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sippi3
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Location: Florida
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feeding
Just had another one of those random thoughts whiz through my brain.
Does feeding a good mix to your breeders discourage picky eaters?
And in the opposite does feeding single variety rations encourage picky eaters?
I read a lot of people (mostly Birm breeders)having birds that will pick out certain seeds, pellets, or grains.I dont have this problem with my kit birds. They gobble everything thier beak touches. I do however see this in my breeders. I feed my breeders in the A.M. and try to give them just enough so that they eat the last seeds as I walk up to feed. I get the picky eaters when they are between clutches usually. And when I have young coming off the nest I make sure there is always feed for them to pick at during the day. I have to adjust my feed amounts daily due the these things. I find that all my breeders will eat the pig pellets first. Then some will eat the wheat and leave the milo, some will eat the milo and leave the wheat. When they are between squabs I will leave whatever they left and not feed them again until they have cleaned it up. This way they learn to clean thier plate and eat all thier peas and carrots.
just my thoughts
Sippi
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3/18/2008, 9:05 am
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flatheadfisher
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Re: feeding
My birds are way too picky. They pick out the big white peas first then the popcorn. After that, they pick out the rest of the peas. They have gotten to the point they won't eat the wheat, milo, and the other small stuff. I am going to try not feeding them until they eat all of it. I guess if they get hungry enough, they will finally eat it?
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3/18/2008, 5:06 pm
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sippi3
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Re: feeding
I feed just what they will eat in ten minutes to my flying birds as long as they trap properly. If they give me trouble trapping I will cut a half cup a day until they get the message. Then I will gradually up it again until they trap slow and level off there sometimes I have to go up and down until I hit a good measure. I even sometimes feed the ones that trap properly and shut the others out until all the feed is gone. A few days of this and they quit loafing on the roof. All my other breeds I feed in tablespoons of measure one per bird and then up it a tablespoon per day until they trap slow. then the same thing up and down and no feed for the problem children.
Most people probably over feed. Me included. But my birds will also fly over an hour if I do. I try to hold my Orientals to around forty five minutes and pretty much how to push them up or down in time with the feed can. After forty five minutes the action slows down most of the time so I dont push them past that like I used to.
Sippi
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3/18/2008, 6:14 pm
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flatheadfisher
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Re: feeding
I want to try something to prevent so much wasted feed in my lofts. I swept out a bucket of uneaten feed today. The feed I use is all peas, whole popcorn, wheat, milo, millet, and some other grains and seeds. I used chicken grower pellets before I used this stuff. But, the birds didn't seem too happy with it. I would buy split peas at the grocery store periodically and the birds would go nuts over them. So, I switched to the other feed. I have to drive a ways to the feed store that makes it and the price has really gone up. I wouldn't mind if they didn't waste about half of it! I was going to try just leaving it until it was gone. But, they started laying and feeding young and I hated to not keep them happily fed. Is that a mistake?
I have been thinking about the feed. I can get Producer's Pride Hog Feed at the Tractor Supply Company near my house. The pellets contain; "Protein 15.0%, Fat 3.0%, Fiber 5.0%; Used for Growing, Breeding and Maintaining Pigs." Sippi, is this like what you use?
I have also noticed the birds in the mutt loft from hell  will stick their heads out and eat the milo and millet sprouts they can reach. These seeds germinate from the water I use to clean the concrete floor. I am always careful to scrape the seeds and sprouts back after I bleach the floor. But, that got me thinking that they might like some plant material. They don't seem to like the salad I cut up for them. They just make a mess. I read someplace about feeding rabbit pellets. Has anyone tried this.
Thanks.
Last edited by flatheadfisher, 5/30/2008, 10:10 pm
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5/30/2008, 9:57 pm
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Socorro
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Re: feeding
Hey Michael,
My kitbirds of course are always fed only enough to be sure they clean it all up but all my breeders I feed cafeteria style with a hopper feeder with 6 sections,each one holds a half gallon wheat,corn,18%pellets,peas,milo,safflower.There is still a little waste but not much,I'd say a cup a week is wasted on the floor.1/2" wire no critters get in to molest the scattered food.Compost the scappings along with the guano and it all comes out on the dinner table as veges eventually.
Got any dandelions in your yard?Pigeons LOVE the leaves,throw the whole plant in there and watch 'em eat.Smooths up the oviduct on the hens too!
Last edited by Socorro, 5/30/2008, 10:20 pm
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Kelly Waugh
Rum:30 Lofts
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5/30/2008, 10:18 pm
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Gaditano
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Re: feeding
Uneaten food left in the loft is dangerous because it draws mice which can carry Paratyphoid. Also, Pigeons that carry Paratyphoid will crap on the uneaten food and spread it to others. They say Paratyphoid is in every loft just waiting to spread.
Most of my birds can't afford to be picky. They either eat ravenously or they go without until the next feeding. I usually feed them 2 times per day. For fear of mice, I don't like leaving uneaten food in the loft overnight
--- Alan Bliven - Circus Lofts
Member of the National Pigeon Association, Flying Oriental Roller Society, Horseman Pouter Club of North America, Voorburg Shield Cropper Club and the Tucson Pigeon Club |
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5/30/2008, 10:28 pm
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flatheadfisher
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Re: feeding
Kel, thanks for the info. I am going to try something like you use. I usually have a ton of dandelions but I just cut my grass today and I didn't see one! However, I have some mutt cоcks that I keep in a open kit box that I am not using. They have been flying free all spring and I have noticed that they really seem to enjoy "something" in the yard. I bet it is the dandelions!
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5/30/2008, 10:30 pm
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Socorro
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Re: feeding
Alan,
I hear ya for sure but with 1/2" wire and everything tight I'v'e never had a mouse in there yet(touch wood)and eating food off the floor??i dunno kinda like having had drunk water from evry country I've been in all my life not dead yet maybe I've a built up immunnity,no but if there is food in front of them alla time they will eat the stuff still on the plate and not what is on the placemat i've found.less they're hungry they dontouchit off the floor.These are my observations in my loft and anyones elses may be different i'm sure.
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Kelly Waugh
Rum:30 Lofts
Gabriola Island,B.C.,
Canada.
Ed FORS Newsletter
islanddoves@telus.net
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5/30/2008, 10:42 pm
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sharpshooters
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Re: feeding
To keep from making a mess I use the plexiglass sided feeders,they work great.I even updated all my doweled feeders by buying a piece of plexi,drilling 2"holes and screwing it to them.A good way to feed greens is to take a bundle of spinach,turnip greens,etc.,wrap a zip tie around the base,sprinkle on a little salt and hang them on a wire to keep them off the floor and out of the crap. Nick
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5/31/2008, 4:42 am
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sippi3
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Re: feeding
I've gone to straight pig pellets for my breeders. They started wasting so much milo I just quit giving it to them. They clean up the pellets well. They are a little messier in the nests and drink more water but it really makes good fat squeaks.
Wasted feed cost too much anymore and the possibility of contamination as well. All my floors can spill through the floor boards and the guineas and peacоcks clean it up. I have the luxury of being here all day so I can make sure they dont run out as well as waste any.
I am sure the pellets at Tractor Supply will work fine. I use FRM just because that is what my feed store carries. They do not like rabbit pellets at all. My chickens and guineas dont even like them. I dont know why but they wont hardly eat them. I finally fed them to the hogs. For a treat I throw mine a little bit of 27/20 dog food pellets. It really makes shiny feathers and they love them too. Squeaks cant handle them though.
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sippi
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5/31/2008, 1:16 pm
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