Double D
227 posts
Jun 08, 2006
8:07 PM
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I realize the answer will depend on the family, however, in general, will straight wheat for kit birds cause them to fly longer and higher? Thanks!
Darin
Last Edited by Double D on Jun 08, 2006 8:08 PM
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MCCORMICKLOFTS
573 posts
Jun 08, 2006
8:15 PM
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It can if given straight for a long period of time and flown regularly. It will tend to "hollow" them out, making them light, fit and bouyant, thus resulting in high flying unless the intake amount was very little which would eventually result in them not wanting to fly at all.
Brian.
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GREED FOR SPEED LOFT
64 posts
Jun 08, 2006
10:25 PM
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I have used straight wheat and liked it. The results i got was they would take up to air fly their 25-35 minutes and gradualy start to come down ,instead of them flying up longer,occasionally i would mix other grain to adjust what i would want them to do. Wheat builds muscle and no fat(good energy food). The idea was from KOWALSKI'S book,i put it to the test and i liked it......R-LUNA
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Santandercol
101 posts
Jun 08, 2006
10:39 PM
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I was only feeding wheat and milo to my kitbirds and they were flying to high.Couldn't believe it when I added some barley how it brought them down.Now I can see them!!!Imagine that eh!
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Kelly
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spade_drain
51 posts
Jun 08, 2006
11:00 PM
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yea ....i've been feed'n my kit of birds wheats n milo for about 3-4 months now n they dont seem to fly high enough around 30 feet high only they really scare me cuz sometimes some would get too close to the ground while roll'n n action but other than that i love the food im feed'n them they're kitt'n good n flying ok...not too long not too short...but i do wnat to know how u other guys are get'n ur birds so high n the air...i've been told tat the higher they get they'll really throw it out, n roll alot... tats what i' was told...any advice my birds are still young but my last kit of 2005 birds were the same flyign too low...no progress in height
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GREED FOR SPEED LOFT
65 posts
Jun 08, 2006
11:19 PM
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Spade , try them on regular 14% for awhile and see if their fly height will change,their flying time will for sure, you may have tried this already.. Pending on their age, if real young, i would'nt give the young ones straight wheat until some maturity took place and habit formed.. They may fly low because of that habit, since they are "creatures of habit".... Good Luck.......R-LUNA
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motherlodelofts
798 posts
Jun 09, 2006
7:37 AM
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Wheat is great more some families(mine included) but you don't do it week after week , they also need fat and more protien.
Young birds need a richer feed to build muscle, feather and bone.
Scott
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Planet_Rock_Lofts
53 posts
Jun 09, 2006
9:29 AM
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Well, after going to straight wheat and a high percentage wheat diet my birds are flying way too long (2 hours today) and way too high (they turn into dots). I am in the process of re-working the feed to bring them down to a lower height and shorter flight time any ideas?
Planet Rock Lofts
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siddiqir
223 posts
Jun 09, 2006
9:40 AM
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Well JUST wheat do not work for me. I need to give them mix to let them stay in the air for 30-45 mins. If I feed them just wheat for couple of weeks then they circle around for 5 mins and come down. Thanks, -Rauf
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fhtfire
461 posts
Jun 09, 2006
10:15 AM
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I use a 50/50 wheat milo mix for my kit birds...(Older kit birds). My young birds get the rich feed until they really come into the roll hard...then they get every other day flying and I start playing with the feed quantaties and feed type. When they break the one year mark...or are really into the roll and doing what I like...then I put them on a fly, rest, rest, fly schedule or (YO YO system). On the fly day..when they land I give them a full ration of a rich feed....on the second day or first rest day..I give them 50 50 wheat and milo...(about a half cup less) and on the third day or second day of rest...I give them even less 50/50 milo. The are really active when they come out and fly for about 45 min..a little tiny bit higher then I like. If the birds start getting a little light on me...then I give the the rich food on the second day instead of 50/50 wheat milo. When they are moulting...I really pour the Sauflower to them....they get a little fat...and I lose the action...but it really gets them through the molt.....when the moult is over...back to the grind stone...I will fly them a little more...to get them back into shape. Competition feeding is a total different ball game...the above mentioned feeding program..is more of a feed to maintain. Competition...I fly more and pour the wheat to them and keep the fly time at about 30-40 min. Then I will dump a rich feed to them three days before the comp and then rest them...then really cut back and then put the birds on wheat then wheat milo...and cross your fingers that they come out ok. Young birds are easy...feed them a rich mix and feed them enough to where they still trap.
D...you really have to play with the feed when your birds come into the roll and see how they react. One thing to remember is that it take time for the birds to react to a certain feed. For Example...if you put a kit of birds on rich feed and then put them on wheat for a couple days..you will not get the true reaction...you have to do it for a week to 10 days...then you will see the reaction. It is just a constant learning process....I have so many notes on feeding and reaction...I have notes for Fall comp feeding,,,summer comp feeding....winter feeding...moulting feeding...World Cup feeding...they are all different times of the year and the birds react different.
Once your birds are "rock'n and ROLL'N" You want to set a fake competition day about 2 weeks out and then play with the feed and rest until you find out what works. I use a little tape recorder while the birds are flying...and talk into it as the birds break or any problems...then I play the tape back and take the notes. Play with the feed and rest....fly them everyday and put them on week and the rest before the comp and see how they do. Then build them back up for a couple weeks and then do it again...but maybe fly for a week straight..rest a couple days and then fly some more and then rest before your comp day...using maybe wheat/milo...then throw in some rich feed 4 or 5 days out and then back to the wheat milo and see how they react...It is all trial and error.
Scott is right....different birds...different feed...my birds do not act as good to wheat as Scotts bird...just a little different...
rock and ROLL
Paul
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Santandercol
104 posts
Jun 09, 2006
9:57 PM
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Paul,
I like that post.I like to hear how different people feed their birds.
Planet Rock,
1/5th barley with 50/50 wheat milo sure worked for me to bring them down and shorten their flying time.It seemed to affect them quickly and with a marked difference.
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Kelly
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Richard A.
87 posts
Jun 10, 2006
7:23 PM
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I agree with the Greedy Guy!!!
I flew on just wheat for alot of years and had no problems, until I moved to Apple Valley. I believe it was the elevation change. I now fly on 3/4 wheat and 1/4 13% grain.
Richard A.
Man You are Greedy!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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siddiqir
224 posts
Jun 10, 2006
9:00 PM
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Rich, which state are you in? Here in NJ just wheat not work for me. Just trying to relate "elevation change" with different location. Thanks, -Rauf
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J_Star
469 posts
Jun 12, 2006
5:19 AM
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I have a Jaconette family of rollers. They do great on Wheat. I usualy mix 50/50 Wheat Milo and occasional strait Wheat or Milo. They do very good on that mixture. It is this time of year when the birds love to fly and no matter what you feed them they will do an hour to an Hour and a half. Unless you cut the feed way down to let them do half hour. In the summer time they require less feed than normal times. Instead of 1 cup for 10 birds give 3/4 cup and keep cutting them down by a tspoon of feed every day to give you the time required.
Jay
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