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Re: Getting the right nutrition fed.
Posted: Thu Mar 23, 2023 7:38 am
by Murray
So I mix about 3 tins of that breeder mix with 3 tins of maize, and 1 tin of wheat, and 1 tin of milo and one tin of safflower, and a cup of beans and a cup of sunflower, and I have, almost by accident, a beautiful mixture.
Well, the pigeons think so.
It has a great variety of grains, is not too heavy on protein, and they eat it up!
Re: Getting the right nutrition fed.
Posted: Thu Mar 23, 2023 7:49 am
by Andy
Sounds good Murray. Your base mix then only accounts for just under one third of your mix.
Re: Getting the right nutrition fed.
Posted: Thu Mar 23, 2023 8:07 am
by Murray
Yep, It is about 1/3 breeder mix with small peas and popcorn, 1/3 maize, and 1/3 equal parts of wheat, milo and safflower.
Like I say, it is by accident, but I have a mixture that the pigeons are thriving on.
The breeder mix is now part of my feed, 365 days a year. The millet, mung beans, canary seed, hulled oats, rape seed, etc are in small quantities, but they are there, are appreciated by the birds who look sensational!
Re: Getting the right nutrition fed.
Posted: Thu Mar 23, 2023 11:22 am
by Buster121
That looks a really nice mix
Re: Getting the right nutrition fed.
Posted: Fri Mar 24, 2023 7:58 am
by Trev
Murray wrote: ↑Thu Mar 23, 2023 8:07 am
Yep, It is about 1/3 breeder mix with small peas and popcorn, 1/3 maize, and 1/3 equal parts of wheat, milo and safflower.
Like I say, it is by accident, but I have a mixture that the pigeons are thriving on.
The breeder mix is now part of my feed, 365 days a year. The millet, mung beans, canary seed, hulled oats, rape seed, etc are in small quantities, but they are there, are appreciated by the birds who look sensational!
Looks good Muzza and kinda goes with what we have said before, its finding something that the birds actually enjoy and do well on which won't necessarily be the same for all of us. Obviously the climate/racing conditions will also pay a big part in what our birds need and the later is where we as fanciers come in as those poor little birds have absolutely no idea of what we are going to ask them do so how can they possibly select what nutrients they are going to need
Re: Getting the right nutrition fed.
Posted: Sun Mar 26, 2023 7:58 pm
by Andy
This is the mix that I’m feeding at present.
It is made up of 40kg of bucktons best all round mix and 12.75kg of a conditioning mix.
This is what the conditioning mix is made up of.
On top of this they also get a few peanuts and sunflower hearts. This will be the mix I use for racing although I may swap 20kg of the all round with 20kg of Bucktons Irish Ruby or super widowhood for the longer races.
Re: Getting the right nutrition fed.
Posted: Sun Mar 26, 2023 9:15 pm
by Buster121
Very nice mix Andy do you mix it before going in bin in smaller amounts
Re: Getting the right nutrition fed.
Posted: Sun Mar 26, 2023 9:28 pm
by Andy
Buster121 wrote: ↑Sun Mar 26, 2023 9:15 pm
Very nice mix Andy do you mix it before going in bin in smaller amounts
No not really Buster. I emptied one 20kg all round into the bin then half the bag of conditioner. Mix those then add the second 20kg of all round and put the other half bag of conditioner on top. Then mix that together. The bin holds about 55kg. They are fed in the morning with the food left down all day. In the evening I just remove any uneaten food and tip it back into the bin. I mix that in. It does mean that as it is mainly only peas left the bin does contain a bigger percentage of peas towards the end.
Now the days are getting longer and the evenings lighter a will probably feed a bit less in the mornings and give a bit of fresh mix in the evenings. I do have to remember though that in around 8 days time I should have the first eggs hatching and there will be youngsters to feed.
As I’ve said before on this topic if I handle any of the birds at any point during the day they rarely have more than a few grains in their crops even with food constantly in front of them.
Re: Getting the right nutrition fed.
Posted: Mon Mar 27, 2023 1:06 am
by Murray
That looks a great mix for them to raise the youngsters on, Andy. Plenty of peas and a good variety of ingredients.
Re: Getting the right nutrition fed.
Posted: Mon Mar 27, 2023 6:01 am
by Buster121
Andy wrote: ↑Sun Mar 26, 2023 9:28 pm
Buster121 wrote: ↑Sun Mar 26, 2023 9:15 pm
Very nice mix Andy do you mix it before going in bin in smaller amounts
No not really Buster. I emptied one 20kg all round into the bin then half the bag of conditioner. Mix those then add the second 20kg of all round and put the other half bag of conditioner on top. Then mix that together. The bin holds about 55kg. They are fed in the morning with the food left down all day. In the evening I just remove any uneaten food and tip it back into the bin. I mix that in. It does mean that as it is mainly only peas left the bin does contain a bigger percentage of peas towards the end.
Now the days are getting longer and the evenings lighter a will probably feed a bit less in the mornings and give a bit of fresh mix in the evenings. I do have to remember though that in around 8 days time I should have the first eggs hatching and there will be youngsters to feed.
As I’ve said before on this topic if I handle any of the birds at any point during the day they rarely have more than a few grains in their crops even with food constantly in front of them.
Do they seem hungry though if you was to say throw a bit extra in on the floor or something, I ask that as since I have started to hopper feed when after cleaning in morning and shutting up I throw a bit on floor and they are as if starving even though hoppers full
