Grit

[chickadee]

Can a pigeon overeat on grit?

Is it common for a young bird to confuse grit for seed? or does that just not happen. One of our young birds has been eating a fair bit of grit today and i was getting concerned incase it is confusing grit for seed. It has also been pecking the ground and eating seed, am i just being to much of a worry wart about my wee babes or is there some concern in this?

[westy]

they know the differance

[chickadee]

Even from a very early age?

[westy]

yes

[chickadee]

Thank you, that has put my mind at rest. ;D ;D ;D ;D

[Wiley]

yes i think you are being a concerned father/mother onb this issue! But pigeons with grit you have to be careful they can over take it,but a pigeon will only take what it needs. Fresh grit must be supplied every day or daily. All you do is you put a pinch of grit every day in the birds nest boxes, or if you feed the grit on the floor put it in an old pickstone pot about half a handful, grit once gets dusty pigeons will not touch it so regulary change it

[Clarkey1990]

Sorry lads but its been proven a young bird will over eat grit as long as its in front of them.Just like a puppy would eat till its stomach bursts.

Lukily they solve the problem themselves and regurgatate it but even so dont leave it infront of them before u feed them.

[chickadee]

Okay I'll just give them a wee bit each day. Thanks for all your help. ;D ;D ;D ;D

[timbarra]

chicadee, just a tip , do not feed grit there is no need to feed the stuff it is  a waste of money, i shall give my reasons which are factual, for your pigeons to get enough calcium from grit they would have to eat one sack load every day!! plus if they racing its like eating stones, would you eat stones before a race , think how much it weighs in relation to the pigeon!!! your far better off giving a calcium mineral supplement in the water once a week.  give pink and black minerals as normal but not grit. he does not benefit the pigeons .. its been brainwashed into us to make us pay out good money for old ideas worth nothing. hope i helped.

[jimmy white]

chicadee, just a tip , do not feed grit there is no need to feed the stuff it is  a waste of money, i shall give my reasons which are factual, for your pigeons to get enough calcium from grit they would have to eat one sack load every day!! plus if they racing its like eating stones, would you eat stones before a race , think how much it weighs in relation to the pigeon!!! your far better off giving a calcium mineral supplement in the water once a week.  give pink and black minerals as normal but not grit. he does not benefit the pigeons .. its been brainwashed into us to make us pay out good money for old ideas worth nothing. hope i helped.

 

sorry timbarra,, rubish ,, pigeons need grit [whichever way its presented]  pigeons have a crop , which fills up with hard grains , this then goes in to the gizzard , where the grit is essential to masticate these hard grains ,,,thats why , when you feed pellets [full of goodness] you must also give them grain , otherwise you will make the gizzard redundant,,,,,but grit does not neccessary need to come out a bag  

[celtic]

Of course pigeons need grit, don't know who advised you otherwise timbarra, but it was the wrong advice.

[chickadee]

Well i've always been under the impression that pigeons need grit, but, just didn't know how much they should have daily.

[Wiley]

Well i've always been under the impression that pigeons need grit, but, just didn't know how much they should have daily.

 

my widowhoods get a pinch of matrix, every time they enter the loft

[tskyes]

THEY WILL ONLY EAT WOT THEY NEED.

[Clarkey1990]

Pigeons need grit to harden there dropins among other things. It also protects against poison they might intake

[timbarra]

i have not feed my pigeons grit for years and they are perfect and they win, i tell you what why dont you run a marathon after eating a bag full of stones, fed grit and handicap your pigeons by given them excess weight to carry, lemmings always follow one another .............. nuff said

 

sp

[Guest shadow]

pigeons need grit to grind their food you may not supply it but they will find it from somewhere in the fields perhaps I have always fed grit fresh each day in the feed troughs and have had my share of prizes many times having the only bird on the day from channel racing

[Guest Paulo]

 

sorry timbarra,, rubish ,, pigeons need grit [whichever way its presented]  pigeons have a crop , which fills up with hard grains , this then goes in to the gizzard , where the grit is essential to masticate these hard grains ,,,thats why , when you feed pellets [full of goodness] you must also give them grain , otherwise you will make the gizzard redundant,,,,,but grit does not neccessary need to come out a bag  

 

I agree with Jimmy if your pigeons aren't getting the nice grit you supply they will simply get the grit from nature i.e. picking about the garden or fielding. Both habits you don't want to encourage. They only eat what they need if it is in front of them all the time anyway. Only time they will over indulge is if you feed one of these health grits that have added salt because pigeons love salt.

 

But different methods work for different people if you don't feed grit and your pigeons win good for you as Borat would say great successful.

 

I would say however most pigeon men I know feed grit on a regular basis I do know a few who take it out on basketing day but most of the time its in front of them all the time

[Ronnie]

Pigeons need the grit to grind down the grains .If your not feeding it Timbarra then they are getting it from somewhere else .Its not for calcium like you stated its for grinding the food down in the gizzard  .I would love to see where you get your Factual evidence from.As for overfeeding Chickadee sorry i cant help you on that .Like has been mentioned i give mine matrix after feeding.My youngsters get fresh grit every other day and dont seem to overeat it.

[Guest]

I have grits & pickstone in front of the birds at all times. They still pick for grit out in the garden. Agree, its mainly for grinding down the grain, but have often wondered if it also helps keep the gut worm-free by shredding them - they can't surely retain it all in the gizzard, they'd be turned into flying rocks???  ;D

[little sam]

I LEVE MY GRIT NEXT TO THE DRINKER ON FLOOR AND IF IS DIRTY I CHANGE AND PUT IT BACK IN THEY ONLY TAKE WHAT THEY NEED AND IT IS IN THER 24/7 APART FROM WEN CHANGING IT   ;D

[Wiley]

I LEVE MY GRIT NEXT TO THE DRINKER ON FLOOR AND IF IS DIRTY I CHANGE AND PUT IT BACK IN THEY ONLY TAKE WHAT THEY NEED AND IT IS IN THER 24/7 APART FROM WEN CHANGING IT   ;D

 

wouldnt keep near the drinker, grit must be kept dry, and mustnt soak up any moisture. Pigeons will also refuse to eat the grit when it gets dusty so change regular, so dnt put alot down at a time.

[little sam]

its about a foot away from it and never gets wet as i have a drinker where they stick there head in a hole   ;D

[timbarra]

by prisoneer stock dont get grti , well why do you all feed grit ...because pigeon people have always feed grit.  follow the crowd and one day when you look up you will be lost. people if you feed grit good for you but i not gonna pay for some thing they dont need, try it feed some grit and some not, you will see no difference except on your pocket.

 

best wishes spence

[Wiley]

its about a foot away from it and never gets wet as i have a drinker where they stick there head in a hole   ;D

 

lol mate its not because of the drinker, its due to the moisture the drinker gives of via condensation,