Mine love maize and get fed it from birth, they also eat peas but tend to leave wheat
Daily Feed
I wouldn’t be without feeding maize. My mixes always have maize in, some have two or three different types, red/yellow/plate, and it’s always the grain that they eat first.
Back just enjoying club racing for the time being.
This may help some.
Are Your Pigeons Too Heavy For The Race?
There is a saying..."if you become a master at feeding pigeons, you will become a master at racing pigeons." This is very simplified, but the body weight going into a race is extremely important. I would say that over 75% of pigeons shipped to races, are too heavy. Many fanciers have their pigeons better prepared for a show, than a race and most are under the impression that the pigeons should be round and full. This could not be further from the truth.
A pigeon should be light and buoyant with the muscles nearly lying flat, even for long distance races. In most cases, how a pigeon handles when it finishes the race, should be how it handled when it started the race.
Just a tiny bit of fat will keep a pigeon flying for many hours. By combining this tiny bit of fat with super health and condition, you will see excellent results. A fat pigeon can certainly win a race against other fat pigeons. However, lean pigeons have a better advantage, as most prefer to send their pigeons big and full for the long distance. These big, full pigeons will be beat by the properly prepared pigeons every time. When I refer to being lean, I do not mean skinny.
With regards to feeding, pigeons trained very heavy will need more rich feed to sustain the perfect body weight. Pigeons trained efficiently and fed correctly, can achieve the same fitness, with much less road work. Pigeons also do not need more than two feedings of rich feedings, for a short race 300 miles and under. Nor do they need more than four to five feedings of rich seeds for a long-distance race. If you are shipping a 500-mile race on Thursday, for a Saturday liberation, feed high fat seeds. Try one feeding Tuesday evening, two feedings Wednesday, and a feeding on Thursday.
Good, quality barley makes up most of the feed the rest of the week. I am referring to barley that is plump and in the husk. If you learn how to use barley, you will save loads of gas money and training. For most of the week, the pigeons feed on 80% barley and approximately 20% racing mix. On a day of return if you are racing under 300 miles, feed them all the rich seeds and racing mix (16% protein) they want . In addition, a half ration of feed on shipping day for 300 miles or less , comprised of 50% barley and 50% rich fatty seeds. The most important day to feed for a race is two days before liberation, NOT the day before.
Once the pigeons return from a race 300 miles or less, they are fed all the rich, oily seeds (safflour, etc.) and racing mix (16% protein), as much as they want until dark, then back to 80% barley the following day. The most important meal after a big workout, is the first meal, so let them eat. For long distance races, the pigeons can eat all the rich seeds and racing mix they want for two days before shipping. Upon return, they get to eat rich feed and racing mix. On the following day, it is back to 80% barley. If you use this protocol when feeding your pigeons, they should never round out and get heavy after a big workout.
If for some reason your pigeons do blow up and, feel like lead balloons a few days after a race, your feeding system has really missed the mark. McLaughlin Lofts pigeons never blow out and never get heavy after a race. It is all about the feeding, as we do not like to train much. Sure, there are many roads to Roma with feeding. However, by simply feeding with quality barley, you can maintain weightless, well-conditioned pigeons, without endless road work.
Loft flying or moderate road work will keep a correctly fed pigeon in great shape. Speaking of loft flying, you will not believe how well the pigeons exercise on the 80% barley mix. If you take away anything from this remember that you probably ship your pigeons much too heavy for the races. Pigeons for long distance races should not be full and round. Long distance pigeons are not flying south for the winter, as they are flying for 12 to 14 hours.
Pigeons racing for under six hours should be light as a feather, but not skinny. They should be buoyant, with muscles lying flat, not full. A lean, buoyant pigeon has a big advantage even for headwind races. Adopt this feeding method for old birds, and you will see the most amazing body and condition!
Until Next Time, Frank McLaughlin
Copyright © 2021, McLaughlin Lofts. All Rights Reserved.
Powered by GoDaddy
Are Your Pigeons Too Heavy For The Race?
There is a saying..."if you become a master at feeding pigeons, you will become a master at racing pigeons." This is very simplified, but the body weight going into a race is extremely important. I would say that over 75% of pigeons shipped to races, are too heavy. Many fanciers have their pigeons better prepared for a show, than a race and most are under the impression that the pigeons should be round and full. This could not be further from the truth.
A pigeon should be light and buoyant with the muscles nearly lying flat, even for long distance races. In most cases, how a pigeon handles when it finishes the race, should be how it handled when it started the race.
Just a tiny bit of fat will keep a pigeon flying for many hours. By combining this tiny bit of fat with super health and condition, you will see excellent results. A fat pigeon can certainly win a race against other fat pigeons. However, lean pigeons have a better advantage, as most prefer to send their pigeons big and full for the long distance. These big, full pigeons will be beat by the properly prepared pigeons every time. When I refer to being lean, I do not mean skinny.
With regards to feeding, pigeons trained very heavy will need more rich feed to sustain the perfect body weight. Pigeons trained efficiently and fed correctly, can achieve the same fitness, with much less road work. Pigeons also do not need more than two feedings of rich feedings, for a short race 300 miles and under. Nor do they need more than four to five feedings of rich seeds for a long-distance race. If you are shipping a 500-mile race on Thursday, for a Saturday liberation, feed high fat seeds. Try one feeding Tuesday evening, two feedings Wednesday, and a feeding on Thursday.
Good, quality barley makes up most of the feed the rest of the week. I am referring to barley that is plump and in the husk. If you learn how to use barley, you will save loads of gas money and training. For most of the week, the pigeons feed on 80% barley and approximately 20% racing mix. On a day of return if you are racing under 300 miles, feed them all the rich seeds and racing mix (16% protein) they want . In addition, a half ration of feed on shipping day for 300 miles or less , comprised of 50% barley and 50% rich fatty seeds. The most important day to feed for a race is two days before liberation, NOT the day before.
Once the pigeons return from a race 300 miles or less, they are fed all the rich, oily seeds (safflour, etc.) and racing mix (16% protein), as much as they want until dark, then back to 80% barley the following day. The most important meal after a big workout, is the first meal, so let them eat. For long distance races, the pigeons can eat all the rich seeds and racing mix they want for two days before shipping. Upon return, they get to eat rich feed and racing mix. On the following day, it is back to 80% barley. If you use this protocol when feeding your pigeons, they should never round out and get heavy after a big workout.
If for some reason your pigeons do blow up and, feel like lead balloons a few days after a race, your feeding system has really missed the mark. McLaughlin Lofts pigeons never blow out and never get heavy after a race. It is all about the feeding, as we do not like to train much. Sure, there are many roads to Roma with feeding. However, by simply feeding with quality barley, you can maintain weightless, well-conditioned pigeons, without endless road work.
Loft flying or moderate road work will keep a correctly fed pigeon in great shape. Speaking of loft flying, you will not believe how well the pigeons exercise on the 80% barley mix. If you take away anything from this remember that you probably ship your pigeons much too heavy for the races. Pigeons for long distance races should not be full and round. Long distance pigeons are not flying south for the winter, as they are flying for 12 to 14 hours.
Pigeons racing for under six hours should be light as a feather, but not skinny. They should be buoyant, with muscles lying flat, not full. A lean, buoyant pigeon has a big advantage even for headwind races. Adopt this feeding method for old birds, and you will see the most amazing body and condition!
Until Next Time, Frank McLaughlin
Copyright © 2021, McLaughlin Lofts. All Rights Reserved.
Powered by GoDaddy
A little video about feeding.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ViodpXcB4ko
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ViodpXcB4ko
A very good and interesting read mate, goes well with Muzza's topic on feeding barley as well, it also sounds like the guy Buster gets barley for possibly feeds the same way !Devo1956 wrote: ↑Thu Feb 08, 2024 3:03 pm This may help some.
Are Your Pigeons Too Heavy For The Race?
There is a saying..."if you become a master at feeding pigeons, you will become a master at racing pigeons." This is very simplified, but the body weight going into a race is extremely important. I would say that over 75% of pigeons shipped to races, are too heavy. Many fanciers have their pigeons better prepared for a show, than a race and most are under the impression that the pigeons should be round and full. This could not be further from the truth.
A pigeon should be light and buoyant with the muscles nearly lying flat, even for long distance races. In most cases, how a pigeon handles when it finishes the race, should be how it handled when it started the race.
Just a tiny bit of fat will keep a pigeon flying for many hours. By combining this tiny bit of fat with super health and condition, you will see excellent results. A fat pigeon can certainly win a race against other fat pigeons. However, lean pigeons have a better advantage, as most prefer to send their pigeons big and full for the long distance. These big, full pigeons will be beat by the properly prepared pigeons every time. When I refer to being lean, I do not mean skinny.
With regards to feeding, pigeons trained very heavy will need more rich feed to sustain the perfect body weight. Pigeons trained efficiently and fed correctly, can achieve the same fitness, with much less road work. Pigeons also do not need more than two feedings of rich feedings, for a short race 300 miles and under. Nor do they need more than four to five feedings of rich seeds for a long-distance race. If you are shipping a 500-mile race on Thursday, for a Saturday liberation, feed high fat seeds. Try one feeding Tuesday evening, two feedings Wednesday, and a feeding on Thursday.
Good, quality barley makes up most of the feed the rest of the week. I am referring to barley that is plump and in the husk. If you learn how to use barley, you will save loads of gas money and training. For most of the week, the pigeons feed on 80% barley and approximately 20% racing mix. On a day of return if you are racing under 300 miles, feed them all the rich seeds and racing mix (16% protein) they want . In addition, a half ration of feed on shipping day for 300 miles or less , comprised of 50% barley and 50% rich fatty seeds. The most important day to feed for a race is two days before liberation, NOT the day before.
Once the pigeons return from a race 300 miles or less, they are fed all the rich, oily seeds (safflour, etc.) and racing mix (16% protein), as much as they want until dark, then back to 80% barley the following day. The most important meal after a big workout, is the first meal, so let them eat. For long distance races, the pigeons can eat all the rich seeds and racing mix they want for two days before shipping. Upon return, they get to eat rich feed and racing mix. On the following day, it is back to 80% barley. If you use this protocol when feeding your pigeons, they should never round out and get heavy after a big workout.
If for some reason your pigeons do blow up and, feel like lead balloons a few days after a race, your feeding system has really missed the mark. McLaughlin Lofts pigeons never blow out and never get heavy after a race. It is all about the feeding, as we do not like to train much. Sure, there are many roads to Roma with feeding. However, by simply feeding with quality barley, you can maintain weightless, well-conditioned pigeons, without endless road work.
Loft flying or moderate road work will keep a correctly fed pigeon in great shape. Speaking of loft flying, you will not believe how well the pigeons exercise on the 80% barley mix. If you take away anything from this remember that you probably ship your pigeons much too heavy for the races. Pigeons for long distance races should not be full and round. Long distance pigeons are not flying south for the winter, as they are flying for 12 to 14 hours.
Pigeons racing for under six hours should be light as a feather, but not skinny. They should be buoyant, with muscles lying flat, not full. A lean, buoyant pigeon has a big advantage even for headwind races. Adopt this feeding method for old birds, and you will see the most amazing body and condition!
Until Next Time, Frank McLaughlin
Copyright © 2021, McLaughlin Lofts. All Rights Reserved.
Powered by GoDaddy
I've said it before that feeding is a real mine field with so many different ideas, but do agree that getting the feeding right, however you do it, is a massive part of being successful.
The only thing I'd have to question is just how much difference feeding does actually make to distance birds on the lead up to the big race, these birds can be in the transporters for several days, even a week or more in some cases !! So from these races every single bird has been offered the same choice of seeds, if this mix does contain beans or maize those birds that aren't used to eating them could well be very hungry by the time the baskets are opened !!!
I think getting it right for the shorter races is far more critical, just my opinion of course
Last edited by Trev on Thu Feb 08, 2024 9:12 pm, edited 1 time in total.
I have to say I do like maize in my mixes as well as beans, but we have members that feed no maize mixes and others that feed no bean, all seem to have their fare share of success.
Very interesting read Devo. It sounds very much like the way I used to feed my widowhoods. Barley in the form of depurative Sunday until and including Wednesday morning then widowhood Wednesday afternoon and Thursday's as much as they want, plus Friday mornings when they would actually eat very little.
Back just enjoying club racing for the time being.
I absolutely believe in maize as the most important part of a racing pigeon diet.
But for young birds and pigeons that are resting or locked up like mine are at present it needs to be watched. Young birds that are fed too much maize can get fat and don't exercise like they should.
I like to see the youngsters athletic and full of life.
Greetings from the land down under. 
Blessed is he who expecteth nothing, for verily, he shall not be disappointed.
Blessed is he who expecteth nothing, for verily, he shall not be disappointed.