M. Vriends / 2001

By: M. Vriends on 2001
Barley is an excellent nutritious food for pigeons. It has a starch content
of 62.5%, a protein content of 7.5%, and a low fat content of 1.2%. The
fiber content is 1.3%. Like other cereals, barley has a high vitamin B
content.
Unlike most other grains, barley has a good vitamin D and mineral content.
During the molting and resting period barley is especially valuable; since
it is nutritious, but not so greedily consumed, the pigeons will eat
moderately but healthily.

Why is barley not so avidly taken? It can not be the taste, as oats are
taken readily. Barley has a prickly extension at the end of the grain. Long
thin barley has a particularly sharp husk, so give your birds the short fat
variety. Even so, pigeons are not barley fans. Barley should be available
during the breeding season. Ten percent of the feed mix is adequate so that
the parents do not feed too much to the young. During the molt, 20-25%
barley in the feed is ideal. Barley is very good for feather condition.
After the molt, during the rest season, 50% barley can be given; this stops
egg laying and provides a good vitamin D supply, which is essential in the
winter....

It has been stated that Malting or Malted Barley is the only kind to feed.
However, there are numerous fanciers who have fed only the variety sold as
"Whole Grain Barley" and have found no ill effects.

Peanuts

Spanish peanuts (raw) are a great energy food. However, they should not be
fed in the winter (the days are not long enough) and should not be fed the
night before a fly because the birds will not digest them fast enough.
Peanuts are loaded with protein, fats and the skins contain vitamin B. If
the birds are trained to take the peanuts early, they should eat the whole
nuts.
They seem to have an easier time eating the peanuts with the skin on, for
some reason the skinned peanuts seem to be harder to see..

Brown Rice

Dry Brown Rice is an excellent feed for warmer weather. It will absorb water
and thus the birds retain the water longer on a hot fly day.

Submitted by M. Vriends on 2001 Posted by B Streck on Tippler Talk