Are urban pigeons safe to eat?

[mojave30cal]

I was wondering, in a SHTF situation where you have to hunker
down in a city setting, and there are lots of pigeons around,
are they safe to consume if it came to that?

 

[Philadelphia Patriot]

I thought I heard they carry a lot of diseases. I don't know if that's an urban legend or if it is true. I would definitely avoid rats.

 

[Maddog 521]

We usually called them "gutter eagles".
I don't think I'd ever be that hungry to eat them.

 

[mjr]

Just make sure you cook 'em thoroughly.

 

[vt_shooter]

Most important, when the SHTF , make sure you have an appropriate wine to pair with that Las Vegas squab, I'd lean towards a nice cabernet, rather than a white.

 

[BigBill]

Squab?

Squirrels, tree rats fair game after all there raiding my bird feeders.
Doves you bet.

During the depression my uncle shot the sparrows lined up on the chicken coop roof with a 22. My aunt made catchatore. Sparrows in sauce. Tastes like chicken.

I been thinking about raising chickens and rabbits.

 

[Jinglebob]

I don’t see why not. The city brids are waste recyclers but so are pigs and bottom feeders like shrimp, lobster and catfish. In China many people raise roof top pigeons for meat.

 

[joeintexas]

They seem pretty nasty to me. I'd rather eat roof shingles.

 

[ClayCow]

People eat rats. Youre fine to eat pigeon and rats. Trust me, when youre hungry, youll eat them

 

[Big Stick]

If SHTF, and you are thinking about shooting some sky carp for a meal, I'm pretty sure the last thing on your mind will be "is this safe to eat".....

 

[UncleEd]

Most important, when the SHTF , make sure you have an appropriate wine to pair with that Las Vegas squab, I'd lean towards a nice cabernet, rather than a white.

This!

Even if SHTF, a person should continue to show good taste and try for the best cuisine for himself, family and friends.

Hot Chicago squab wings, anyone?

 

[GatorFarmer]

Given the relative nature of "safe", yes, under those circumstances go ahead. Plenty of other people will do the same though, so expect the supply to get depleted. I would suggest trying to avoid any that are obviously sick, covered in sores, etc and wearing gloves, if possible, while butchering them.

 

[GrayGhost99]

There usually is an abundance of cats.
Maybe I had too much scotch to be responding tonight.

 

[arjay]

I'd be a bit wary of parasites [emoji33]

 

[UncleEd]

I'd be a bit wary of parasites [emoji33]

Now let's not get into religion and the hereafter.

 

[STCM(SW)]

Just remember the movie King Rat.
Sometimes you'll eat anything.

 

[Rustyt1953]

I don't own a fan.

I feel left out.

 

[carpriver]

While serving my country in a far off Asian country I was able to partake of many new and strange foods. Besides water buffalo, and dog, genii hen, and jungle rat, we had Spam. None of it tasted like chicken.

 

[KA5IVR]

They aren't much different from Doves. I would assume about the only thing worth eating would be the breast.

 

[Skeet 028]

Actually they are good to eat. I shot many 1000s of them. They do carry diseases such as Histoplasmosis. But usually it comes from being around pigeon droppings....where they roost together. In a SHTF it won't really matter but the younger birds do eat much better than the older birds. Younger birds are not as tough...LOL. My aunt really liked squab... As stated by another poster..my grandmother baited sparrows and shot them with a Remington 22 pump with smooth bore during the depression. My mother said they tasted as good as doves and ducks.