How to Formulate Racing Pigeon Feed? Detailed Methods and Key Points

Racing pigeons, also known as “carrier pigeons”, are a population derived, developed and bred from the pigeons commonly seen in daily life. Through the domestication of ordinary pigeons, their superior traits are extracted, utilized and bred. People use racing pigeons because pigeons have an innate homing instinct, and people breed, develop and use them to deliver important messages. Today the main use of racing pigeons is competition.

Feed for racing pigeons is very important for raising them, so how is racing pigeon feed formulated? What needs attention?

Rationally formulating the daily ration is the key to meeting the various nutritional needs of pigeons and ensuring their normal growth. Only feeding a complete-price daily ration can maintain the health of pigeons and the normal performance of their production capacity. When formulating the daily ration, the feeding standards and the nutritional composition tables of commonly used feeds must be used as the basis, and the ration formulation plan must be determined according to the actual situation of the pigeons and the feed varieties available. When formulating the daily ration, the following issues should be noted:

Good quality raw materials

Feed that has been stored too long is best not used, and rancid, moldy and deteriorated raw materials must absolutely not be used.

Low price

The feed must both meet the nutritional needs of the pigeons and reduce costs.

Good palatability

There are two reasons affecting the palatability of feed:

1. The feed itself, such as sorghum, contains tannins, so its palatability is somewhat poorer.

2. Processing and preparation, and particle size, will have an effect on pigeons of different ages.

Varied varieties

Only a variety of feed types can achieve complementation of various nutrients and reach the goal of complete-price nutrition.

Suitable moisture

Excessive moisture affects storage and makes ingredient proportions inaccurate. Strict proportions

Pigeon feed must be strictly measured according to the requirements of the feed formula and mixed according to the specified proportions.

Relatively stable

The mixed daily ration should be relatively stable. If raw materials need to be changed, the change must be made gradually to avoid feed-change stress.

Rational formulation

Racing pigeons and meat pigeons have different raising purposes, so there are also differences in daily ration formulation. A pigeon needs about 3 grams of protein, 12 grams of carbohydrates, 2 grams of fat and a small amount of vitamins and minerals per day. As for the mixing method, there are two kinds: the trial-and-error method and computer formulation. The trial-and-error method is suitable for family pigeon keeping or small pigeon farms.

Racing pigeon feed formulas:

 1. “Brooding feed”: 

Self-formulated feed: Before squabs are twenty days old, do not add corn or peanuts. Other formulas are as follows: Green peas: 35% Yellow peas: 5% Brown rice: 15% Wheat: 10% Sorghum: 10% Mung beans: 5% White flower seeds: 10% Hemp seeds: 10% 

2. After young pigeons leave the nest, they can be divided into two stages: the molting stage and the feather-replacement stage.  

1) Molting stage: use clearing feed. Clearing feed ratio: Barley-40% Wheat-10% Paddy rice-15% Rapeseed-5% Sorghum-20% White flower seeds-10% Use during the initial feather-shedding period.  After large-scale feather shedding, it enters the feather-growing stage.  

2) Feather-replacement stage: at this time, increase the oil content and protein of the feed. Generally, after pigeons replace 7 feathers, use the following feed. The legume with the highest protein content is: peas. Next is: sunflower seeds. Among nutritional products, brewer's yeast has the highest content. The legume with the highest oil content is: sunflower seeds. Next are: peanuts, and rapeseed. Corn-20% Peas-25% Mung beans-5% Barley-10% Wheat-10% Rapeseed-10% Sorghum-10% White flower seeds-10%  

3. Training period: Corn-25% Peas-20% Hemp-10% Paddy rice-20% Rapeseed-5% Sorghum-10% White flower seeds-10%  

4. External training period: Corn-35% Peas-15% Barley-10% Paddy rice-15% Rapeseed-5% Hemp-10% White flower seeds-10%

5. Competition period: (within five hundred kilometers) Corn-45% Peas-15% Barley-10% Paddy rice-10% Rapeseed-5% Hemp-10% White flower seeds-5%  

6. Feed for older racing pigeons: White sorghum 25% Safflower seeds 25% Rice (with husk) 8% Wheat 7% Buckwheat seeds 5% Flax seeds 5% Hemp seeds 10% Oats (hulled) 5% Millet 5%  Red sorghum 5%, etc.