Feed for pigeons

Hi All,
With me starting to breed now is there a type of food that I should be given the birds at this stag and would I change my feed or add a feed when and if chicks come along.
At the moment I am using a breeder mix, gritt, water and water with garlic in any help and tips always wellcome.    
Tony

plenty of protien in the mix i.e. peas at least 50% plus matrix daily, hope this helps  

edgie wrote:

plenty of protien in the mix i.e. peas at least 50% plus matrix daily, hope this helps  

Thanks edgie, what is MATRIX and how do I feed it and how often ????

Tony

matrix is a mixture of grit minerals clay plus others it is a must for pigeons, give handfull daily fresh into feeder   

edgie wrote:

matrix is a mixture of grit minerals clay plus others it is a must for pigeons, give handfull daily fresh into feeder   

Again edgie thanks for the help and tips mate  
Tony

hi tony , when im breeding i keep the water fresh with nothing added
as i want my birds to drink if you put in garlic or other things they are reluctant to drink there required amount . also when you have yb in the nest after about 7days i make sure they have a pot of food in there nest box i top that up 3 times aday they also have grit and black minerals and pick stones . good luck

YB.s eating apple and turf first time.

Good morning Kev, halcanada, thanks again for the info, I have put a pot of food in with the 3 week old chick, so do you think I should stop the water with the garlic in it until the chick or chicks if I get more are older mate. Thats the thing with birds and breeding everyone has their own way and its the help and advice that I am looking for at this early stage with pigeons. Everyone has been very helpfull so far its a great site for me   
Tony

morning tony, that's the right idea to put food in the nest box for the parents/ybs.......and yes I would definitely remove the garlic from the drinking water, when feeding ybs I think all you need is fresh clean water....which I also put in the nst box in a small cup clipped to the front, but this is just something some fanciers do, and others don't do.

the main thing is plenty of food, and fresh, clear water.......

Morning David, thanks again mate for the tips and I will stop the garlic in the water later today and sort out some little water pots for the cages mate   
Tony

down to the individual really tony, listen to advise from different people, but then just make your own mind up as to what suits you.....that's the best way. I use plastic cups which clip onto the widowhood fronts, but if you go for the round pot type, then just make sure they are glazed so they hold the water, and it doesn't seep out.

Thanks again David, I have noticed a few types in the shop because at the moment my set up dont have cage fronts on I will get the pots like I use for the food in the cages,  
Tony

get some crushed oyster shells tony from a pet shop for extra calcium and add it to yer grit ...its sometimes called chic grit atb

Hi Tony

i always placed a pot in the nest box filled with only peas mate

Plus it help when they feed once they see the parents eating the peas they will also try as they get older mate

Tony also when i feed the youngsters i always used an open troff just a piece of plywood with an edge strip on it or even a peice of plastic gutter

This will allow the youngsters to see the food as if you use a troff and they have to put there heads through something the youngsters tend to shy away from it then they start to miss there food and then problems may occur

When you part the youngsters if you have a few spare hens then place them in the youngbird section just to keep them carm

Tony another thing to concider is when you part the youngsters as they will not be strong on the wing they will spend a few nights on the floor which can be cold for them

If you get an herden sack fill it with straw 2 thirds full place it in the corner of the section and lye it flat on the floor, when parting the youngsters place them on the sack, this will prevent the cold from the floor plus help prevent the youngsters from getting a chill

This method is more to help if you breed early lick Dec, Jan time but still helps either way

Any one still use salt cats? Salted cod nailed to the wall. animal protien.