Feeding birds in parks and courtyards has already become a tradition - people happily treat birds with seeds, bread, and cereals. However, few people think about whether it is possible to feed pigeons with rice. Finding out this point is especially important if you plan to purposefully breed birds. A balanced diet will provide birds with normal well-being and a long life, while improper feeding can lead to serious negative consequences.
Is it possible to feed pigeons rice?
Giving rice to pigeons is not only possible, but also recommended.The product contains a large amount of starch with a small proportion of fat. Cereals also contain carbohydrates, minerals, and B vitamins. That is why rice is ideal for feeding pigeons. In addition, when combined with crushed chalk, this product, when half-cooked, is an excellent food supplement to cure indigestion in pigeons. Rice is used both separately and as part of a mixture with other types of grains, as well as in peeled or unrefined form.
It is important to prevent pigeons from consuming rice excessively, as this will lead to the development of pathologies of the nervous system and other abnormalities.
Benefits and harms of the product
Rice has beneficial nutritional properties and is therefore recommended for consumption:
- the product contains a lot of starch and little fat;
- it contains minerals and B vitamins;
- in combination with crushed chalk helps eliminate indigestion.
The disadvantage of this product is the fact that abuse of rice is fraught with the development of serious diseases, including those affecting the central nervous system (there is a risk of paralysis and even death).
How to feed rice correctly?
Most often, regular white or unrefined brown cereal is given to pigeons as a supplement to dry food. Boiled rice is mixed with chalk and used as a food additive for medicinal purposes.
To ensure that the product is absorbed normally and the bird does not experience a lack or excess of nutrients in the body, the following feeding rules must be adhered to:
- Experts recommend feeding rice cereal to pigeons during the daytime. In this case, you should mix rice with herbs, vegetables or other food.
- Birds can sometimes be fed with boiled rice, after diluting it with milk. Young animals will especially like this dish.
- A combination of chaff and rice flour is considered beneficial. To prepare the dish, you will need the following:
- mix unpolished rice with other food in a ratio of 1:3;
- add a small amount of milk or water to the resulting mixture.
Constant use of rice cereal alone in the diet or too frequent use of it is not allowed. Health and lifespan of pigeons depend on the quality and variety of food.
Like all other products, rice cereal has both advantages and disadvantages. This product is ideal as food for birds, including pigeons, since it contains a number of useful components, a minimum of fat and a lot of starch. However, feeding must be carried out in accordance with the diet and recommendations of specialists. It is important to observe the measure, otherwise there is a risk of developing diseases, and in some cases, death of the bird.
