Raw pigeon

[filzee]

I have been told my lab bitch needs to bulk up a bit.

 

I have a load of recently shot pigeons and just wondered can I just feed these raw or should I cook them off first?

 

Thanks

[Ooops]

I feed all four of mine raw chicken carcases and have done for a number of years with zero ill effects and I have very healthy dogs

I can't speak to feeding pigeon but my previous research has suggested that the general wisdom has always been to never feed cooked bone and in particular that of birds.

 

If I've understood correctly a dog's digestive process doesn't have the same effect on cooked bone as it does on raw bone, i.e cooked bone doesn't get broken down to the same extent.

As a result you have the possibility of shards of bone being passed along the full length of the gut which gives the potential for the gut wall to be pierced resulting in the possibility of very serious if not fatal consequences. Even if it doesn't do any damage to the intestine on its way through it has to be extremely problematic when it comes to defection. The phrase, "giving birth to a hedgehog", springs to mind.

 

In short I would think raw would be ok but I wouldn't risk cooked and it'd be best to recover the lead before feeding.

 

HTH

Edited September 17, 2017 by Ooops

[filzee]

Thanks for the reply very informative. Just to clarify though I was going to breast them out first and just feed the breast as I have enough for myself and her

[Wilksy II]

I bulk out my dogs food with pigeon breast and he loves it,I think it's a bit rich so only one or two breasts a day, I cut it into chunks with scissors.

[Ooops]

Thanks for the reply very informative. Just to clarify though I was going to breast them out first and just feed the breast as I have enough for myself and her

 

Sorry Now you know why they call me Ooops

[GingerCat]

Mine goes mental for pigeon as does the cat. If you breast then and mix with some kibble it will bulk up pretty quick.

[Worzel-gummidge]

Even in the hide my lab pup will get a pigeon to eat for good behaviour, she loves em, and there ain't a lot left of the pigeon when she's finished.

[scotslad]

Personally I would be cooking them 1st, purely to differentiate them from raw ones when shooting.

 

Yes I know dogs should be able to tell the difference between a retrieve and food, but over the years I've seen a great many dogs eat game during a day, only the other week a gun's dog got stuck into a crate of grouse while they were having lunch.

I also know of a couple off picking up dogs that would often eat the first couple of partridges it retrieves, not great but it does happen and I would imagine be difficult to stop once started

Personally I wouldn't want the risk of confusing the dog

 

U would also have to be more careful how u store dogs/birds on the way home from shooting if in the past they have both been in the back of car/pick up