We all know how good bananas are for humans but are they equally good for pigeons?
Pigeons can and do eat bananas as they are suited to a pigeon’s beak and also provide good nutrition.
The Pigeon Diet
When you look at what a pigeon eats, there are two factors to consider and that is wild pigeons and domestic pigeons.
Although all types of pigeons are evolutionary pre-destined for a granivorous diet, wild pigeons are opportunistic feeders. Urban pigeons, in particular, have gained a reputation for eating practically any food that has been discarded by humans.
The diet of domesticated pigeons is controlled to the most extent by the birds’ owner.
They might forage for wild food when let out to fly but in the main, kept birds will eat food provided for them.
This is usually proprietary food made up of seeds, grains and nuts which the owner may supplement with mealworms, vegetables and fruit.
Do Pigeons Eat Bananas?
Pigeons absolutely can and do eat bananas!
Pigeons are very suited to eating fruit like a banana because the flesh of the fruit is nice and soft.
The pigeon’s beak is not designed for large or overly hard items but can easily handle banana flesh.
In terms of health benefits, bananas contain a high level of plenty of great nutrients and vitamins a pigeon needs, including but not limited to:
- Potassium
- Vitamin A
- Vitamin B6
- Iron
- Magnesium
Pigeons need all of the above for a variety of health benefits, which makes a banana a great snack to sample in order to keep their bodies functioning healthily and normally.
Potassium is an electrolyte that needs to be replenished after exertion or the bird could become dehydrated.
Vitamin A helps maintain eyesight and eye health as well as being beneficial for bones and mucus membrane maintenance.
Vitamin B6 is essential in the metabolism of amino acids, therefore the overall health of a bird.
Iron is essential for the production and maintenance of haemoglobin which enables blood to carry oxygen around the body.
Magnesium promotes optimum digestion and the absorption of vitamins and minerals into the bird’s body.
Of course, bananas do not grow naturally across all areas of the globe, so that means that depending on where the pigeon lives, it will either be able to access the fruit out in the wild or have to rely on an owner to provide it for them in a domestic setting.
As part of a balanced diet, banana is a good addition for a domestic or fancy pigeon and if you are going to provide it
- Feed your pigeon raw bananas without the peel
OR
- Feed your pigeon organic bananas with the peel
This is to ensure your bird will not be contaminated by pesticides that are present on regular bananas but are absent from organic fruit.
Peel is also nutritious because it contains potassium, fibre, essential amino acids and polyunsaturated fats.
Do not feed your birds cooked banana as cooking remove almost all the nutrients.
Do not feed banana chips to your pigeons. Even though they contain fibre and other nutrients, they are a refined food, and many varieties contain sugars that are not good for birds.
You might find organic, unrefined banana chips without any additives at all but quite frankly, there are cheaper and more appropriate ways to give fruit to your bird(s).
Do Pigeons Eat Other Fruits?
Yes, of course. When presented with access in the wild or given as part of a prepared diet by an owner, pigeons like to enjoy a wide variety of fruits in their regular eating schedule.
Some of the most popular fruits that pigeons will eat when given the opportunity include:
- Berries
- Pears
- Apples (make sure to deseed them as the seeds can be poisonous to small birds).
- Cherries
- Currants
- Raisins
- Grapes
Conclusion
So, in general, yes, pigeons do indeed like to eat bananas, but it is also important to make sure that your pigeons also get an overall balanced diet to go along with the fruity treat.
