washington86
30 posts
Feb 06, 2006
9:46 PM
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I want to start breeding right now and i was wondering if the parents could feed the baby with the huge corn and a seed that looks like a soy bean. I feed those food to my rollers often. Can the baby handle those food when they just hatch out of thier shells?
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nicksiders
426 posts
Feb 06, 2006
11:49 PM
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When the squabs first hatch they are fed pigeon milk by the parents. It is kind of a curd the adults produce.
The soy bean looking grain is peas. Cold be Austrian Peas; Canada Peas; Maple Peas; or Vetch Peas.
I do not feed corn of any kind to my birds anymore. When I did it was popcorn because the kernals are smaller. You can get a pigeon feed mixture without corn.
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washington86
31 posts
Feb 08, 2006
9:07 AM
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thanks then. i never could fine pigeon food without corn because it ususalle comes with corn. but i'look aorund and find it. it's because im starting to breed my rollers soon.
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nicksiders
433 posts
Feb 08, 2006
9:21 AM
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The feed store you go to for your current pigeon feed usually can order it for you. Ask them to do it. I would recommend about 14% protein without corn. It would be a good alround feed for both the breeder loft and a maintenance feed for your kit birds.
Best to you my friend - Nick
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Velo99
211 posts
Feb 08, 2006
5:59 PM
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If you are wanting the squeaks to grow why cut the corn?
I feed ten pairs about four cups or more a day. To it I add 1/4 cup of funtime popcorn. It is usually one of the first seeds gone. I feed 1 1/4 wheat,1 1/4 milo 1/4 popcorn and 1/2 pigeon green@14%. I also add safflower a couple times a week. So far so good.
YITS
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nicksiders
438 posts
Feb 08, 2006
7:38 PM
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Corn will do no harm. My birds seem to better without it. I mix my own from signle grains as well. I use Austrian peas; milo; whole wheat; and safflower. I change the % by weight as the seasons change and molt comes and goes. I also add vitimins and minerals to the drinking water.
I also have a blend for kit birds two days out from compitition day.
In a colder climate I may use popcorn in deepest winter as I did when I lived in Illinois.
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MCCORMICKLOFTS
380 posts
Feb 08, 2006
7:47 PM
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My breeders of all my breeds consider the popcorn to be the pigeon plague. They won't touch it and I always end up throwing it out to the chickens.
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donb
7 posts
Feb 08, 2006
8:19 PM
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Actually , corn has more erergy than any of the other grains mentioned. Corn contains on the average, 78 % total digestible nutrients ( TDN ) BUT ONLY AVERAGES ABOUT 8-9 % protein. Wheat is pretty close in TDN but contains about 12% protein. Peas can run anywhere from 20 to 30 % protein depending on the variety, where soybeans run about 35% Protein. Corn is an excellent feed in cold climates because of the hi energy content but does not have sufficient protein by itself. In warm climates corn is entirely too hi in energy and birds don't want it and won't perform well if forced to eat it. Hope this helps a little.
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J_Star
230 posts
Feb 09, 2006
5:17 AM
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Have you considered mixing pellets with the regular mix for the breeders? When you mix at about 70/30 (mix/pellet), the droppings stay solid and not smelly. Pellets contains allot of good stuff in it including alfalfa.
I mix Wheat, Milo, Corn, Canadian Peas, Safflower, and Pellets to the breeders and flyers. Because of the cold and snow, the corn is consumed first. Hope this will help.
Jay
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