Best feed for doves.

[quails-101]

Is gamebird mixed with plumege feed good for doves thats what I feed my quail. Or would egg layer crumbles be also good to or does it matter. Also can I feed and water them with the feeders and waters that you get from Tractor Supplie that are for quail or chicks they are the smaller ones the red and yellow ones on the end.

 

[loftkeeper]

any thing for fowl will work if you feed quail and have to buy different feed for he doves just feed the quail feed the dove need to have water deep enough to suck water the gallon waters would be ideal

 

[quails-101]

Ok thanks that will help.

 

[jak2002003]

Those feeders are great for them.

I personally would not feed gamebird pellets... as they are expensive and rather rich... you might find the doves get overweight easily. Their digestive system is geared up to digest grains, not hight protein and meat / insects.

I feed my doves mixed small grains, water, grit, and oyster shell grit. The do great on this diet and are very prolific breeders. I give small pieces of raw peanuts as treats to get them tame too, and this always gets they flying back to their cages fast!

 

[quails-101]

My friend told me He feeds them regular bird seed mixed with egg layer crumble. He is who I'm getting the pigeons off of they are white homing pigeons.

 

[loftkeeper]

there is a difference between doves and pigeons but about the same needs I feed laying pellets and that's all made be some grit they will do well on it wild bird feed lot people feed and do just fine just not fan of it and the cost

 

[quails-101]

The laying pellets are just egg layer crumbles before crushed up right

 

[jak2002003]

The laying pellets are just egg layer crumbles before crushed up right

I think so. They are good for pigeons because they have a lot of calcium in them. That is good for the females laying eggs. But I personally think it will be harmful for the males over a long time... although I have no evidence for this.... the reason is the same as why people don't feed roosters egg laying pellets.

But don't worry, the birds will pick out what they need. That is why its good to have a feeder full of layer pellets, and a feeder full of seeds. That way they can get what the want.

 

[quails-101]

Ok I will do that that sounds good. Thanks

 

[laughingdog]

Wild bird seed n good scratch grains for fliers, n layer crumbles for breeders/young. There are pigeon diets but many find them same as above. Game bird feed and chick feed can be bad more protein then they need especially causing angel wing kidney trouble etc in nestlings. Cheap natural layer n cheap descent wild bird seed, one or both with good multi scratch grains all they need,