Yes I totally agree Rab I used to lock them down every year after the last race and birds as you say would fall apart.as I have said before due to time restrictions with the birds now I had to make changes .and after advice from a top notch fancier on this site have used the barley in the hoppers .and from what I have seen healthy pigeons will take what they need from what ever you feed them as long as it is clean feeding .jmho