FEEDS AND FEEDING 



85 



The needs of pigeons may be grouped into two classes: (1) 

 tissue building materials, for building or repairing tissue con- 

 sumed during the life process, and (2) energy forming materials, 

 which may be used for heat and energy, or stored up as fat. 

 Protein is the only constituent of food that can be used to repair 

 animal tissue, to build lean meat. It is required in compara- 

 tively small amounts for full grown pigeons, except when they 

 are feeding a pair of big husky squabs, for squabs are rapidly 

 growing tissue, and require large quantities of protein. 



Hence, while mature pigeons, not mated or working, that is, 

 raising and feeding their squabs, require only small quantities 

 of protein, yet when raising squabs, the old pair must be fed 

 sufficient quantities of food to sustain animal heat and energy 

 and repair waste tissue in their own bodies and, in addition 

 thereto, to furnish the necessary material to raise a pair of 

 squabs that will in four weeks' time nearly equal the weight 

 of their parents. To enable them to do this, the mated pair? 

 should be fed a ration containing a large proportion of protein, 

 and consequently a narrow nutritive ratio. Hence, practically 

 all grains are more or less deficient in protein. There is an 

 absolute necessity for feeding pigeons a liberal ration of such 

 protein feeds as Canada field peas, scrap peanuts, or soy beans. 



Protein is utilized in building the lean meat and assists in 

 making the frame of the squab, while the fats and carbohydrates 

 furnish the fat which keeps its body warm, and furnishes the 

 energy to rim its animal mechanism. 



TAsr-i: OP POOD analysis 



From the U. S. Department of Agriculture. 



