safflower

[Ed Bourque]

what will be the effect if you feed pigeons just safflower? i was told by a friend that safflower has the complete nutritional value that racing pigeons need. and to balance it, he just add barley as a source of carbohydrates.

[Guest]

Doubt if any one or two seeds or grains will provide all the essentials. Extract from a paper on feeding safflower to pigeons:-

 

 

"One ounce of safflower provides 146 kcal of energy and this energy may be translated into a heat production equivalent of 613 kilojouls. It has 11 grams of fat, 5 grams of protein, and 10 grams of carbohydrates per ounce. Although, it is high in fat and carbohydrates, it is low in protein. "

[Roland]

Youngster would be thin, sprawney and crap. I tried it - like many other things. Even with a little Whey and they just same, or got toxic poisoning.

21% protein for youngsters, maples / Tics etc. are a good basis.

Now if racing, well then just need extra protein to repair muscles and tissues etc.

[Ed Bourque]

I have been feeding half there reg/grain & half safflower for 7 days now and they

are in the moult. what a diffrents the safflower makes they are looking real good.

[Wiley]

very good oily seed

[Ed Bourque]

Fats & Carbs great energy source, when they are in training. not good for  pigeons sitting around. Ed