The food doesn’t have to be cooked at all. Pigeons eat raw grains and seeds. People food doesn’t offer any nutritional value to pigeons, so avoid it if you can. Many people enjoy feeding them crumbled bread, for instance, which works but isn’t the best choice if you want to keep birds healthy.
You can use other types of feeders, like hopper or tube feeders, as long as they are accessible with sides for pigeons to perch on. Pigeons are also more than happy to eat from the ground as long as no one disturbs them. If you’re away from home, scatter some food to draw them in.
Select a spot that is fairly protected from the wind so the feeder doesn’t get blown over. Another option is to place the feeder on the ground. Put it on something waterproof, like concrete, if the ground is wet. Keep an eye on the feeder and bring it inside when you’re done with it so it doesn’t attract other animals.
If you’re going to a park, the pigeons there most likely have been around people for a while. You can sit on a bench and they will probably come up close to you when you spread a little food around.
For example, try feeding them from 8:00 to 10:00 AM and 5:30 to 7:00 PM. However, pigeons can be spotted all day long, especially if you live near a city. Although many pigeons have adapted to people, wild ones are still a little skittish. Be patient! You’re bound to draw one in with your feeder.
Uneaten seeds and hulls attract rodents and can lead to weeds in your yard, so eliminate them at least once a week. Pigeons don’t mind eating seeds off the ground, but they may stay away if they have to dig through hulls.
Pigeons are more likely to visit places with an accessible source of water. That includes creeks, streams, ponds, and water features. Plan on washing out birdbaths 2 to 3 times a week. Refill them with fresh water.
Regular birdhouses won’t work for pigeons. They are too big to fit inside. Shelves are open, making them the better choice. You won’t have to fill the shelf with any sort of nesting material unless you’re in an area that doesn’t have many bushes, trees, or grass. If nesting material is hard to find, leave out grass clippings, twigs, and pine needles for the birds to use.
Prune your trees and bushes to keep them accessible. Eliminate tangled branches, or else pigeons won’t be too interested in visiting those spots. Pigeons generally aren’t that picky about where they nest, so you don’t need a ton of greenery to draw them into your yard. Less is often more with them.
