Feeding in cold.

[Peckedhen]

Do the birds need extra food in this cold weather? Mine seem very hungry but I don't want to make them fat! Will they only eat what they need or are they greedy?  I have been giving one film canister full per bird.

 

I also changed feeding to around noon, as they were not eating at dusk, but I thought they had to have a full crop at bedtime.  What do you advise me to do?  Thanks.

[Guest]

Pigeons always need more feed when its cold, I feed mine as much as they want in the morning then give em a bit extra on a night.

[Guest shadow]

Stick to one and a half ounces and you wont go far wrong pigeons are greedy and will eat until their crops are like tennis balls, and you will notwant  fat pigeons to start next season with as it takes a lot of getting off

[Guest]

I think your noon winter feeding time is spot-on, Peckedhen.  

 

You are correct that the birds will eat more, and want to eat more in colder weather. If you feel they aren't getting enough, try giving them a little more, and if they finish that, more again until they stop eating, or leave the hopper.

 

 

 

[Peckedhen]

Will do, thanks guys. :K)

[Guest]

Pigeons always need more feed when its cold, I feed mine as much as they want in the morning then give em a bit extra on a night.

 

That's what we do, Sbelbin -  

[Guest Silverwings]

pigeons store fats to fight the cold , give mine a lot of variety in the mix during cold weather this allows them their own choice ? they know their own needs ? better than i do ,also give them mixed canary seed at this time of year, they seem very keen to have this too .

[jimmy white]

pigeons do seem to eat more in the cold, but you dont want them fat, or you will have difficulty in getting hens to lay, so once the moult is finished, feed them on a lighter diet

[GREENGRASS]

this is a hard one to get right as jimmy says you dont want your hens too fat as they will not lay but you also want them in good condition for breeding. while mine are moulting i will feed a full moulting mix usually versele laga mutine plus once moulting is almost over i will use 50% V.L best all round mixed with 50% gerry plus this way the hens are never too fat for laying but are always in great condition. once hens have layed i will use 100% V.L start plus. this year i was going to mix gem products new pellets which contain probiotic in the form of gemthepax in the pellet Q10 i think they are called. this is only my own plans but we will see how it works out. if anybody else has any different plans prehaps they could post them.

[PIGEON_MAN]

THINK THE NEW PELLET FROM GEM LOOKS A GOOD BUY ESPECIALLY WITH THE ADDED GEMTHEPAX IN SAVES BUYING THIS SEPARATLEY WHICH IS QUITE EXPENSIVE.I NORMALLY WOULD BUY THE BREEDING PELLETS FROM  BAMFORDS AND MIX IN WITH BEANS AND THEIR BREED AND WEEN MIXTURE BUT THOUGHT I WOULD GIVE THESE NEW PELLETS A TRY,HOPEFULLY THEY WITH GIVE AS GOOD RESULTS.

[Guest]

pigeon-man

 

i used them last year thay are very very good dropping are little round balls all year

[PIGEON_MAN]

THOUGHT THESE WERE NEW OUT THIS LAST FEW WEEKS "G10,S HIGH PERFORMANCE PELLET,S"MADE BY GEM.COULD BE WRONG THOUGH CHEERS HEATHCOTE.

[Guest]

 

no but this year he put gemthpax in them i thick is was round july you could pick them from shop

[carl]

yes was thinking of trying the g10s myself they sound good for the birds.

[Sylvan]

A lot depends on how cold it gets. When the temperature remains above 0 deg. Cels. the birds really don't need more than 1 oz. per bird of a varied mixture. Although our temps. can get down to -20 and more so you really need to be receptive to their needs. When it is that cold I add corn and extra small seeds like canola(rape) which are high in fats along with the regular mixture. Also 2-3 times a week add brewer's yeast so they are getting the B vitamins along with a vitamin mixture.

[Chatrace]

mine get a little extra corn for winter heat go from 1 oz to about 1 1/2 oz the extra 1/2 is corn

[jimmy white]

the pigeons wll eat ,[ and need] plenty good grub whilst moulting, but after the moult is finished [the big moult i mean, as birds moult all year] they will have naturally stored enough fats to do them , even when the weather gets cold, so in my opinion they dont need quite as much then... the wild" feral" pigeons have to fly and search for their grub, most racers are sitting in the loft, down for a feed then back on their perches, so their not really spending much energy, at this time of the year.[light at 9 dark at 3 ,30]

unless you let them out every day,then you can feed them more.

i also think pellets can be good as they can contain many vits etc, but would never feed on pellets, alone, as with pellets they dont really need to use their gizard, thereforthe gizard would eventually become redundant, so i would allways feed "grain" along with the pellets. only my opinion

[snowy]

started to feed  1& 1/4 ounces per bird now the moult has finished,

how much when breeding??

anything extra apart from tonic & grit? all advice appreciated

thanks

[Guest]

Hi

Pigeons do not require any more than one Tablespoon of food twice a day if they are not working. If you have confined the pigeons to the loft for a period of time they will have plenty of food in the above amount, For laying Hens need to be lean and keen change the diet to a breeding Mixure for the Cocks 10 days prior to pairing the hens 6 to 7 days and add two weeks before pairing a liquid Calcium to the drinking water twice a week and on the food Wheat germ oil and Brewers yeast twice or three times a week two weeks prior to pairing Then twice a week with a combination Oil and Brewers yeast all the season long, Same for breeders and racers

ex_pat

[Guest]

Brought to top for Ray.

[jimmy white]

once theve hatched westy, as much as theyll eat, as much protein down them as you can  ie peas  beans, peanuts etc youll find they wont even eat the carboheydrates ,maize etc, they know what they want an when they want it, but whilst rearing make sure theres plenty of minerals, grits pickstones . theyll eat all this like mad, once they stop feeding youll notice they wonteat nearly as much, grit mineralsand pickstones, and will eat the maize then, hope this helps westy cheers