UkPigeonRacing

Just a qustion to some members, have you ever used buttermilk. To help your birds through the molting season?

Why Fanciers Use Buttermilk

• Molting Support: Some breeders use a buttermilk-and-water mix (typically a 1:3 ratio) for several days straight to help accelerate the dropping of old feathers and promote a heavy moult.
• Probiotic Content: Buttermilk contains natural lactic acid and probiotics that can help maintain gut flora balance

Something I used donkeys years ago when first learning about darkness system. Moved on like many things over time

Why would you want to accelerate the dropping of old feathers and promote a heavy moult? Never used it in 55 years of keeping birds. Never needed to. Pigeons moult WITHOUT any help. If they don't, you have one extra perch.

Just would like to remind others looking in, I am not a keeper of racing pigeons anymore. So the topics i put up, not only keeps the site moving forward. But gives others the chance to put their views across, jut remember everyone is different. And there are no rights or wrongs, as a keeper of birds its your choice on how you manage your birds.

I'm a bit hesitant about dairy products for pigeons. I'm not sure it they tolerate lactose well. It's not a natural food for them.

king wrote: Thu Oct 29, 2026 7:31 pm Why would you want to accelerate the dropping of old feathers and promote a heavy moult? Never used it in 55 years of keeping birds. Never needed to. Pigeons moult WITHOUT any help. If they don't, you have one extra perch.

Fully agree King.

I would instead give them some hemp and mixed seed about 10%
Do them more good imho

Is this something that has come about from racing birds on the darkness and the need to get them through the moult quickly at the end of the season.....?

Diamond Dave wrote: Fri Oct 30, 2026 8:38 am Is this something that has come about from racing birds on the darkness and the need to get them through the moult quickly at the end of the season.....?

Yes Dave, all explained in the video.This guy swears buy it, he traveled over to some top lofts in Europe.