Feed & Medication Program for YBS in Training

Success with racing pigeons in a young bird racing series starts with good, healthy birds and a proper feed and medication program.  Assuming you have good breeders that produce healthy, well developed young birds that potentially will handle the tough style of racing in Taiwan, the following feed and medication program starting at weaning age (26-30 days old) should assist to continue good health and success during the race series.

Before placing young birds (26-30 days old) in the flying section, it should be completely sanitized with loft disinfectant, along with all feeders and water containers at least 2 times, before you place the birds into the section.  Keep the section free of all birds until the young birds are ready to move into the sanitized section.  You should sanitize the Loft at least once a week until the race series is over.

WEANING PERIOD:  Young birds 26-30 days old are removed from the breeding section and placed in the flying section with birds of all the same age.  Feed and water should be placed in the loft at all times for the first 5 days.

FEED:  15-17% protein mixture (several different grains) at least 12-18 different types of seed.  Fresh grit. Pigeon pellets 21-28% protein.

WATER:  Contains vitamins, minerals and electrolytes with medication of Aureomycin, Sulmet and Ridzol.

MIXTURE #1. 1 gallon of water with the following:

1 teaspoon of vitamins

1 teaspoon of minerals / electrolytes

1 teaspoon of liquid Sulmet

1/2 teaspoon of aureomycin concentrate

1/2 teaspoon of Ridzol

Give the above mixture full strength for 5 days and free choice of feed.

If out of area birds are placed in the loft (birds bred at other lofts and shipped to your loft) they must be placed on the above schedule before being introduced to your birds.  Give extra special attention to these new birds to see if they are adjusting to their new surroundings and are 100% healthy.

On 6th-10th days of weaning give the birds fresh water with 1 tablespoon of bleach or NOLVASAN in 1 gallon of water.  Pellets and fresh grit at all times.  Birds are feed 2 OR 3 TIMES a day with the same feed mixture, add extra safflower and few RAW SPANISH PEANUTS to each feeding and allow the birds to eat all they want at each feeding.  Young birds in training should never miss a meal or be kept hungry or thirsty for any reason.  There should be no stress placed on the birds because of food, drink or lodging.  They will have enough stress during the race series.  We need to provide a stress free environment in the loft at all times.

Healthy birds will like to take a bath 1 or 2 times a week.  Place a bath pan in the loft on a nice sunny day with 2 tablespoons of bleach in the water.  If the birds are not healthy or feeling just right, they will not take a bath or preen themselves.  Healthy birds always keep themselves clean.

SETTLING and LOFT FLY: 35-40 DAY OLD BIRDS should be settled to the loft and know the trapping procedures. As birds start flying freely around the loft (2-3 times a day), the following should be applied until road training starts.

WATER:    2 days a week with vitamins, minerals,

electrolytes and fresh squeezed lemon

2 days a week multi-mixture #2 A OR B

medication

1 day a week onion, fresh garlic, apple

cider vinegar

2 days a week fresh water with bleach or

NOLVASAN

FEED:    2 TIMES A DAY MORNING AND EVENING:

80% mixture various seeds(15-17%)

10% safflower

10% raw Spanish peanuts (#1 grade)

fresh grit and pellets free choice

MEDICATION: #2A MULTI-MIXTURE MEDICATION 1 GALLON WATER

1 teaspoon Ridzol

1 teaspoon Sulmet or amprol

1 teaspoon concentrated aureomycin

1 teaspoon TELMINTIC (WORMER)

#2B MULTI-MIXTURE MEDICATION

1 teaspoon emtryl

1 teaspoon tylan

1 teaspoon vetisulid

1 teaspoon aureomycin

One week use mixture #2A, the next week #2B

Prior to road training all birds should be vaccinated for PMV and POX.

ROAD TRAINING/RACE SERIES:

FEED -  3 times a day:  Once in morning 2 hours before road training; Once mid-day; Once evening.  Feed the birds all they want to eat at each feeding.  The birds are always sent to road training with plenty of fuel or gas in their tank.  NEVER HUNGRY OR THIRSTY!

70% mixture various grains(15-17%)

15% safflower

15% Spanish peanuts

Fresh grit and pellets free choice

Training or road trip / land / trap / peanuts, always the same routine.  Never change it, and you will have no problem with trapping.

WATER:    In loft at all times:

2 days vitamins, minerals, electrolytes, lemon

2 days multi-mixture medication #3

1 day onion, garlic, apple cider vinegar

2 days teas, every other week 1 day substitute

WORMER for tea.