Feeding Chicken Layer Pellets

I am trying to get away from feeding grain. There is only one feed supply store in my area that feeds Pigeon seeds. 50lb bag is $28.00 The pigeons will only eat certain seeds. I opted to buy corn, milo, and wheat seeds, each in 50lb bags. Total cost $23.00. They still tend to waste the wheat and milo. They fill up on corn.

I am thinking of going to pellets. I have tried game bird crumbled pellets as well as chicken layer pellets. The pigeons eat the pellets and crumbles like they were starving to death.

I know the pigeons are getting a more balanced diet with the pellets. I think the chicken layer pellets are my preference. I think it is more of a completely nutritional diet.

BTW... the cost is important.

Would y'all share your knowledge with me?

Thanks for all the advice given.
Mule

I would not feed chicken pellets at no price, as it is put together for chickens which went down a different road of evolution, mix some barley in with your corn and only feed a handfull at a time , when they eat everything then give a little more and so on , you are feeding too much at the moment , they will eat what they want and not what you feed them , when they wont eat the barley take it away till tomorrow , they will soon get the idea when hungry . hope this helps

Can't get barley locally. I ain't gonna have it shipped to me.

Mule

then simply don't feed as much , handfull at a time when they leave some food and look for more of what they like , don't give anymore till next feed time , they will soon clear the lot if they are hungry . a pigeon should eat around 1oz of food a day per bird .

How do I keep the gluttons from running other birds away from food? I probably over eed to make sure they all get at least a tablespoon of feed. For thirty-four birds I feed 40 tablespoons. They devour it and scramble for more.

a pigeon needs to eat what it wants , just don't give them it all at once, give a few handfuls at a time , you will notice some eat more than others , when you get some that go to drinker say around 6 then stop feeding them ,they will get into a routine after a few days ,the food you are giving them is easly digested that's not a bad thing maybe a little stronger corn in the mix would help[ I,e, maze or pease or beans just a couple of handfuls in the mix , feeding is a fine art and not just a matter of stuffing them up . don't forget to give them grit and minerals fresh every other day its a must for healthy birds

edgie wrote:

a pigeon needs to eat what it wants , just don't give them it all at once, give a few handfuls at a time , you will notice some eat more than others , when you get some that go to drinker say around 6 then stop feeding them ,they will get into a routine after a few days ,the food you are giving them is easly digested that's not a bad thing maybe a little stronger corn in the mix would help[ I,e, maze or pease or beans just a couple of handfuls in the mix , feeding is a fine art and not just a matter of stuffing them up . don't forget to give them grit and minerals fresh every other day its a must for healthy birds

p.s. don't be offended if I sound a bit strong at times its the Yorkshire man in me, but you can rest assured I am telling you the truth , but that hurts sometimes ?

Thanks for the great information. DuMor Layer Pellets are supposed to be a complete feed, nothing extra needed, but I can add a little whole corn (deer corn) and keep Oyster Shells available. Will Oyster shell work as grit? I do have Chick grit that I can give them.

Mule

yes they are a complete feed full of goodness and antibiotics and growth hormones they are for chickens and your birds will eat them , and like I said they are not for pigeons , you will have problems with your birds if you continue feeding it to your birds , i.e. enlarged hearts and no imunity , so not for me thank you , as for oyster shell for grit thats ok but crush it small ,if you can get old clay bricks crush those they are good for the birds .

just wonderd if you would like to give me a time , and the click on home page I can then speak directly to you , it maybe easyer to answer your questions , just a thought cheers edgie

edgie wrote:

just wonderd if you would like to give me a time , and the click on home page I can then speak directly to you , it maybe easyer to answer your questions , just a thought cheers edgie

I don't understand.

top left of page where it says home click there the rest is easy

where you got to mule ?

I went to the chat area, if that is where you wanted me to go, and can't send anything.

hi mule sorry for the confusion , we have to be on there at the same time , from what I see there is a time difference of 6 hours so if you try at 3pm it will be 9 pm my time , so if you click on home page top left then log in which is on your right your name will come op on screen with mine , we can then talk as long as we like , hope this helps edgie I shall try at 9pm tomorrow so you try at 3 pm we shall see if it works

I'll try. I can't be on long at that time of day. 1:00 PM would be better for me.

ok you try 1pm I will try 7pm my time and hopefully we wil meet in the middle

log in again mule I just missed you