Spot on, I think. You know in Rollers, we feed VERY, VERY sparingly and the diet would really shock most racing fanciers. Generally, kit birds live on about tablespoon of a mix that is 50-50 wheat and milo. And that's it each day. I went for 40 years never giving my kit birds vitamin supplements, minerals or even grit because that's how I was taught to do it. They got whole wheat and they got water and nothing more unless they made it to the breeding loft (before all the issues with BOPS, you'd fly a bird for two or three years straight before stocking it). The birds born with great feather retained the great feather even under this sort of system and I never really saw much of a difference once a pigeon made it to the stock loft and got rich stuff, with the exception of lacking the typical flight wear found in kit birds that flew and rolled daily. Happy New Year, Frank!
I agree, Frank. I have seen only temporary enhancements of feather quality after giving a few products, like The Edge in their drinking water or oils on the feed or kickin chicks liquid. But, permanently satin, beautiful feathering is congenital.
Thanks for sharing! If the pigeons are really lacking some supplements will help. If you give a good grain mix and plenty of minerals the feather quality should be super. Baths and oils will not make a difference.
This has been my point I have made in many post . Fanciers. Will not make a silk purse from a pigs ear .Quality does not come in a potion or a product it's genetics .
Without the genetics it will not matter what you give the pigeons. Proper nutrition is very important and combined with genetics the birds feather quality is amazing.
Great info and thanks for sharing. I think a combination of both genetics and care are factors that can affect the feather quality. I agree with one of the commenters below regarding good nutrition while the birds are growing can help and certainly the genetics are a big factor as well. Have a great new years to everyone and all be safe.
havent even started to hit play, and i am gonna say "both" good care will improve the feather quality of any pigeon, but it has a genetic limit. meanwhile those genetic superstars will have decent feathers on poor care, but wont reach their potential unless given good care. (hits play to see how i did)
ok... agreed in general. i do think that the nutrition is MOST important when baby birds are growing, so it might make more difference if they werent old birds, but ... yeah, a good bird (feather quality) will always be better... interesting experiment, sir:
Mr. McLaughlin quick question what would You say is the best way to give Probiotics to Your Birds, should You sprinkle it on their feed or should You mix it in the water?
The problem with probiotics is that many put the probiotics in the water and most water is treated with chlorine etc which kills the probiotics. I feel you should use an aquarium chlorine remover whether you add the probiotics to the feed or water. Adding to the feed is better because more of the probiotics gets into the pigeon. Buy the chlorine remover at Petco or similar. I use the one to two drops to the gallon brand because it is easy. I let sit for a minute and then add the probiotics.
I agee feathers are genetics but i will say last year i purchased a hen from OLR auction when i opened the box feathers were dry she came here last April /May . If you handle her now you would not think was the same hen she is silk feathers and a beautiful hen so with no stress probably better feed grit minerals baths and a full moult feathers can improve .
Hi frank how are you i love your tips can you tell me if whether is very very hot and humid like temperature is a 45 degree Celsius and up if you giving a corn every day it’s okay???
When you say corn do you mean Maize? I have corn in my grain mix and it will not matter to have corn in the feed in any temperature. I am not a huge fan of corn during racing or breeding but use this in the off season.
I paired 8 pairs 8/9th Dec 6 hens laid two eggs 19th/21st but today 31st two hens have not laid . These are two year old hens is there in your opinion anything to be concerned about . All in same section same feed grit minerals what has happened. On a last note both hens spend a lot of time in there boxes with the cocks the box front doors are open 24 hrs .
This is hard to say. Even with running lights it is not normal to breed this time of year. I always have a few hens that take a long time to lay in winter but after the first round they are fine. If they look super they should be okay but it is frustrating to have some take so long to lay.
When a pigeon is young and has the white flights they are weaker. The dark colored flights tend to hold up better. Once a white flighted young bird molts those white feathers are just as strong as colored feathers.
Thanks for this basic true video Everything and any theory in racing pigeons are only genetics the rest in my opininion are only big BS.Happy new year to you and your family
You can feed once a day but they must have all they can eat and have a long time to clean up the feed. I feed once a day to the babies but I fill the feeders and they eat what they want all day long.
It is however also influence by weather i remember handling pigeons in Canada the feather unbelievably soft .in countries with extreme cold weather and snow the feathers are different so feather in Southern hemisphere and Northern hemisphere. Quality and quantity is weather influence this comment does not disprove Frank's views .
Spot on, I think. You know in Rollers, we feed VERY, VERY sparingly and the diet would really shock most racing fanciers. Generally, kit birds live on about tablespoon of a mix that is 50-50 wheat and milo. And that's it each day. I went for 40 years never giving my kit birds vitamin supplements, minerals or even grit because that's how I was taught to do it. They got whole wheat and they got water and nothing more unless they made it to the breeding loft (before all the issues with BOPS, you'd fly a bird for two or three years straight before stocking it). The birds born with great feather retained the great feather even under this sort of system and I never really saw much of a difference once a pigeon made it to the stock loft and got rich stuff, with the exception of lacking the typical flight wear found in kit birds that flew and rolled daily. Happy New Year, Frank!
Great study over time and thank you. Genetics plays such a big part. Hope you have a super 2024!
I agree, Frank. I have seen only temporary enhancements of feather quality after giving a few products, like The Edge in their drinking water or oils on the feed or kickin chicks liquid. But, permanently satin, beautiful feathering is congenital.
Thanks for sharing! If the pigeons are really lacking some supplements will help. If you give a good grain mix and plenty of minerals the feather quality should be super. Baths and oils will not make a difference.
This has been my point I have made in many post . Fanciers. Will not make a silk purse from a pigs ear .Quality does not come in a potion or a product it's genetics .
Without the genetics it will not matter what you give the pigeons. Proper nutrition is very important and combined with genetics the birds feather quality is amazing.
Great info and thanks for sharing. I think a combination of both genetics and care are factors that can affect the feather quality. I agree with one of the commenters below regarding good nutrition while the birds are growing can help and certainly the genetics are a big factor as well. Have a great new years to everyone and all be safe.
Very true. I always give proper nutrition but without genetics you will never have great feather no matter what you feed or supplement.
lovely
I totally agree. Genetics play the big role. nutrition only nurtures it.
Very true. Without the genetics there is nothing you can do to get great feather.
Totally agree
havent even started to hit play, and i am gonna say "both" good care will improve the feather quality of any pigeon, but it has a genetic limit. meanwhile those genetic superstars will have decent feathers on poor care, but wont reach their potential unless given good care.
(hits play to see how i did)
ok... agreed in general. i do think that the nutrition is MOST important when baby birds are growing, so it might make more difference if they werent old birds, but ... yeah, a good bird (feather quality) will always be better...
interesting experiment, sir:
Of course you should always give proper nutrition plus minerals but super quality feather is genetics first. Great point.
Babies need super nutrition to grow and reach full potential. Minerals are very important.
AWESOME INFORMATION!
Happy you enjoyed. I am having fun with TH-cam
Thanks for the useful information
Happy you enjoyed.
Mr. McLaughlin quick question what would You say is the best way to give Probiotics to Your Birds, should You sprinkle it on their feed or should You mix it in the water?
The problem with probiotics is that many put the probiotics in the water and most water is treated with chlorine etc which kills the probiotics. I feel you should use an aquarium chlorine remover whether you add the probiotics to the feed or water. Adding to the feed is better because more of the probiotics gets into the pigeon. Buy the chlorine remover at Petco or similar. I use the one to two drops to the gallon brand because it is easy. I let sit for a minute and then add the probiotics.
Present Sir 🫡
Thanks for sharing
Some old timers would say that they could be you on race day feeding scratch feed 😂
We must change and improve if our competitors are changing and improving.
Happy new year Frank
Very same to you!
I agee feathers are genetics but i will say last year i purchased a hen from OLR auction when i opened the box feathers were dry she came here last April /May . If you handle her now you would not think was the same hen she is silk feathers and a beautiful hen so with no stress probably better feed grit minerals baths and a full moult feathers can improve .
I have seen this also that feathers can get ruined by environmental factors and once proper care is given the super feather is displayed.
Happy new year sir🎉🎉 🍾🍾
Happy new year to you also
Hi frank how are you i love your tips can you tell me if whether is very very hot and humid like temperature is a 45 degree Celsius and up if you giving a corn every day it’s okay???
When you say corn do you mean Maize? I have corn in my grain mix and it will not matter to have corn in the feed in any temperature. I am not a huge fan of corn during racing or breeding but use this in the off season.
I paired 8 pairs 8/9th Dec 6 hens laid two eggs 19th/21st but today 31st two hens have not laid . These are two year old hens is there in your opinion anything to be concerned about . All in same section same feed grit minerals what has happened. On a last note both hens spend a lot of time in there boxes with the cocks the box front doors are open 24 hrs .
This is hard to say. Even with running lights it is not normal to breed this time of year. I always have a few hens that take a long time to lay in winter but after the first round they are fine. If they look super they should be okay but it is frustrating to have some take so long to lay.
Thanks for your video Frank. Are white feathers inherently weaker than other feather colors… thinking mostly about the primary flights.
When a pigeon is young and has the white flights they are weaker. The dark colored flights tend to hold up better. Once a white flighted young bird molts those white feathers are just as strong as colored feathers.
Thanks for this basic true video
Everything and any theory in racing pigeons are only genetics the rest in my opininion are only big BS.Happy new year to you and your family
You are right. You need great pigeons with super genetics to have success.
Hi Frank can I feed my weaned babies once a day
You can feed once a day but they must have all they can eat and have a long time to clean up the feed. I feed once a day to the babies but I fill the feeders and they eat what they want all day long.
It is however also influence by weather i remember handling pigeons in Canada the feather unbelievably soft .in countries with extreme cold weather and snow the feathers are different so feather in Southern hemisphere and Northern hemisphere. Quality and quantity is weather influence this comment does not disprove Frank's views .
Interesting. Seems animals in colder climates must be stronger to deal with the very intense cold.
Hello frank
How many g you feed your race pigeon
You will find my measurements here: th-cam.com/play/PLfjpm1Kc9E0UkXcdnfTrnV_VKTkfNozbt.html
i think its Genetic I have a pair that always give me yb with silk like feathers
You will see certain pigeons breed such great feather quality.