Vitamins are involved in metabolic processes and strengthen the immune system of all living things. Properly prepared ration supplies pigeons with almost all the substances they need. But in the winter, during the recovery period after illness and in some other cases, they should be given more nutrients and beneficial elements. Consider what vitamins, and in what periods you need to give pigeons.
The benefits of vitamins in pigeon diet
The growing body of young birds needs more nutrients. Also, more vitamins are needed during the laying of eggs, incubation, feeding of chicks, during molting. The need for them increases during vaccination, after illness, poisoning and various stressful situations.
Important! It has been established that during moments of stress, the pigeons' organism needs a double dose of vitamins A, D, B2, B5, B12, PP, and the consumption of vitamins E and K increases fourfold.
Sports and high-fly breed pigeons experiencing significant physical exertion should also be given multivitamin complexes, especially before and after the competition.
Vitamin deficiency adversely affects the health and appearance of these beautiful birds. Most often it happens in the offseason and in chicks. Avitaminosis in pigeons can be determined by external signs.
Consider the effects and signs of a lack of the following vitamins necessary for pigeons:
- vitamin A. Its deficiency is characterized by slower development and poor weight gain. Feathers begin to fall out, the bird becomes weak, conjunctivitis and other eye diseases, anemia may appear;
- calciferol (D). The deficiency is reflected in the musculoskeletal system, the endocrine system, weakens the bird. In young, rickets develop, bones are bent, weak legs are observed. In adults, bone softening occurs. The main feature of this avitaminosis is the curvature of the keel bone;
- tocopherol (E). Its shortage adversely affects the work of the central nervous system, leads to its frustration and softening of the brain in chicks whose parents have been deficient in tocopherol, and has a negative effect on reproductive abilities. The main symptoms are lethargy and drowsiness, poor coordination of movements, ruffled feather cover, developmental delay, paralysis of the limbs. All this leads to death;
Learn how to make a diet pigeon, pigeons, winter diet.
- vitamin k. Its deficiency greatly worsens the coagulability of the blood (with minor injuries severe bleeding occurs). With a significant shortage of observed loss of appetite, dryness, jaundice or cyanosis of the skin, the presence of blood in the litter;
- thiamine (B1). An insufficient amount affects the nervous system and is expressed in developmental delay, paralysis, low temperature. There is also a ruffled feather cover, feather fragility, impaired motor functions, and convulsions. A characteristic symptom is movement with a slip of the legs;
- riboflavin (B2). In young animals, when it is deficient, growth is delayed, there are hemorrhages in the cornea of the eyes, atrophy of the leg muscles and curling of the fingers, and feathers do not grow well. Adults lose their appetite, hatchability decreases;
- pantothenic acid (B3). Strongly reflected on the feather cover, especially during the molting period;
- niacin (B5). When deficiency begins inflammation of the joints, rhinitis, there are crusts on the skin of the eyelids and corners of the mouth, poorly growing feathers, gastrointestinal disorders. Limb tremor may appear;
- pyridoxine (B6). Deficiency causes weight loss, inflammation around the eyes, beak, and legs. Severe form leads to convulsions and death;
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- folic acid (B9). With its lack of weakness occurs, there is a poor growth of feathers. In some cases, the appearance of malignant anemia, paralysis of the cervical spine;
- vitamin b12. With its deficiency there are signs of anemia, muscle atrophy, developmental delay;
- ascorbic acid (C). Its shortage adversely affects the immune system of birds, growth in young animals is delayed, weakness and anemia develops, poor appetite, vessels become fragile and hemorrhages occur under the skin.
What vitamins to give pigeons: a list of drugs
The need for vitamins in different seasonal periods varies.
What to give in spring and summer
Spring and summer for pigeons - the time of the mating season, breeding chicks and molting. During the breeding season, vitamins A, E, D are most needed. Calciferol (D) is very important during the growth period of chicks.
Important! Do not get involved in vitamin preparations and give them constantly or exceed the recommended dose. Hypervitaminosis adversely affects the metabolism in birds. Especially dangerous is a strong overdose of vitamin A, which causes a violation of motor functions, poisoning, contributes to the degeneration of the liver in chicks.
In the spring for the prevention of avitaminosis in pigeons, the following drugs can be purchased in specialized stores or vetafteks:
- Aquital Hinoin (vitamin A). It creates a favorable balance for the liver. It is very useful to give in the spring during the nesting of pigeons. Strengthens immune processes, improves metabolism in the body, an excellent prophylactic agent for many diseases. Apply, adding to water in proportions 1 to 20. It is recommended to take 7 days. The bottle (100 ml) is stored in a dry place, protected from direct sunlight, at a temperature of up to 25 ° C;
- "Felutsen". This special veterinary preparation contains vitamins A, D3, E, K3, B2, B3, B5, B12. The composition also includes minerals - iron, manganese, copper, zinc, iodine, cobalt, selenium. It looks like a powdery substance of light brown color, placed in plastic buckets with a capacity of 1 or 2 kg. Such a remedy replenishes the body with essential substances, regulates metabolism, eliminates stress, helps to improve the fertility of eggs and increase vitality, helps during the molting period. When receiving 10 grams of this mineral supplement is mixed with 1 kg of grain feed. The shelf life of the drug is six months. It should be stored in a dry place, protected from the sun, at a temperature of + 5 ... +25 ° C;
- "Aminovital". This complex contains vitamins A, D3, E, B1, B6, K, C, B5, as well as minerals - calcium and magnesium chlorides, and also contains essential amino acids. This remedy for birds is diluted in proportions of 2 ml per 10 liters of water and given as a drink. Used with beriberi, for the safety of chicks, increasing the body's resistance to viruses. The course of admission is 5-7 days. Means are packaged in glass bottles of 100 ml, polyethylene containers of 500, 1000 and 5000 ml. Store them in a dry place protected from sunlight at a temperature of 0 ... +25 ° C. Shelf life - 2 years, and when opening the container should be stored no more than 4 weeks.
Did you know? Pigeon mail was actively used during the Second World War, despite the presence of telegraph and radio. For example, when in 1942 an English submarine was hit by the Nazis, they were saved by a pair of pigeons, which was released in a capsule through a torpedo tube. The dove died, and the dove brought a request for help and the crew was saved.
Vitamins for pigeons do it yourself: video
Vitamins for pigeons in the fall and winter
In the autumn-winter period, pigeons are recommended multivitamin complexes that strengthen the immune system. At this time, grass should be added to the food in dried form (nettle, alfalfa, clover, etc.), as well as grated carrots, pumpkin, chopped cabbage. It is especially useful to give germinated grains of oats, millet, peas.
Learn how to use vitamin preparations "Trivitamin", "Trivit", "E-selenium", "Tetravit", "Keproceril", "Gamavit" for birds.
To compensate for the lack of minerals, you can add eggshells, shells, and table salt to flour that has been ground into flour. In the pharmacy, you can purchase vitamins "Undevit", ascorbic acid and, in powdered form, add them to feed or drinking water.
Against avitaminosis, as well as to strengthen the immune system, these drugs are recommended:
- "Chiktonik". It contains a large list of useful substances - retinol (A), tocopherol (E), calciferol (D), vitamins K, B1, B2, B6, B12, sodium pantothenate, lysine, methionine and others. It helps fill the shortage of necessary substances, improve immunity, and normalizes metabolic processes. Dose of use for pigeons: 1-2 ml per 1 liter of liquid, used as a drink. Reception course - 5-7 days. The product looks like a turbid liquid of dark brown color, packaged in 10 ml glass bottles, plastic containers of 1.5 and 25 liters. Shelf life - 2 years. Store in a dry, protected from the sun's rays of the sun at a temperature of + 5 ... +20 ° C;
- "Introvit A + Oral". Includes vitamins A, B1, 2, 4, 6, 12, D3, E, C, K3, H and useful amino acids. This tool is bottled 100 and 500 ml. Dosage for poultry: 1 ml per 20 kg of mass (or 1 l of the drug per 2000 l of water) for prophylaxis and 1 ml per 10 kg of mass with unbalanced diet with a lack of nutrients. Give for 3-5 days. The drug is used for the prevention and treatment of avitaminosis, stress, to strengthen the immune system, to recover from physical exertion. It should be stored in a dry place protected from sunlight at a temperature of + 15 ... +25 ° С.
Natural vitamins for pigeons at home
To save money and not regularly buy complexes of chemical origin in vet pharmacies, it is possible to include vitamin foods of natural origin in the diet. Consider the most affordable and popular products containing substances useful for pigeons:
- fish fat. Contains vitamins A and D. Normalizes metabolic processes, stimulates the growth of poultry, participates in the formation of the skeleton and the shell of eggs;
- feed yeast. This is a storehouse of vitamins D and group B, which are necessary for the normalization of growth, as well as the development of chicks, contributes to weight gain, increased immunity and egg production;
- germinated grains of oats, wheat, barley. They are sources of vitamin E, A, B, C, as well as minerals. This product has a good effect on gastrointestinal activity, fights against obesity, normalizes metabolic and hormonal processes, strengthens the immune system, strengthens bone tissue;
- fresh vegetable oils. Contain tocopherol, contributing to the normalization of the processes of reproduction;
- eggs. The source of vitamins A, K, which are important during the laying period;
- green peas, spinach, young greens. They are sources of vitamins A, K, C;
- carrot. Contains vitamins A, K, B. It is previously rubbed on a grater and added to feed;
- potatoes. Source of B vitamins;
- nettle. Excellent source of ascorbic acid. Well strengthens blood vessels, improves immunity, promotes wound healing, which is very important during the period of molting pigeons;
- grass meal. It contains carotene, tocopherol, riboflavin (B2), thiamine (B1), folic acid (B9). The highest quality product is milled alfalfa and clover.
Did you know? Even ordinary pigeons can fly at a speed of 70 km per hour. Sports breeds sometimes reach a speed of 86 km per hour and can overcome 900 km per day. In height, these birds rise to 1000-3000 meters.
Lack of vitamins adversely affects the health of pigeons, does not allow the chicks to fully develop. In some conditions, their body needs more than usual amount of nutrients. During these periods, birds should be given the appropriate multivitamin complexes. But they should not be used all the time - overdose is also harmful, especially since many useful substances pigeons can receive from the available feed.
How to prepare a vitamin-mineral mixture for pigeons: video
Reviews
I am a supporter of folk methods, garlic, onions, propolis, pumpkin seed, honey, all sorts of vitamins all year round in the form of vegetables, various greens.
You can give the bird one drop in its beak once, but this is not a method of using liquid vitamins. They should be added to water at 5 drops per 30 ml of water and poured into a drinker. You can drink from a syringe up to 10 ml.
If you need to personally - for sure, you can buy Eleovit (Vet.) And prick with 0.5 ml in the pectoral muscle 1 p in 5 days, while compulsory fortification is needed. And drinking to leave until calm times.
