George Ruiz
26 posts
Feb 18, 2005
8:42 PM
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What do most of you fellas feed to your breeders during the breeding season Pellets or Grain and why ??
I have always fed 17% Breeders conditionor but the last two years I noticed that the mill added alot of wheat and it seems that my young birds took longer to grow so I recently started using 18% Purina pellets .
Anybody using purina pellets ??
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MCCORMICKLOFTS
399 posts
Feb 18, 2005
8:53 PM
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George, where are you getting your feed? If you go to Jedds or Pomona feed, pick up a bag of my mix Show Pigeon Conditioner. If you forget the name just tell them the McCormick mix and they will know what it is. It is an awesome breeder mix. It has nine different seeds (austrain peas, milo, red millet, safflower, rape, oat groats, wheat, a dash of popcorn and a generous amount of canary mix.) 15.5 percent protein, 7 percent fiber, 9 percent fat and 2 percent ash.
Brian.
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George Ruiz
27 posts
Feb 18, 2005
9:05 PM
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Thanks Mac I will try it.
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rollerpigeon
Site Moderator
224 posts
Feb 18, 2005
9:24 PM
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Brian, I use Leaches pellets. Squabs are nice and plump, grow bigger faster. I eliminate the odor by using apple cider vinegar a few times a week.
How would you compare your mix vs the pellets? Cheaper, less mess? Do squabs develop like those on pellets? Thanks! FLY ON! Tony Chavarria
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fhtfire
113 posts
Feb 18, 2005
9:44 PM
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Well, During the winter I use Winners Cup Pigeon mix..comes in a purple bag with a homer on the from and a Cup trophy, It is 16%protein. When the birds stop eating the popcorn..that is about the time that I switch to pellets and start breeding. I use Farmers 28%pigeon pellet. I mix the pellets 50/50 with wheat/milo. I use one part Wheat, one part milo and 1 part pellet. My brother did the math...since he is a nerd...and took the percentages and how I am cutting it and came up with 20%+/-protein.....At every 5 parts of the the mix above I will add one part Sauflower. I add the wheat and milo..because it firms the poop up and does not make it smell. The young are very healthy.
As for my kit birds...I also use pellets. I mix 5 parts wheat milo to 1 part pellet. I only feed this mix to feed them back up or during the molt..During the molt it is 5 parts to 1.5 pellets and heavy on the sauflower. I usually feed the pellet mix after they fly and then on rest days I use the standard wheat/milo only and cut back accordingly. I have had people freak about using the pellets for kit birds...They will hold water...get fat...etc. I tested the water consumption vs. peas and I found the right mix of pellet where the water consumption is about the same as peas.. and they look healthy and if they start to get fat...back on wheat and milo...I have also compared the birds reactivity to each pellets and mix...nothing noticable. I just use the pellets because they also have a lot of vitamins and are easier to store since I use them for the breeders...the key to using pellets in the kit box is a lean it up. Feeding straight pellet to kit birds...no freak'n way...You would not feed straight peas and sauflower right?
The fact is my babies are obviously healthier and the breeders are healthier with the pellets....and they have no ill affect on the kit birds if mixed lean and not fed to them every day...maybe just on fly day...or if you have been flying hard and want to build them back up. But I will use peas in a mix instead of pellets for the kit birds too...just to change things up.
rock and ROLL
Paul Fullerton
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MCCORMICKLOFTS
400 posts
Feb 18, 2005
10:36 PM
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Tony, I really couldn't say from personal experience. I have never really been a big fan of pellets, just my own personal preference. I have friends who use pellets and I don't like the mess or the smell, though the brand that Scott uses he says this is not a problem. The only difference I have seen is that my youngsters when weaned look healthier and their feather is better as compared to my friends who do use pellets. Many of them actually mix the pellets with a 12-14 percent grain too. Could be from the large amounts of oil seeds in the mix. I don't think pellets have any oil concentrated in them, but I could be wrong. The guys at Jedds tell me they sell over 6,000 lbs. a month of it now and even some of the their racing homer guys have started using it. Several of my very competitive show friends have switched from using pellets to this mix and stated their reasoning was the youngsters weaned out looking better. If I have more experience personally with pellets I could give you a better analysis, but this is as much as I can see at the moment.
Brian.
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Siddiqir
189 posts
Feb 20, 2005
9:03 AM
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I give 15% Purina pellets. Less waste, no need to give grit. Soild dropping and youngsters grow faster.
Thanks, -Rauf
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donb
3 posts
Feb 20, 2005
6:34 PM
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Rauf, how much do the 15 % purina pellets cost and are they chicken or pigeon?? thanks, donb.
Last Edited by donb on Feb 20, 2005 6:35 PM
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Siddiqir
190 posts
Feb 20, 2005
7:28 PM
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Donb, a 50 lbs bag cost me $13.50 and they are for Pigeons.
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