Do Pigeons Eat Dog Food?
If you’re a new dog owner whose dog likes to play and eat outside, you may have noticed that someone has been eating your dog’s leftovers.
And all you can see nearby are pigeons. This might make you wonder whether do pigeons eat dog food or not.
And the answer is Yes. Pigeons love eating dog food, just like most other birds. It’s because oftentimes dog food contains pigeon food such as wheat, sorghum, etc as well.
It can be really annoying if random pigeons keep taking your dog’s meal and you would want to prevent it.
But if you’re both a pigeon and a dog owner and wondering if you can feed some dog food to your pigeons as well, then you would need to know how to safely feed them dog food.
Interested in similar topics on pigeon food:
Can I Feed Dog Food to Pigeons?
Pigeons are known for being able to eat almost everything. From insects to seeds, their stomach can digest most types of foods.
And they show their liking for dog food as well by eating them happily. If the food your dog eats is not bringing any health issues for them, then we can assure you that it’s also fine for your pigeons to eat it.
Because dog food is rich in nutrients, pigeons and other birds often like to indulge themselves in it too. You may have noticed that there are grains in dog food. And pigeons love to eat them as these grains are part of their natural diet.
So, yes, technically, you can feed your pigeons dog food as they don’t contain anything inherently harmful for the birds. And the birds also never really deny dog food when it’s available for them.
But it’s not the ideal food for them to eat on a daily basis as their primary food.
See our in-depth “Pigeon Foods and Diet” article to learn what these urban birds eat. We cover their dietary habits and nutrition.
Is Dog Food Nutritionally Suitable for Pigeons?
Dog food is designed to provide all the nutrients that your dog needs. For its ingredients, it has vegetables, meat and fish. The fish and meat provide protein and the vegetables contain fiber and vitamins.
Your pigeons also need the same nutritional elements for their good health. But usually, they take it from natural sources of food like seeds, grains, fruits, veggies, etc.
Since dog food has all the basic nutrients your pigeons need, it is nutritionally suitable for them as well. If anything, dog food is much richer in nutrients as it’s formulated for dogs mainly.
And that will help the pigeons fulfill their nutrition goal if they are lacking any.
You must keep in mind that pigeons require a very small amount of food compared to dogs. Because they have a big size difference.
And dog food is too high in carbohydrates and protein for pigeons. That’s why it will be harmful if you give them dog food in large portions on a regular basis.
Are There Any Health Benefits to Pigeons Eating Dog Food?
You can see that there are many ingredients in dog food. Two of the common ingredients are vegetables and cereal. Dog cereal is made of grains like wheat, barley, rice, sorghum etc.
And as you know, pigeons are especially fond of these foods. Because veggies and grains are the natural foods that they prefer to eat. And these foods are essential and healthy for them.
Since dog food contains natural food for pigeons, there can be health benefits to pigeons eating dog food. Pigeons’ stomachs can also easily digest these ready meals.
It shouldn’t cause any problem if you feed your pigeons dog food as a supplement or a quick small treat for occasional fun.
Remember:
Like most other foods in this world, not all dog food has the same nutritional value. Some of them contain unhealthy ingredients, which are unsafe for both pigeons and dogs.
So, you should check before buying how healthy the ingredients of your dog food are.
Is It Common for Pigeons to Eat Dog Food?
Yes, it’s quite common and normal for pigeons to sneakily eat dog food. And it’s not just the pigeons who have this same cheeky habit. In fact, you will notice that many birds like to have feast on dog food when they can get a hold of it.
When you keep your dog food outdoors, many pigeons living nearby can fly down to your yard to have a quick bite. And if you have both pigeons and dogs in the same house, the pigeons will most probably want to take some food off your dog’s bowl for themselves.
Pigeons find it easy and convenient to munch on ready-made dog meals. They might like dry dog food, wet dog food, or both. From baby pigeons to adult ones, all of them find their favorite food inside different kinds of dog food.
Which Type of Food Can You Feed Pigeons?
There are mainly two types of dog food that pigeons like to eat – dry food and wet food.
1. Dry Dog Food
Dry dog food is high in nutrients and comes in bite-size pieces for your dogs. They also have multiple flavors and different types of mixtures with different ingredients.
Though they are the right size for your dogs to bite on, they are too big for pigeons. If a pigeon accidentally takes a big chunk of dry dog food, it can choke on it.
And if you plan to feed your pigeons dry dog food, you need to break them into tiny little pieces or soak them in water to make them softer. It should be small enough for your pigeons to swallow easily.
2. Wet Dog Food
Similar to dry dog food, wet dog food is also very rich in nutrients. But mostly, it’s very high in protein. And that makes it a good choice for your pigeons to eat.
But in the end, you must remember that no type of dog food is ideal or enough for pigeons. You can feed them dog food as a snack or a treat. But don’t make it their primary diet.
How to Keep Pigeons Away from Dog Food?
No matter how much you love these peppy pigeons, it’s always annoying when they try to steal your dear dog’s meal. You can take a few necessary steps to keep random pigeons away from your dog food.
Keep Some Pigeon Food Outside
The reason pigeons are trying to eat your dog’s food is because they are hungry. If you have the opportunity to have some seeds or grains in a bowl outside your porch, the pigeons will eat them instead.
Don’t forget to keep some water as well! They will really appreciate it.
Keep Dog Food Inside
Make sure your dog eats inside the house and doesn’t leave their leftovers outside or in the yard. If the birds can’t see it, they won’t eat it.
Feed Your Pigeons
If you own both pigeons and dogs, you must provide your pigeons with adequate food. And if they don’t eat enough pigeon food, they will go to have some from their housemate’s bowl.
When pigeons are already well-fed, they won’t try to eye your dog’s food.
Can Pigeons Eat Dog Kibbles?
Kibbles are cookies for dogs. They have all the ingredients and nutrients a dog needs. So, they are nutritious for pigeons as well. But they are quite hard and big in size for pigeons to eat easily.
If you break them into tiny pieces, your pigeons can absolutely eat them.
Final Words
To summarize, pigeons do eat dog food with great fondness. They can find many nutrients in all types of dog food. And at any given chance, they like to have a little taste of it.
But if you’re planning to feed your pet pigeons dog food, you should keep in mind that they need their own food first and can have dog food only as a special treat. And you also need to make sure the size and hardness of dog food fit the pigeon standard.
Hopefully, you got some new information on pigeons eating dog food. Please share this article with all your animal lover friends who also have the same queries. Join us on Facebook, Twitter and Pinterest!
