Racing > Feeding

Feeding

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.

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Email me at laurholb@telus.net.