Feeding flax

[Peckedhen]

It has been suggested by a member of PB that I feed the birds flax so that they are able to fly in the rain.......

 

"1 teaspoon of flax seed for 25 birds- 3-4 times a week. They will get oily/slick like a duck and can fly in the rain  for quite a while before they have to sat down. Feed the flax  first then your other feed."

 

Does anyone have any experience/comments about this please?

[Guest]

no need to feed flax a bird in condition will have all the water profing it needs ive never heard of it but it seams like another one of thease  magical extras again trust me peckedhen i learned the hard way put the lot in the bin save your money

[Guest slugmonkey]

I dont know that flax is any better than any other "oilseed" like sunflower or safflower or hemp I am sure a little wouldnt hurt but I dont think that I would rely too heavily on any 1 seed for anything

[Wiley]

pigeons should produce there own oil if fit and healthy most grains these days contain a small amount of lineseed and safflower that will aid the oil process i wouldnt worry about it if anything ifd you wanted to do what i do i just use lineseed as a trapping feed,i get my birds in with lineseed!

[Roland]

Flax a natural laxative / cleaner. Good for oil and protien. Birds don't take to it readily though. Is posibly good on return Saturdays. Like Barley - which is a blood purifier, Linseed will claer the system naturally.

[Guest shadow]

Save your money as any fit pigeon will have a reasonably water proofed coat naturally

[stevebelbin]

Flax a natural laxative / cleaner. Good for oil and protien. Birds don't take to it readily though. Is posibly good on return Saturdays. Like Barley - which is a blood purifier, Linseed will claer the system naturally.

 

Does flax oil not actually come from linseed?? Ive used it instead of linseed!!

 

[expat1]

Hello

Linseed is called Flax. But The feather of a racing pigeon should have a natural silky feather. The well being of the pigeons condition by this i mean the blood. It is the blood that feeds the feathers. Plus pigeons have a Oil Gland of which they will use to lubricate the feathers.  Look and watch them after a bath. All this can be done by feeding correctly. Not only the type of food but how much. Plus Linseed is an essential seed for pigeons as it contains Colbalt. but it is never wise to overdo seeds of any kind including hemp seed a pinch of hemp and a pinch of linseed between two fingers is enough for a pigeon a day. During racing leave it out until the middle of the week

expat1

[Peckedhen]

Thanks everyone.  :K) :K)

[jimmy white]

Save your money as any fit pigeon will have a reasonably water proofed coat naturally

 

agreed on that one,,, remember they sold spraymac to waterproof birds  ;D ;D wonder what theyll dream of next

[Tony C]

I remember reading about boiling up linseed and making a tea up with it, Can anyone throw any light on this?

[carl]

I remember reading about boiling up linseed and making a tea up with it, Can anyone throw any light on this?

 

Yes tony  

linseed tea you will have,you will be able to run in the rain and have a silky coat

[Guest]

Agree linseed and flax seed are one and the same.

 

Wouldn't feed linseed as often as 3/4 times a week other than during the moult when it is fed daily as part of most moulting mixes.

 

Also reckon pigeons will fly round a band of rain rather than fly tho it.

 

And often wonder if powder down is actually the main waterproofing for the bird?

[carl]

Agree linseed and flax seed are one and the same.

 

Wouldn't feed linseed as often as 3/4 times a week other than during the moult when it is fed daily as part of most moulting mixes.

 

Also reckon pigeons will fly round a band of rain rather than fly tho it.

 

And often wonder if powder down is actually the main waterproofing for the bird?

 

 

 

Hey bruno,dont pigeons have some sort of oil gland or has someone be filling me with porkys

[expat1]

feeding linseed will not give a pigeon a silky coat of feathers if the feather itself is of poor quality, nor will any other seed. THe pigeon is born with it naturally or it is born without it

Of course you can lose the silkness if thwe pigeon is off form or unwell so therefore  health is the main factor, keep the blood right and all else will be in balance or mostly so

expat1

[Guest anthony]

The old putty was made from powder chalk mixed with linseed oil(First time I heard FLAX) it was used as water prove and to fix glass panes into the frame of a window/door.We were always thought that it is very poisenous like custer oil.Any information on this one??

[Guest slugmonkey]

The question about the powdery stuff is a good one I have seen a lot of discussion some say it makes them fly better some say worse I am a worse guy I give my birds a bath on loading day I think they get rid of this stuff and oil up ( yes they have a gland ) and the mechanics of the feather works better I dont know it seems right to me

[Guest]

Hi, my understanding is that the birds have two systems:

 

(1) Oil from the preen oil gland at the base of their tail which they spread over their feathers when preening. This oil has many functions e.g. antimicrobial, Vit D precursor D3 which produces vitamin D in UV light which the bird ingests during preening.

 

(2) Powder down which comes from certain down feathers, the ends break to produce it ... bloom to you and I. Powder down is waterproof.

 

The reason I raised my original question was that I've seen my birds leaving the bath ... leaving all that scum & gunge in the bath water ... and give themselves a shake to get rid of the excess water on their feathers ... and shake out a cloud of dust... the same dust that they shake out (bloom) when they are bone dry.

 

So which is the main waterproofing system?