Is it possible to feed barley to pigeons: the pros and cons and how to give it correctly

Not all pigeon lovers keep entire flocks of birds. Someone admires a couple peacefully cooing next to each other, sweetly caring for each other. It happens that pigeons arrange funny games on the fly. Such a poultry breeder does not carry food from the market with chuvals, but looks into the kitchen cabinet, looking for something to share with his feathered friends. The glance will stop, first of all, on pearl barley with the thought: is it possible to feed pigeons with it?

Can I give barley to pigeons?

Perlovka is barley, peeled. All birds love grain. This is their main food. The large grain size of barley does not become an obstacle for a pigeon, since it is a fairly large bird.Stray birds or those that the owner allows to fly freely find barley grains on their own at elevators, transshipment points and even in the field. Teaching domestic pigeons to eat barley is no more difficult than any other food. Their digestive tract is prepared to process such food.

Pros and cons of the product

Like any food, barley cannot satisfy all the nutritional needs of a pigeon's body. It is just a part of the diet. After all, even ownerless pigeons eat both grass and berries, except for grain. Watch out for insects.

Fantasy and human capabilities more. To find the right place for barley in a balanced pigeon menu, the owner must know what nutrients it contains. They characterize the positive qualities of the product.

Carbohydrates62.12gFiber15.6 gVitamin B1 (thiamine)0.19mgProteins9.91gVitamin B6 (pyridoxine)0.26mg Vitamin B3 (PP, nicotinic acid) Potassium Magnesium Phosphorus Iron Copper Manganese Selenium Zinc

7.35mg
280 mg
79 mg
221mg
2.5 mg
0.42 mg
1.32 mg
37.7 mcg
2.13 mg

The barley elements listed in the table are higher in quantity than in most other plant foods. The energy value of cereals, due to the abundance of carbohydrates (83.23%), is high - 352 Kcal / 100 g.

Protein in pearl barley is not just a lot: it contains 11 amino acids in large quantities, not counting others in small proportions.

There is little barley in a grain:

• fat;
• vitamins K, B2, B4, B5, B9;
• calcium.

Vitamins A, B12, C are almost absent.

How to give it correctly?

You can put barley in the feeders in a dry form. But water must always be available. The pigeon's esophagus is designed in such a way that the grain lingers and swells in the goiter. The bird also pecks at gravel to grind food, especially whole grains.

If a feathered bird is reluctant to eat barley or undigested cereals are found in its droppings, this does not mean that the pigeon does not like such food. It is required to pour gravel or pieces of other hard-to-crush rocks into the aviary. If the pigeons went on a hunger strike not because of illness, their appetite will immediately return.

Raw barley surpasses boiled grain in terms of the content of useful ingredients. The energy value of cereals after cooking is reduced by 3 times. The amount of proteins and carbohydrates is reduced by 3.5 times. The presence of the remaining amino acids by volume is not worth attention. The exception is tryptophan, the amount of which decreases by more than 4 times. The presence of vitamin PP, manganese, copper and selenium is also noticeable.

In addition, cooked porridge in large quantities can clog the pigeon's esophagus. The viscous mass sticks together the stones inside the muscular stomach, and the digestive juice ceases to cope with the load.

In order for the barley not to be to blame for the poor he alth of the pigeons, it is necessary to add feed with the missing elements.

Vitamin AFish oil, carrots, pumpkin.Fats, vitamin В12Food of animal origin.Vitamin KGreens, nettle , cabbage.Vitamin B2Yeast, fish meal.Vitamin B4Eggs for pigeons.Vitamin B5 Vitamin B9

Name component	Product containing it
Calcium	Green grass, fish flour.
Vitamin C	Vegetables and fruits.
Beans, yeast.
Carrots, alfalfa, clover.

Recommended