pigeon feed and grit

[big_fish]

I have been feeding crumbles to the pigeons and the few quail I have left with no grit. I went to get more feed today and bought 50 lbs of medicated chick crumbles and 50 lbs of scratch grain and mixed it together in the barrel.Now the only grit I could find was chick grit how do you feed your grit? in a separate pan or sprinkle on the feed at feeding time? thanks

[aulrich]

I do a separate container available all the time. A 4 liter milk jug with a hole in the side works fine and keeps it mostly clean.

[ezzy333]

I would suggest you look for a poultry pellet and not a crumble. You will have a lot less waste.

EZZY

[RCB]

I agree on feeding the birds pigeon pellets. My experience with mixed grain is that the birds pick through the stuff and only eat what they like and a lot of the grain ends up on the floor. Pellets is the way to go for both cost and cleanliness.

[ezzy333]

I agree on feeding the birds pigeon pellets. My experience with mixed grain is that the birds pick through the stuff and only eat what they like and a lot of the grain ends up on the floor. Pellets is the way to go for both cost and cleanliness.

You are feeding too much when they throw part out and not eat it.

Ezzy

[V-John]

I agree on feeding the birds pigeon pellets. My experience with mixed grain is that the birds pick through the stuff and only eat what they like and a lot of the grain ends up on the floor. Pellets is the way to go for both cost and cleanliness.

You are feeding too much when they throw part out and not eat it.

Ezzy

X 2....

[big_fish]

will they eat sweet feed pellets?

[ezzy333]

will they eat sweet feed pellets?

Probably but shouldn't.

Ezzy

[Winchey]

I just feed scratch, if I put quail feed or something in, they won't touch it until the scratch is gone I have grit in a seperate container, but I have never seen them use it. They eat pebbles in the yard and from the shingles on the roof. They also seem to like ants a lot.

I wouldn't worry about it much, I have a friend that just leaves the doors open 24/7 and doesen't feed or water and they do just fine.

[Hattrick]

I mix 50# bag of checkers and 50 # bag of cracked corn. They eat the corn first then the pellets second. I was thinking it might be cheaper to lose the checkers and just buy grit with the cracked corn. Checkers have grit mixed in the pellets. Anyone do this? I feed about 60-70 birds at all times. Pellets are up to $20 per 50 now cracked corn $11 per 50

[ezzy333]

I mix 50# bag of checkers and 50 # bag of cracked corn. They eat the corn first then the pellets second. I was thinking it might be cheaper to lose the checkers and just buy grit with the cracked corn. Checkers have grit mixed in the pellets. Anyone do this? I feed about 60-70 birds at all times. Pellets are up to $20 per 50 now cracked corn $11 per 50

Pellets are the cheapest way to feed a balanced diet. I mix other grains together and feet that once a day but feel a small amount so they are hungry for the pellets. I never feed cracked corn though. They get whole shelled corn, white milo, wheat, black sunflower, and safflower during the breeding season and a pigeon breeder mix. Cracked corn can cause problem especially when feeding young birds. I have a 130 or so, and feed can get expensive.

Ezzy

[Hattrick]

Do you use grit or is that in the pellets?

[ezzy333]

Do you use grit or is that in the pellets?

I mix red grit and oyster shell for them.

Ezzy

[Hattrick]

I may look in to the grit , its probaly cheaper adding it urself than getting it in the pellets.

[big_fish]

EZZY what does the cracked corn do to them that causes problems?

[Winchey]

How many dogs do you fellas have to need 60-70-130 pigeons. For the one young dog guy, 4-6 good homing birds is plenty. Or are you guys training other peoples dogs.

[Hattrick]

I found to keep 6 birds homing you need to keep about 12-15 on hand at all times for repuducing. You will lose some to hawks or what ever. I have 3 dogs but i have people over 2-3 times a week to train and im always helping new guys get started with puppies at my farm. When im bringing my own puppies up there getting a ton of reps from pigeons in the first 4 months of life. Thats the beauty of having birds on hand all the time. With little to no preasure my pups are standing flushs and cap gun by 4 months old. I would say for training just one pup you have a dozen birds on hand 12 pigeons dint eat much. Its so much you can do with pigeons steady work, stop to flush, stop to walking birds.. I highly recomend having pigeons if going training gundogs. good luck

[Winchey]

I don't have the predator problem, haven't been in pigeons long, but have never lost one to predators. Have lost a pile due to trying to figure out how to get previously flown birds to home to my coop though.

I usually only do 2-4 reps per dog per session, a few times a week.

If I had a bunch of dogs for an all day thing I can see the need.

[Hattrick]

Your lucky with no predators i lose alot. Just this spring i lost about 20 plus. I keep 8-12 @ house for yard work and 50-60 at my barn for all day training. Alot times we have 4-5 dogs to go thru. My yard sessions are keep short too you have to be careful if you over do it or dont be creative you can cause flagging.

[aulrich]

Cracked corn can be sharp and cause problems in the crops of young birds.