Thoughts on feed

I thought I would post a picture of our clubs custom mix. There is no data on the feed, other than were it is sourced. The guy that came up with the formula doesn't know the protein content,ect. What do you folks think? It is 17$USD a fifty pound bag. The richest I've mixed with it is 50% barley/mix. Are the peas, maple?

Gotta head to work but any insight would be appreciated

hi rom, I`m not clued up on mixes, I simply buy from the shop something which looks ok.....your mix looks ok to me, a bit of everything in it.

I`m sure members with greater knowledge than me will comment ...

maple peas,maize ,dari,safflower,wheat not a lot of maize in that mix and nice maples too not the crinkled crap you get here and the quality of the grains in that mix in general looks good to me ...depends on what you want to do with the mix ok for ybs with some barley added but percentage would be down to training and exercise regime and come racing that's a different thing again but as a base mix its ok but would rather see more maize in it for racers jmo

It maybe the pic but it looks a very very basic resting mix. I wouldn't expect much of my birds feeding it. I like to have a lot of different seed to give the birds whatever they need.
If I remember right you said you birds are sometimes lazy and don't want to fly, could be the lack of energy there getting from the mix.
Is there some powder on it?
Are you looking at using it for racing?

Looks ideal to add to when needed.

Almost like a diet mix

cowandchicken wrote:

It maybe the pic but it looks a very very basic resting mix. I wouldn't expect much of my birds feeding it. I like to have a lot of different seed to give the birds whatever they need.
If I remember right you said you birds are sometimes lazy and don't want to fly, could be the lack of energy there getting from the mix.
Is there some powder on it?
Are you looking at using it for racing?

Yes sir, I had problems with them being lazy on the mix. When I switched to 50/50 barley, and mix they started to range for an hour or so. Then when I put them on 100% barley, they would range out for 2 hours or more. And when they came back they would always be way up there. It is so confusing because I hear and read what you are saying, but the heavier the feed the worse performance I get? Now I had a brief chance to talk to a flier who has won our western open a couple times. He told me to only give them 100% club mix when they are first weaned. Then switch to 50%barley added. He told me that he races all his birds on this. Short race or 600 miles, it doesn't matter,same mix.
I don't have powder on it, and as far as racing on it? Don't know yet That's why I wanted you guys to look at it. I appreciate the insight. Always learning. I did buy some flax seed to cut into the mix if needed.

halcanada wrote:

Looks ideal to add to when needed.

Same, same Looks Ok for a basic survival mix etc. Mixes are never ending as such, do your head in at times trying to decide which one to buy . for Rom his mix is a start I would suggest & he will tinker around over time with differant grains, if he is like most of us here.  

Lofty wrote:

Almost like a diet mix

Thinking about maybe taking a sample to get analyzed. I picked up 400 pounds of the stuff unfortunately.

Knackered wrote:

halcanada wrote:

Looks ideal to add to when needed.

Same, same Looks Ok for a basic survival mix etc. Mixes are never ending as such, do your head in at times trying to decide which one to buy . for Rom his mix is a start I would suggest & he will tinker around over time with differant grains, if he is like most of us here.  

I'm going to call Noonkester yet ! I'll ask him too. I was told everybody races the wrstern open on that mix plus barley. I don't believe it though. Who knows what folks are really doing

Romedius wrote:

Knackered wrote:

halcanada wrote:

Looks ideal to add to when needed.

Same, same Looks Ok for a basic survival mix etc. Mixes are never ending as such, do your head in at times trying to decide which one to buy . for Rom his mix is a start I would suggest & he will tinker around over time with differant grains, if he is like most of us here.  

I'm going to call Noonkester yet !  I'll ask him too.  I was told everybody races the wrstern open on that mix plus barley.  I don't believe it though.  Who knows what folks are really doing

Please, don't become a non believer Rom about any issue in regards to pigeons etc as more than likely somewhere, some time you will be made to look a complete fool in the over all big picture as such . Take all advise as genuine, when given & just pick & choose those bits that will fit your situation there .
*****

I'm actually made to be a complete fool often I hear what your saying though

Romedius wrote:

I'm actually made to be a complete fool often   I hear what your saying though

That's OK first requirement here Rom if one wishes to join our forum etc is to tick the fool box as a passage of entry.  

Rom. By looking at the mix I will give you my analysis of it. 15 or 16% protien. Just add corn. Maize. 8%. Just experiment a little. Add more gradually. When your birds are flying TO YOUR SATISFACTION then stick with it. Then adjust as to breeding or whatever. Maize up or down. Depurative mix, breeding mix, long/short distance mix do not fall for the hype. Wild pigeons survive all winter. They breed survivors. They nest and have young. They moult. On whatever they can find to eat.

halcanada wrote:

Rom. By looking at the mix I will give you my analysis of it. 15 or 16% protien.  Just add corn. Maize. 8%. Just experiment a little. Add more gradually. When your birds are flying TO YOUR SATISFACTION then stick with it. Then adjust as to breeding or whatever. Maize up or down. Depurative mix, breeding mix, long/short distance mix do not fall for the hype. Wild pigeons survive all winter. They breed survivors. They nest and have young. They moult. On whatever they can find to eat.

Will do hal. I'll mess around with it.

Rom, A well known corn brand did a study on what seeds do for birds and how they fly.
For the first hour they fly on sugars / carbs after that they switch over to fats for fuel.
If you Google a nutrition breakdown for seeds it will tell you which seeds are high in fats
Carbs sugars protein ect. this will help you when you start to play with or even make your
mix. Its all out there on the web just takes time to find.

A site called the pigeon insider has a good chart and collection of articles on feed to get you started.

Romedius wrote:

cowandchicken wrote:

It maybe the pic but it looks a very very basic resting mix. I wouldn't expect much of my birds feeding it. I like to have a lot of different seed to give the birds whatever they need.
If I remember right you said you birds are sometimes lazy and don't want to fly, could be the lack of energy there getting from the mix.
Is there some powder on it?
Are you looking at using it for racing?

Yes sir, I had problems with them being lazy on the mix.  When I switched to 50/50 barley, and mix they started to range for an hour or so.  Then when I put them on 100% barley, they would range out for 2 hours or more.  And when they came back they would always be way up there.  It is so confusing because I hear and read what you are saying, but the heavier the feed the worse performance I get? Now I had a brief chance to talk to a flier who has won our western open a couple times.  He told me to only give them 100% club mix when they are first weaned.  Then switch to 50%barley added.  He told me that he races all his birds on this.  Short race or 600 miles,  it doesn't matter,same mix.  
I don't have powder on it, and as far as racing on it?  Don't know yet   That's why I wanted you guys to look at it.  I appreciate the insight.  Always learning.  I did buy some flax seed to cut into the mix if needed.

One could say Rom you have answered your own query here etc . Local wisdom. local knowledge tell's one it is a good all round mix you have there, especially if it gets birds home from 600 miles plus.

cowandchicken wrote:

A site called the pigeon insider has a good chart and collection of articles on feed to get you started.

All good for the knowledge/wisdom factor I suggest CC . The all peas/beans men thou know the science factor isn't every thing in pigeons as such .
*****

cowandchicken wrote:

A site called the pigeon insider has a good chart and collection of articles on feed to get you started.

Bookmarked it..il have a better look at home

halcanada wrote:

Rom. By looking at the mix I will give you my analysis of it. 15 or 16% protien.  Just add corn. Maize. 8%. Just experiment a little. Add more gradually. When your birds are flying TO YOUR SATISFACTION then stick with it. Then adjust as to breeding or whatever. Maize up or down. Depurative mix, breeding mix, long/short distance mix do not fall for the hype. Wild pigeons survive all winter. They breed survivors. They nest and have young. They moult. On whatever they can find to eat.

yes needs more maize added for racers and a element of barley to ...enough protein in it by the looks of it though ,if you have bought a lot of it then just buy a few bags of maize ,barley or depurative preferably and conditioner and you can create what you want when you want ,more carbs or more fats etc...whenever you need to also buy some peas in for breeding nothings set in stone ask the weatherman atb

cowandchicken wrote:

A site called the pigeon insider has a good chart and collection of articles on feed to get you started.

I've tried that place, but it won't let me on unless I am a facebooker. I did happen to buy lots of maize also. Lots of barley too. When I went to the big city, I brought back a pallet + of feed. I'll play around with the feed. Thanks everybody

Romedius wrote:

cowandchicken wrote:

A site called the pigeon insider has a good chart and collection of articles on feed to get you started.

I've tried that place, but it won't let me on unless I am a facebooker.   I did happen to buy lots of maize  also.   Lots of barley too.  When I went to the big city, I brought back a pallet + of feed. I'll play around with the feed.  Thanks everybody

The BIG city what would that be Rom & how many miles in the trip to get there & back etc .
*****

Romedius wrote:

cowandchicken wrote:

A site called the pigeon insider has a good chart and collection of articles on feed to get you started.

I've tried that place, but it won't let me on unless I am a facebooker.   I did happen to buy lots of maize  also.   Lots of barley too.  When I went to the big city, I brought back a pallet + of feed. I'll play around with the feed.  Thanks everybody

I know the feeling Rom . Some old f*rt here from up Canada way etc is fore ever posting things here on facebook type of thing. All comes to nought for me here
unfortunately.

Knackered wrote:

Romedius wrote:

cowandchicken wrote:

A site called the pigeon insider has a good chart and collection of articles on feed to get you started.

I've tried that place, but it won't let me on unless I am a facebooker.   I did happen to buy lots of maize  also.   Lots of barley too.  When I went to the big city, I brought back a pallet + of feed. I'll play around with the feed.  Thanks everybody

The BIG city what would that be Rom & how many miles in the trip to get there & back etc .
*****

That would be bozeman. It is only 250 mile round trip, but over three passes. Not friendly in the winter if'n you know what I mean I have a brother who is a home builder too. He is building a big place over there, and had to get a apartment.
That area is where most of our racers are. Gene Yoes lives in Emigrant. You should see the terrain he is racing to. Much like mine, but not as mountainous.
Everybody else's birds can slip up broad valleys/highways.