepared volume equivalent to roughly 60% of their body weight at 40% dilution, split across 3–4 feeds, with a recommended maximum of approximately 200ml per day.

Composition

Cereal grains, oil seed and oil fruit products and by-products, legume seeds, fructose, dried apple, vegetable oils, brewer's yeast, pollen, dried papaya, whole dried egg, dried hibiscus flower, minerals, inulin (0.05%).

Vitamins and Additives

• Vitamin A (E-672): 3,100 IU/kg
• Vitamin D3 (E-671): 1,100 IU/kg
• Vitamin E (α-tocopherol acetate): 130 mg/kg
• Vitamin K3 (menadione sodium bisulphite): 3.4 mg/kg
• Vitamin B1 (thiamine hydrochloride): 26 mg/kg
• Vitamin B2 (riboflavin): 17 mg/kg
• Vitamin B6 (pyridoxal hydrochloride): 21 mg/kg
• Vitamin B12 (cyanocobalamin): 85 µg/kg
• Vitamin C (ascorbic acid monophosphate): 100 mg/kg
• Nicotinic acid: 105 mg/kg
• Folic acid: 3.4 mg/kg
• Biotin: 580 µg/kg
• Choline chloride: 1,120 mg/kg

Trace Elements

• Iron (amino acid chelate, E-1): 49 mg/kg
• Copper (amino acid chelate, E-4): 5 mg/kg
• Manganese (amino acid chelate, E-5): 49 mg/kg
• Zinc (amino acid chelate, E-6): 28 mg/kg
• Iodine (anhydrous calcium iodate, E-2): 0.7 mg/kg
• Selenium (sodium selenite, E-8): 0.15 mg/kg
• Antioxidant — ethoxyquin: 70 mg/kg
• Flavouring compounds including yucca extract (0.015%)

Nutritional Analysis

• Moisture: 8.0%
• Crude Protein: 16.0%
• Crude Fat: 7.0%
• Crude Fibre: 3.8%
• Crude Ash: 4.4%

WilDiets Frugivorous Pigeon Hand Feeding Formula gives keepers and rehabilitators a nutritionally complete, species-appropriate tool for rearing frugivorous pigeons through their most critical early developmental stage.