They love the grit

[Buster121]

Mine the same they love it, they know what's good for them

[Buster121]

I completely agree, the birds will take what they think they need and at certain times they will want more than others. Mine love cuttlefish too !! As you say Muzza another of those things that fanciers have very different opinions on. We have one of our sprint specialists who reckons grit is ballast and will only slow them down I do have grit available in the loft most of the time but the birds being on open loft will still go scratching around the neighbour's drive picking up bits and pieces of sand etc. I do also give them Gem Matrix a couple of times a week. Des Coulter used to just smash up old house bricks for his birds and they would gather around him pecking it as he broke it, because of what went into the old house bricks this also contained some of the minerals needed, anyhing else they needed they would get from the fields.

I use the redstone and grit mix

[Buster121]

I completely agree, the birds will take what they think they need and at certain times they will want more than others. Mine love cuttlefish too !! As you say Muzza another of those things that fanciers have very different opinions on. We have one of our sprint specialists who reckons grit is ballast and will only slow them down I do have grit available in the loft most of the time but the birds being on open loft will still go scratching around the neighbour's drive picking up bits and pieces of sand etc. I do also give them Gem Matrix a couple of times a week. Des Coulter used to just smash up old house bricks for his birds and they would gather around him pecking it as he broke it, because of what went into the old house bricks this also contained some of the minerals needed, anyhing else they needed they would get from the fields.

I use the redstone and grit mix

The Matrix has red minerals and grit mixed with some other little goodies, the birds do love it.

I think it is overpriced compared to others with same or similar ingredients

[Buster121]

The Matrix has red minerals and grit mixed with some other little goodies, the birds do love it.

I think it is overpriced compared to others with same or similar ingredients

You're probably right mate but it's what I can get easily round here.

Can't you get the columbine or natural finesse down there then

[Buster121]

You're probably right mate but it's what I can get easily round here.

Can't you get the columbine or natural finesse down there then

No mate, there are only a couple of places near me where you can buy pigeon products and they all stock Matrix as it's made locally, I could probably order it online.

Surprised at that but then with today's climate people are cutting back on stock and reducing what they offer

[Buster121]

No mate, there are only a couple of places near me where you can buy pigeon products and they all stock Matrix as it's made locally, I could probably order it online.

Surprised at that but then with today's climate people are cutting back on stock and reducing what they offer

When I brought our shop 19 years ago I could buy anything that I required through our wholesalers. Now apart from a bit of corn, very limited mixes.available, and the odd Harkers treatments none of them supply anything now.

Is that because of current financial state or lack of call for it

[Buster121]

As Ad Schaerlaeckens, whom I email quite often now, says, grit is very important for the birds, but no one advertises it because it's heavy and there is not much profit in it. There is more money in a bottle of the latest fad to hit the market.
As Andy says, the suppliers make more money out of dog treats and throw toys than pigeon feed.
It's the same here. Go to any pet store and there are racks of dog coats and cat beds, and expensive 'Branded' pet food, but not a lot of bags of grain.

That is because they take advantage of peoples love of dogs and cats, they are after all a huge part of any family

[Buster121]

they look well and truly comfy

[Buster121]

What a cracking bunch Murray, the blue w/f and mealy stand out for me

[Buster121]

What a cracking bunch Murray, the blue w/f and mealy stand out for me

Yer a good judge, Buster. two absolutely cracking good babies.

I try