Grit and Minerals
When I first started in pigeons I too wasn't one for using grit or minerals. But back then ALL my birds were flying out. They also used to spend a lot of time picking around the garden. Now I have only 12 birds flying out and another 20 stock not flying out. Due to BOP I haven't had them picking about the garden for years. They are either flying or on or in the loft. I give them a handful of a mixed grit everyday when feeding. I also use pick stones, one in each section which they have in front of them though out the breeding season. They don't gorge on them at all, but do go though them quicker when feeding young. When the breeding season ends they pick stones are no longer given until the following year.
Murray wrote: Sun Sep 13, 2026 10:17 pm 001.JPGYou should see mine! They go mental over it.
I use a shell grit with some added pink minerals. Comes in 20 kilo bags.
Now they are all feeding babies they demand it. I have hens hanging on the wire flapping after I've taken the feed trays away. I only have to say "Birds want some Grit?" and they are all lined up
I know many people don't worry about it but it but mine love it and the shell grit is a good source of calcium for the youngster's bones.
I also have a heap of dirt, mostly clay, in the back yard that they are gradually eating. They take it back in and poke it into the babies.
Murray's Loft
"Well THAT didn't work".
"Well THAT didn't work".
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Diamond Dave
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Was told by the guy at Blackpool who sells the Kilpatrick black minerals that the birds only need it when they have youngsters in the nest.
Yes, that's when these things are obsessed with it.Diamond Dave wrote: Mon Sep 14, 2026 7:36 am Was told by the guy at Blackpool who sells the Kilpatrick black minerals that the birds only need it when they have youngsters in the nest.
Murray's Loft
"Well THAT didn't work".
"Well THAT didn't work".
I know that’s what we are always told Devo. But that being true why don’t mine want to take it and have performed well without any?Devo1956 wrote: Mon Sep 14, 2026 9:12 am Racing pigeons do not have teath, so the grit and minerals help break down food in the gizard. The breaking down the food to help move on to the crop.
The gizzard works like our stomach, it’s the acids in the crop that break down the corn, how can a bit of grit sitting in the crop break down the corn without some sort of shaking or grinding motion going on, like a cement mixer? Just my thoughts on it.