Thoughts on pop corn maize

[Trev]

As I've said in other threads, I don't often look to much into the nutritional break down of pigeon mixes, partly as I've said before, that every crop of corn will be slightly different depending on the growing/harvesting conditions, so unless they test every batch of corn (which they might, but unlikely) in every mix they can't possibly be that accurate !!
I'm afraid as we've said before, these pigeon feed producers see us as a way to print money and that a lot of these fancy corns are only used to make us think we are feeding something really special. There does seem to be quite a few weird and wonderful maizes used these days, I know a pigeons digestive system is very different to a cows but in my experience with cattle is that if the maize isn't cracked then it won't be digested properly anyway, as I said, I know pigeons break feed down very differently but you wonder just how much nutrition they do actually gain from some of these seeds/corns. There are still a lot of fliers who won't feed any maize at all !!
In my opinion you'll probably find that pop corn maize is just cheaper to grow which is why it is used in so many mixes these days !!
As I say, just my opinion and as with all things, it's a matter of personal choice.

[NeilA]

As I've said in other threads, I don't often look to much into the nutritional break down of pigeon mixes, partly as I've said before, that every crop of corn will be slightly different depending on the growing/harvesting conditions, so unless they test every batch of corn (which they might, but unlikely) in every mix they can't possibly be that accurate !!
I'm afraid as we've said before, these pigeon feed producers see us as a way to print money and that a lot of these fancy corns are only used to make us think we are feeding something really special. There does seem to be quite a few weird and wonderful maizes used these days, I know a pigeons digestive system is very different to a cows but in my experience with cattle is that if the maize isn't cracked then it won't be digested properly anyway, as I said, I know pigeons break feed down very differently but you wonder just how much nutrition they do actually gain from some of these seeds/corns. There are still a lot of fliers who won't feed any maize at all !!
In my opinion you'll probably find that pop corn maize is just cheaper to grow which is why it is used in so many mixes these days !!
As I say, just my opinion and as with all things, it's a matter of personal choice.

I’m not a heavy maize feeder I believe my base corn has 30-35 percent maize but 3 days a week they get none of this mix
Of the other 4 days I add 40/50 percent barley to it or fatty seeds so propably only 15-20 per cent maize 4 days zero 3 days
Yet I know a good fancier who feeds a lot more maize than me and wins out of turn so never really sure what’s correct

[MIL]

I'm all for tweaking things and seeing if they improve things, but I don't like to get too radical

Having said that I totally changed the way I fed my sprinters in 2005

As you know I do a lot with Gordon Bros and they've changed the way they've fed their YB team for the last 4 years now

All in all, year in year out brilliant results but I'm not convinced any of these changes are better than the way they were feeding 4-5 years ago so this time some of the older and more trusted methods will come back into play



What I'm trying to say Neil is some very respected fanciers class you as the No.1 in your Federation - so run with what you know and what you do, and don't try to reinvent the wheel

[NeilA]

I'm all for tweaking things and seeing if they improve things, but I don't like to get too radical

Having said that I totally changed the way I fed my sprinters in 2005

As you know I do a lot with Gordon Bros and they've changed the way they've fed their YB team for the last 4 years now

All in all, year in year out brilliant results but I'm not convinced any of these changes are better than the way they were feeding 4-5 years ago so this time some of the older and more trusted methods will come back into play



What I'm trying to say Neil is some very respected fanciers class you as the No.1 in your Federation - so run with what you know and what you do, and don't try to reinvent the wheel

That’s kind mate
The only tweak after 4 months of looking at the grass being greener will be a better use of fats so expect a text every Tuesday if it looks a bit windy

[MIL]

If you feel I can offer something then you're most welcome