BACKGROUND
No
matter the animal or livestock species, feeding is one of the important
variables in the overall care of the animal.
In fact, your nutrition program is right there with genetics (breeding),
health, conditioning and your own management skill in determining your loft’s
performance. Pigeons are grain and
seed-eaters by their very nature. Just
as with humans and other animals, they do best and can be expected to perform
at a high level when provided a balanced diet.
In
developing the diets or feeding rations for any species, professional
nutritionists start by identifying the needs and requirements of the animal at
the various stages of its life cycle. It
is not an overstatement to say that little scientific study has been devoted to
the nutritional requirements of the pigeon.
The reason for this is simply that there isn’t a sufficient economic
incentive for feed companies and universities to devote the necessary resources
to the in-depth study of pigeon requirements.
Nevertheless, based on some feeding trials done by feed companies, as
well as the transfer of knowledge gained from other species, and throw in the
practical experience of sharp pigeon flyers over the years, you can be
confident that the pigeon feeds sold by reputable manufacturers will do an
excellent job for you.
THE
BASICS
The
basic nutritional requirements of the pigeon are for protein, energy (best
sources are fats & carbohydrates), minerals and vitamins. Each of these nutrients is found, but in
varying amounts, in all of the grains used in pigeon diets. The general rules of thumb are that pigeons
have a higher protein requirement during the breeding season; they have a
higher energy requirement during periods of work, such as heavy training or
racing. You will find that commercial
pigeon mixes all have a feed tag on the bag.
This tag lists the percentages of protein, fat and fiber in that
feed. The tag also lists, in rank order,
the major ingredients of that particular mixture. The protein content has become the quick
reference, or shorthand, used by many in the purchase of feed. For example, a 16% feed refers to one that
has a crude protein content of 16%.
FEED GRAIN vs. SEED GRAIN
It is very important to understand that feed grain is for feeding
livestock and seed grain is for planting and can KILL your birds!
If you are mixing your own feed you may be tempted to buy feed from a
farm supply. You must make sure the bag,
or in bulk, is marked as bird or animal feed.
Seed for planting while cheaper is treated with an antifungal spray to
increase its shelf life and to survive heavy rain prior to sprouting. The anti fungal spray is poisons to all
animals and humans.
It is not uncommon for farm supply stores to carry both.
In
articles and books, you will sometimes see references to “heavy” feeds, or to
“light” mixtures. The “heavy” is a
general reference to a ration that is higher in energy; the “light” to a ration
that is lower in energy and higher in fiber.
Among the best energy sources are corn, milo, safflower and when used
sparingly, raw peanuts. For protein,
various varieties of peas have been found to be outstanding for use in pigeon
feeds. Barley is a grain that is
moderate in most nutrient levels, but is high in fiber, making it a desirable
and versatile feed ingredient. It is one
of the important grains in the conditioning of performance pigeons.
North
America has abundant grains and a wide variety of seeds that are suited for use
in pigeon feeds. As touched on earlier,
one of the principles of sound nutrition is balance. Balance is achieved by variety. So, although a mature pigeon could perhaps
survive on a diet of nothing but wheat, for example, it will thrive on a diet of
assorted grains. This becomes especially
important in the rearing of young pigeons.
BREEDING
SEASON
As
your breeding pairs have been mated and the hatching of eggs approaches, you
should have your birds on a high nutritional plane. Most experienced pigeon flyers like to feed
breeders a ration in the 16-18% crude protein range. If the mix available to you carries a protein
level of 14%, for example, this is the time to consider adding supplemental
peas to the ration. The levels fed would
be approximately 1/5 peas and 4/5 mix in this example. Breeding pigeons have great demands placed
upon them by the two rapidly-growing youngsters. It’s therefore important that they be on full
feed, meaning they have access to feed at all times, during daylight hours.
When
youngsters reach 18 to 21 days of age, many fanciers place small containers of
the breeding mix in the nest box. This
serves as a supplemental feed source to the parents, and eases some of the
demand placed on them. But, more
importantly, this practice helps youngsters learn to eat grain on their own,
thereby reducing the considerable stress that weaning places on them.
Pellets,
which are grain parts in a compressed form, are an option that is popular with
many, particularly in the breeding section.
Manufacturers are able to provide a balanced diet right from the bag. This seems to have the greatest pay-off in
the rapid development of youngsters in the nest. The downside of feeding pellets is in looser
droppings.
Your
breeding pairs, as with all pigeons in your loft, must have access at all times
to fresh grit and to clean, fresh water.
MOLT
& OFF-SEASON
The
fall season is when the pigeon molts its old plumage, trading it in for
new. This carries with it the need for a
fairly high nutritional plane, but since the birds are not racing or in
training, the energy requirement is reduced.
Most flyers feed a diet of about 16% proteins, with barley again being a
significant ingredient—in the range of 20%-25% of the ration. The same approach to limited feeding
(consumption in fifteen minutes) and twice a day is preferred by most fanciers.
BIRDS
IN TRAINING/RACING
In
the first few days after weaning, you will want to have the breeding mix
readily available to youngsters. In what
is a brand new world to them, this is not yet the time to limit feed. In addition, a four-week old youngster,
though almost at his mature size, still has some developing and growing to
do. As the young birds have settled to
the landing board and are beginning to fly around the loft, remember never to
feed before they are let out for exercise.
As they complete their exercise and you call them in for feed (using a
whistle, feed can, or other sound), put down some feed for them to find upon
entering the trap. A good rule of thumb
is to feed only the amount that will be cleaned up in 15 minutes. Dump any leftover feed. Exercise and feed morning and evenings, you
will find this approach will give you the makings of a healthy yet disciplined
young bird team.
The
basic ration with the young team is a commercial “racing mix” or one that runs
approximately 14%-15% crude protein. As
the youngsters begin to “route,” or leave the loft area for extended periods
when exercised, this is the time to consider adding supplemental barley to the
mix. This “lighter” ration should contain
roughly twenty percent barley. You will
find your birds will eat the barley last, or only reluctantly. Persevere by adjusting the total amount of
feed fed, as barley is an excellent ingredient.
As heavy training and racing take place, you
should reduce the amount of barley.
Although fat pigeons cannot perform well, remember that heavy work burns
a lot of energy (calories). To perform at their peak, your birds must have at least
adequate reserves to meet the challenge of a 200 or 300 mile race. This does not suggest that the birds are put
on full feed. Quite the contrary, they
are still fed twice a day and only what they clean up in 15 minutes. As you begin road training, this would be an
excellent time to invite an experienced flyer over to your loft to help you
evaluate the body condition of your birds.
If
you have developed some mastery of the art of feeding both your breeding pairs
and the young bird team, you should find the old birds a breeze. The role of nutrition in the performance and general
level of health in the old bird team, however, is every bit as important as it
is with youngsters. The same basics
apply: controlled feeding. Do not overfeed but do not cut them
short. Diet is adjusted to
workload. Refinements and making adjustments
to either a natural or widowhood flying method will come with just a small bit
of additional study on your part.
FINALLY…
There are only a couple of cautions
necessary in the handling of feed. It
should be as clean and dust-free as possible.
Feed that is wet, or has been wet, should never be fed to your
birds. Damp food is every bit as
disastrous as a damp loft. Store feed in
a manner that prohibits rodents from having a chance to be in contact with
feed. Basic steps such as removal of all
feed from the loft at night and storage in mouse-proof containers will serve
you well.
The addition of supplemental vitamins
and minerals, most often via the water, has become a common practice among
pigeon fanciers. During times of stress
and heavy demands on your birds, there may well be a benefit to the
practice. As with most things, however,
moderation is recommended here. The pigeon has evolved and adapted over time to
the point that it receives most all of what it requires from its diet. Remember, balance.
