A little time for thought.

[Devo1956]

I was just thinking of feed mix we would like to make up ourselves. Here is a list of different seeds, if you were to make your own mix. What % of seeds would you use, also what are you hoping to gain from the mix you have made. This can be for old birds or young birds. Here is the list of seeds.

Maple Peas, Wheat, Round Berry Maize, Red Dari, Blue Peas, Safflower Seed, White Peas, White Dari and Tare's.

You could also add a % of other seeds you like.

[George and Morgan]

as i said Dev mine leave all the small seed

[Buster121]

I would use equal amounts of each except berry maize which would be the small french one

[Devo1956]

A little video of food mix, for some members that may enjoy..

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UWE_2-24IoM

[Andy]

An interesting topic Devo. I would probably include a couple of different maizes, tic beans, barley to the list. This just shows how many different ingredients you would have to stock or store to make up your own mixes. I think most who make their own mix would probably only use around 4 different grains. A good mixture of grains is probably beneficial as all grains have different qualities. But using lots of different grains also gives the chance of just one of the grains being inferior ruining the whole mix.
The other thing you mention is “what would you be hoping to gain from your mix”. This of course would depend what your aims were.
You would be looking to feed young birds differently from racers. Sprint birds different distance birds. Stock birds breeding different again. So just with this you would need at least 4 different mixes. That would be without feeding different mixes during the week, using a conditioner, or tit bits like peanuts and sunflower hearts.
I have been feeding a good all round mix the past couple of years up until now. Fed to all. But I have basically had all the birds mixing together. So I’m not sure that I have got the best from them.

[Devo1956]

An interesting topic Devo. I would probably include a couple of different maizes, tic beans, barley to the list. This just shows how many different ingredients you would have to stock or store to make up your own mixes. I think most who make their own mix would probably only use around 4 different grains. A good mixture of grains is probably beneficial as all grains have different qualities. But using lots of different grains also gives the chance of just one of the grains being inferior ruining the whole mix.
The other thing you mention is “what would you be hoping to gain from your mix”. This of course would depend what your aims were.
You would be looking to feed young birds differently from racers. Sprint birds different distance birds. Stock birds breeding different again. So just with this you would need at least 4 different mixes. That would be without feeding different mixes during the week, using a conditioner, or tit bits like peanuts and sunflower hearts.
I have been feeding a good all round mix the past couple of years up until now. Fed to all. But I have basically had all the birds mixing together. So I’m not sure that I have got the best from them.

i have to say Andy, you have answered this question with good detail. Yes i have to agree with what you say, so its good to hear others views.

[Buster121]

An interesting topic Devo. I would probably include a couple of different maizes, tic beans, barley to the list. This just shows how many different ingredients you would have to stock or store to make up your own mixes. I think most who make their own mix would probably only use around 4 different grains. A good mixture of grains is probably beneficial as all grains have different qualities. But using lots of different grains also gives the chance of just one of the grains being inferior ruining the whole mix.
The other thing you mention is “what would you be hoping to gain from your mix”. This of course would depend what your aims were.
You would be looking to feed young birds differently from racers. Sprint birds different distance birds. Stock birds breeding different again. So just with this you would need at least 4 different mixes. That would be without feeding different mixes during the week, using a conditioner, or tit bits like peanuts and sunflower hearts.
I have been feeding a good all round mix the past couple of years up until now. Fed to all. But I have basically had all the birds mixing together. So I’m not sure that I have got the best from them.

When I was using straights it was only blue and white/yellow peas, beans and maize they did ok on it but lots peas went to waste

[Murray]

I would use equal amounts of each except berry maize which would be the small french one

I am in agreement with that, that is pretty much what mine get, except if there's two parts if peas there would normally be two parts if maize. At present, being locked up there's only one part of maize.
For young birds in training I would take one part of peas out and for racing old birds I would add more maize.
It's just small adjustments according to what they are doing.
As for small seeds, I sometimes put a small amount of mixed seed in with a drop of oil when they are in training. I don't know that it helps them at all, but it makes you feel like you are doing something.

[Andy]

I would use equal amounts of each except berry maize which would be the small french one

I am in agreement with that, that is pretty much what mine get, except if there's two parts if peas there would normally be two parts if maize. At present, being locked up there's only one part of maize.
For young birds in training I would take one part of peas out and for racing old birds I would add more maize.
It's just small adjustments according to what they are doing.
As for small seeds, I sometimes put a small amount of mixed seed in with a drop of oil when they are in training. I don't know that it helps them at all, but it makes you feel like you are doing something.

I think that is a very good point. The feeding has little to do with what the pigeons require and a lot to do with how it makes us feel as fanciers trying to be better than our competitors.

[Murray]

An interesting topic Devo. I would probably include a couple of different maizes, tic beans, barley to the list. This just shows how many different ingredients you would have to stock or store to make up your own mixes. I think most who make their own mix would probably only use around 4 different grains. A good mixture of grains is probably beneficial as all grains have different qualities. But using lots of different grains also gives the chance of just one of the grains being inferior ruining the whole mix.
The other thing you mention is “what would you be hoping to gain from your mix”. This of course would depend what your aims were.
You would be looking to feed young birds differently from racers. Sprint birds different distance birds. Stock birds breeding different again. So just with this you would need at least 4 different mixes. That would be without feeding different mixes during the week, using a conditioner, or tit bits like peanuts and sunflower hearts.
I have been feeding a good all round mix the past couple of years up until now. Fed to all. But I have basically had all the birds mixing together. So I’m not sure that I have got the best from them.

When I was using straights it was only blue and white/yellow peas, beans and maize they did ok on it but lots peas went to waste

That is the thing. An pigeon weighing about 450 grams only needs about 3 grams of protein a day for maintenance of cell replacement. A little bit more after hard exertion. In a diet of peas only they are eating about 10 grams of protein.
The excess can be converted to energy to fuel flying and living, but protein is much harder to convert to sugars than carbohydrates. The pigeons instinctively know that, and will avoid peas and beans if grains with more carbohydrates are available.
They will go for peas when they are feeding babies as they sense they need the protein during the first couple of weeks, but then suddenly stop and begin looking for grains and oil seeds again.
The birds know better than us what they need.