A well-known writer on pigeon matters once said that more
nonsense has been written on the subject of feeding than on any
other aspect of the sport. I agree, and I am not about to
contribute any more nonsense. I would like to discuss what I do
just to round out the whole picture on my web site There are
some excellent books available on feeding and I prefer to read
anything which has been contributed by a veterinarian; they
have the scientific knowledge. There are some very good vets
who are also good racing fanciers. At the end of this part I
will tell you where to find a great article on feeding for
racing.
My basic mixture year round is obtained locally through the
club or at a feed store. The analysis is as follows: 30% Whole
Corn (Maize), 17% Hard Red Wheat, 10% Austrian Peas, 10% Green
Peas, 10% Maple Peas, 10% Milo, 5% Safflower, 5% Seed Quality
Barley, 3% White Millet. To vary this I always have on hand,
Barley, Wheat, Groats, Safflower, Brown Rice and Canary seed.
In addition I buy Game Bird Starter crumbles which can be had
in protein content up to 28%. There are no animal products or
additives in this starter. The latter I use for breeding and
rearing along with the general mix.
Our pigeons are efficient processors of food but I like them
to have extras to protect their immune systems and deal with
the nasties that crop up from time to time. I use a well known
brand of products from Britain and I follow the instructions of
the manufacturers carefully. They have done the research and
know best how their products should be used. The club obtained
bags of grit from Versele-Laga and I mix that with another
brand. It is very popular with the birds. Just to be sure, they
also get pik-steen and greens from the garden in season. All
this may be overkill but it makes me feel better. We do ask our
birds to perform some amazing feats which they normally would
not do. I can't recall any of my birds hitchhiking 500 miles
just to fly home again.
The article I referred to earlier appeared in the 2001
British Homing World Stud Book and elaborates on a seminar
given at the convention of the American Racing Pigeon Union in
1999 by Gordon A. Chalmers, DVM. It is entitled "Pigeon Racing:
Breast Muscles and the Fuel for Flight." I first met Gordon
about forty years ago when I lived beyond the Arctic Circle. I
was going to be moving south again and wanted some good birds
to restart. He helped me import some Irish birds and cared for
them until I was able to pick them up. In the same issue of the
BHW Stud Book is an excellent article by Gordon on
racing on the natural system.
Interested in racing pigeons, pigeon racing,
homing pigeons, raising pigeons, facts about pigeons,
carrier pigeons, passenger pigeons, lost birds, lost
pigeons, pigeon breeding, pigeon breeds, pigeon lofts,
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facts, pigeon breeders, pigeon coops, pigeons for sale?
