Winter presents unique challenges for racing pigeon fanciers. As temperatures drop and daylight hours shorten, proper winter nutrition becomes essential to maintaining your birds’ health, condition, and readiness for the coming racing season.
In this detailed article, we’ll explore exactly what to feed racing pigeons in winter and how to implement a winter feeding strategy that supports immunity, metabolism, and feather condition.
Why Winter Nutrition Matters for Racing Pigeons
In cold weather, racing pigeons require up to 30% more energy to maintain body heat. Without adequate nutrition, they risk weight loss, weakened immunity, and poor performance.
The right diet helps them stay warm, energetic, and healthy throughout winter.
Key Winter Feeding Objectives Are:
- Maintain optimal body condition.
- Support immune function and gut health.
- Enhance feather quality post-moult.
- Prepare birds for the spring breeding or racing season.
Best Feeds for Racing Pigeons in Winter
During the winter, you should feed racing pigeons a high-energy, easily digested diet rich in carbs and lipids, with a moderate quantity of protein.
Grains like maize (corn), barley, wheat and peas, together with oil-rich seeds like sunflower seeds, linseed and hempseed, make up the ideal winter feed.
This mixture promotes warmth, energy, and immunity during the winter season while preserving peak health and feather quality.
1. High-Quality Grains and Legumes
During the winter off-season, energy and fat reserves are crucial.
You can feed your pigeons a diet higher in carbohydrates and fats compared to the racing season.
You can follow our recommended grain mix (by weight):
- 50% barley – Easily digestible, good energy source
- 20% maize (corn) – High in calories, supports body heat
- 10% wheat – Adds bulk and moderate energy
- 10% peas – Protein to support muscle and feather maintenance
- 5% safflower – High in fat and omega oils
- 5% linseed (flaxseed) – Promotes feather health
2. Grit and Mineral Mixes
Even in winter, your racing pigeons must have constant access to fresh grit.
Grit aids digestion and provides essential trace minerals.
These Include:
- Oyster shell
- Red stone
- Charcoal
- Mineral block with calcium and trace elements
3. Oil Seeds for Healthy Fats
Winter is the ideal time to incorporate small quantities of oil seeds in your pigeons’ diet.
It will enhance calorie intake and improve feather condition.
Our recommended options include:
- Hempseed (rich in omega-3s)
- Sunflower hearts
- Rapeseed
Mix these sparingly into the grain mix (no more than 5-10%) to prevent excessive weight gain.
4. Supplements for Immunity and Gut Health
Cold weather can compromise immunity. So we highly recommend adding natural supplements to your pigeon’s feed.
Some common winter supplements are:
- Garlic oil or powder – Natural antibiotic, boosts circulation
- Apple cider vinegar – Balances gut pH, antimicrobial
- Probiotics – Supports healthy gut flora
- Multivitamins – Replenish deficiencies from grain-only diets
- Cod liver oil – Source of vitamin D, especially useful during low-sunlight months
5. Fresh Clean Water
It may seem basic to you, but hydration is just as important in winter for your pigeons.
Check that the water doesn’t freeze and refresh it daily.
During freezing conditions, you can use drinkers with heating elements or place water in insulated containers.
Feeding Schedule: How Often and How Much?
In winter, racing pigeons do not require as many calories as during training or competition.
However, their feed must be energy-dense.
Feeding Guidelines:
- Feed Twice Daily: Once in the morning and once in the evening.
- Morning Feed: Light depurative mix (barley, milo, low-protein grains).
- Evening Feed: Richer mix with higher carbohydrates and fats to build reserves.
- Quantity: Approximately 30–40 grams of feed per bird per day.
The pigeons’ bodily condition should be monitored on a regular basis. They should feel muscular and light in your palm, not heavy or bloated.
Adjust the feed portions as needed. To prevent obesity, offer fresh, clean water at all times and avoid overfeeding.
Avoid These Common Winter Feeding Mistakes
You need to avoid these common feeding mistakes if you want your racing pigeons to stay healthy and race-ready.
Some of the common mistakes we have seen pigeon fanciers usually make are –
- Overfeeding protein – Can stress the kidneys and create metabolic imbalance.
- Neglecting supplements – Leads to deficiencies and sluggish birds.
- Using mouldy or old grain – Increases the risk of fungal infections, like aspergillosis.
- Feeding only corn – Causes vitamin deficiencies and uneven conditioning.
Key Takeaways
Feeding your racing pigeons in winter means making smart changes to their diet to match their seasonal needs.
The right winter diet will help your birds stay warm, boost immunity, and set the foundation for peak performance when racing season arrives.
By following the tips in this guide, you can keep your pigeons healthy, strong, and ready to race.
