TT
GOLD MEMBER
467 posts
Aug 10, 2009
3:32 PM
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Is there a specific age for the birds that red millet has a big effect and really works?
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Tony...
"Color is not an option"
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toronto15
271 posts
Aug 10, 2009
3:54 PM
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Tony, my breeders use to love it,high protein and low fat,kept them trim when not rearing and was like a treat for them.The racers would get it too..Glen.
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TT
GOLD MEMBER
468 posts
Aug 10, 2009
4:04 PM
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Glen,
Ive tried experimenting with it with the youngster, tried to use it to give them a boost to get them higher, it just didnt even phase them.
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Tony...
"Color is not an option"
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toronto15
272 posts
Aug 10, 2009
4:40 PM
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Sorry Tony,no real experience yet with BR,s. Could it be possible that their too hungry when you fly them?Glen.
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pigeon pete
349 posts
Aug 10, 2009
5:41 PM
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Glens point is very pertinent.
Often guys will tell me that if I use certain grains then my birds will sky out, or fly too long, but, it all depends on how much you feed them.
Birds that are fit and not hungry should fly for longer and are more likely to fly higher.
Hungry birds are looking to land almost as soon as you let them out and will not fly a settled pattern for long enough to fly really high, generally speaking they will fly lower. My old birds if flown really hungry for long enough (several days)will fly around low, but still fly 20 minutes or so as they are clever enough to not risk landing while they are still full of roll.
If I gave the same amount of mix or small seeds as I have been feeding wheat; I would expect a big difference in the flying time and /or height.
You can feed a high protien or high fat diet and still have them hungry if you reduce the amount, in fact some seeds seem to stimulate their appetite, or maybe they are just more eager to eat the better food?
Last Edited by on Aug 10, 2009 5:43 PM
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macsrollers
173 posts
Aug 10, 2009
10:45 PM
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Millet is a high octane feed that you need to be very careful with. I had a conversation with Monty Neibel once and he told me about using a small amount of millet to boost your birds when you have them on the edge for a competition. He told me to be very careful as it was like a type of speed. I believe he told me to give my kit 1/2 a teaspoon about 12 hours before the fly. I did so, then I thought that wasn't much and it was gone is a second so ignorant me threw a bunch more in for them. When I released them the next morning they came out smoking but started flying fast and up up and away. I called Monty and told him how much I gave them and his first question was "How many did you lose". I lost about 1/2 my team that day and another lesson learned the hard way. I don't know what age of birds to start playing with millet but I haven't used it since! There may be a benifit and I have to think if the late great Monty Neibel used it then there definitely is. BE CAREFUL if you experiment with this seed! Enjoy your next fly! Don M. LVRC
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BA Rollers
275 posts
Aug 10, 2009
11:28 PM
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There are two different types of millet that are common for bird feeding. Red and White. Red is bitter where white is not. Red is typcially smaller than white. White is softer than red. If given a choice, red millet is not high on a bird's list as compared to white.
Based on my own experience, I don't believe red millet has the same affect on the birds as white does. I've seen nothing that lends me to believe red millet had any affect on my kits. But I have seen white millet induce them to fly for longer periods of time.
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pigeon pete
350 posts
Aug 11, 2009
3:06 AM
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We use milo and dari which seem to belong to the millet family of seeds but for some reason milo may be given as a full feed but millet is regarded as 'rocket fuel'. Looking at the contents of both types, the millet has higher fat contentthan Dari.
On a fly the other day, 2 guys were 'observed' to have canary type seeds around. It's a little side hobby peering into other guys feed bins,lol
The first flew an old bird kit that spent most of the fly too high to judge, and the second flew a young bird kit that flew like racers, and only had two birds that attempted to roll; of the rest they didn't even have time to tumble or tail ride they were flying that fast.
As with millet, dari is said to be less bitter than milo, the red type (milo)having tannin in the skin.
I have met flyers who say they only feed straight wheat, but then use a little canary seed to trap the birds in lol
Pete
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sbrc
166 posts
Aug 11, 2009
4:16 PM
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pete you little devil moocher , i was on that fly and saw you put most of that corn in your pockets lol
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Pige Inn
8 posts
Aug 11, 2009
5:51 PM
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Hi Tony,I haven't talked with you for awhile now. In my part of the country it's hard to even find Popping corn, but I did manage to. For the last 6months I've been feeding 1/2 wheat and 1/2 safflower and the birds are flying quite high. I've just this week introduced popping corn and give them one handful per section. I have three sections, hens, young birds and cocks. The birds trap very fast and need no enticing with treats, I call and they come. All for now Dave
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Sunflower
GOLD MEMBER
497 posts
Aug 11, 2009
5:55 PM
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Pige,
Cut the safflower down by 50%. Too much protein.
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Keep em Spinning
Joe
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TT
GOLD MEMBER
469 posts
Aug 11, 2009
6:00 PM
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Thanks guys,
Dave how you been, Hope the birds are doing well for you.
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Tony...
"Color is not an option"
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PR_rollers
GOLD MEMBER
3261 posts
Aug 11, 2009
6:01 PM
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I use white millet only as a treat for coming in..but now I just toss a corn here and there just to see how hungry they are..love to play with their minds...
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Ralph.
Life comes down to the choices you make, and then living with the results.
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Pige Inn
9 posts
Aug 13, 2009
11:44 AM
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Hi Tony, the birds are doing fine. Kit 1 and 2 are together, all in molt and flying all over the sky in every direction you can think of. I'm letting them out more often now that our heat wave is over, but as for them kitting, I just think they need more time in the air together. How are your birds doing? Are you enjoying them as well? Sorry this is off your topic, so I'll let you go...dave
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