Barley. Swear at it or for it?

Have read the benefits and negatives of barley in the feed. I tried it years ago. I could not see any benefit to it over two years. Birds were reluctant to eat it. The birds racing were neither better or worse for it but at the distance failed. Yet other guys told me it worked for them and they did good. Mostly widowhood fliers. Cut it out altogether and performance picked up. Guess pigeons can adapt to any feeding system, loft management system etc,. Thank goodness!!

halcanada wrote:

Have read the benefits and negatives of barley in the feed. I tried it years ago. I could not see any benefit to it over two years. Birds were reluctant to eat it. The birds racing were neither better or worse for it but at the distance failed. Yet other guys told me it worked for them and they did good. Mostly widowhood fliers. Cut it out altogether and performance picked up. Guess pigeons can adapt to any feeding system, loft management system etc,. Thank goodness!!

Same, same Hal Read much of
the spiel available etc & are not a great lover of it's use I must admit. That being said it's a cheap type feed here, so I have 5% in my mix, just to tell me when they have had enough type of thing.

Like you Hal I used to use it a lot , but birds didn't like it and I didn't use it this year and my results were much better.

heard good things about malting barley but hard to get here ...just use a little barley as a feed regulator or to get the weight off after winter lockdown

Bought 2 bags of moulting mix yesterday and got a shock at the price , nearly 15 pound a bag, unreal..will not do that again lol

I thought the same Ray when I bought a bag of Depurative at the beginning of the year.

So this time I made my own. OK it costs a bit more than buying a bag of made up depurative - but you end up with LOADS.

I brought up Versele Laga depurative on Google, then copied the recipe and bought what I needed.

I ended up with just about two Dustbins full.

I got the wheat and barley from the farm down the road at £5.50 a bag each and had the other stuff I needed in stock.

So I have enough Depurative to last me over a year.

I would have thought, for you Ray with all your birds, even if you had to pay shop prices for the barley and wheat, and the other bits and bobs, it would work out MUCH cheaper for you.

Maybe if one only had a few birds, one could share with a mate or club member.

Phil

barley was £6.50 a bag last year when I bought some, I don't like it much so use bamfords depurative mixed with my mix to lighten it.

Normally do make our own up but just being lazy lol but like I said it cost us

peel bros wrote:

Normally do make our own up but just being lazy lol but like I said it cost us

they charge you more ray, because they know you got plenty and can afford it......

Think your right there david

David wrote:

peel bros wrote:

Normally do make our own up but just being lazy lol but like I said it cost us

they charge you more ray, because they know you got plenty and can afford it......

Rumour file around the South Shields area David has our Ray, known as money bags Peel etc I hear.  

yes knackered, his purse is full so I`m told........

I wish ..have to work for my pocket money which is a rare thing nowadays I am afraid...pigeon men working lol

peel bros wrote:

I wish ..have to work for my pocket money which is a rare thing nowadays I am afraid...pigeon men working lol

Same here Ray working men types are like dinasours etc "very few to be found" . The bad back brigade   on a pension are many but they still some how can carry 2 baskets, full to the brim as such & then lift the crates/units onto the truck type of thing & are quite happy if someone offers them a job of any desciption, if it's cash only type payment .  

peel bros wrote:

I wish ..have to work for my pocket money which is a rare thing nowadays I am afraid...pigeon men working lol

Tell them to come down here Ray     "Plenty of work" While waiting at my Geordie mates on Saturday it was birthday time for his eldest boy "first 2 born geordies" 20 years later etc the next 2 born aussies "Big time" & all have a good paying job now, because mum & dad have a strong work ethic if you get my drift    .