Recently I have spent some time considering the various grains and mixtures available for feeding racing pigeons.
There are many ways of feeding them.
So, just for something to think about, if you had to race your pigeons on a diet with only two grains, what would they be?
Two grain mix
That's pretty much what I would have said too, but I am having second thoughts.
This might sound unusual, but I think I would feed Maize and Safflower.
Maize is high in carbohydrates, but low in protein. Peas are high in protein, around 25% but lower in fats and carbohyrdates. A 50/50 mix of peas and maize would give a protein content of about 17%. Too high.
Saff has about 16% protein, and is rich in fats. A 50/50 Safflower and maize mix would have about 12 % protein, perfect, and high carb and fat levels.
I suspect the pigeons would need to be racing regularly and training well to keep them from getting overweight on it, but it would certainly fuel them up!
This might sound unusual, but I think I would feed Maize and Safflower.
Maize is high in carbohydrates, but low in protein. Peas are high in protein, around 25% but lower in fats and carbohyrdates. A 50/50 mix of peas and maize would give a protein content of about 17%. Too high.
Saff has about 16% protein, and is rich in fats. A 50/50 Safflower and maize mix would have about 12 % protein, perfect, and high carb and fat levels.
I suspect the pigeons would need to be racing regularly and training well to keep them from getting overweight on it, but it would certainly fuel them up!
Greetings from the land down under.
Blessed is he who expecteth nothing, for verily, he shall not be disappointed.
Blessed is he who expecteth nothing, for verily, he shall not be disappointed.
I feed Gem pigeon corn, I mix their super widowhood and Concorde mixes together both of which contain safflower but only the widowhood contains maize. I also mix with this wheat, wild bird seed, hemp and rape seed but I do wonder if I am over complicating things and would be better off just feeding one mix and sticking to it !!Murray wrote: ↑Sat Jun 11, 2022 11:47 pm That's pretty much what I would have said too, but I am having second thoughts.
This might sound unusual, but I think I would feed Maize and Safflower.
Maize is high in carbohydrates, but low in protein. Peas are high in protein, around 25% but lower in fats and carbohyrdates. A 50/50 mix of peas and maize would give a protein content of about 17%. Too high.
Saff has about 16% protein, and is rich in fats. A 50/50 Safflower and maize mix would have about 12 % protein, perfect, and high carb and fat levels.
I suspect the pigeons would need to be racing regularly and training well to keep them from getting overweight on it, but it would certainly fuel them up!
I only put that out there for something to think about.
I don't think a two grain mixture would supply all the nutrition of a balanced diet. But it does show how ingrained our feeding habits are.
Peas and beans. The Europeans treat them like poison for race birds.
I wrote the other day that I had pulled half the peas out of the feed for the young birds, as they were leaving them. What they are eating now looks very strange to our eyes. Equal parts of maize, milo, wheat and saff. With a few peas floating around in it.
Rather than quietening down, I let them out at 3 pm yesterday, and they flew for an hour and a half. The lighter the feed, the better they feel!
I think we need to open our minds to better ways of feeding, or I have to anyway.
I don't think a two grain mixture would supply all the nutrition of a balanced diet. But it does show how ingrained our feeding habits are.
Peas and beans. The Europeans treat them like poison for race birds.
I wrote the other day that I had pulled half the peas out of the feed for the young birds, as they were leaving them. What they are eating now looks very strange to our eyes. Equal parts of maize, milo, wheat and saff. With a few peas floating around in it.
Rather than quietening down, I let them out at 3 pm yesterday, and they flew for an hour and a half. The lighter the feed, the better they feel!
I think we need to open our minds to better ways of feeding, or I have to anyway.
Greetings from the land down under.
Blessed is he who expecteth nothing, for verily, he shall not be disappointed.
Blessed is he who expecteth nothing, for verily, he shall not be disappointed.
Murray wrote: ↑Mon Jun 13, 2022 12:48 am I only put that out there for something to think about.
I don't think a two grain mixture would supply all the nutrition of a balanced diet. But it does show how ingrained our feeding habits are.
Peas and beans. The Europeans treat them like poison for race birds.
I wrote the other day that I had pulled half the peas out of the feed for the young birds, as they were leaving them. What they are eating now looks very strange to our eyes. Equal parts of maize, milo, wheat and saff. With a few peas floating around in it.
Rather than quietening down, I let them out at 3 pm yesterday, and they flew for an hour and a half. The lighter the feed, the better they feel!
I think we need to open our minds to better ways of feeding, or I have to anyway.
Murray wrote: ↑Mon Jun 13, 2022 12:48 am I only put that out there for something to think about.
I don't think a two grain mixture would supply all the nutrition of a balanced diet. But it does show how ingrained our feeding habits are.
Peas and beans. The Europeans treat them like poison for race birds.
I wrote the other day that I had pulled half the peas out of the feed for the young birds, as they were leaving them. What they are eating now looks very strange to our eyes. Equal parts of maize, milo, wheat and saff. With a few peas floating around in it.
Rather than quietening down, I let them out at 3 pm yesterday, and they flew for an hour and a half. The lighter the feed, the better they feel!
I think we need to open our minds to better ways of feeding, or I have to anyway.