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Sensible Approach To Feeding and Medicating A novice recently asked me for advice on loft design and diets for racers. In general I can only say read everything you can. There are a number of books on the market and periodicals from a number of countries. Regarding loft design, if I had the chance to build a new loft there would be two features that are indispensable -- wire floors and a thermostatically controlled exhaust fan. Regarding diet, the best thing I ever read was published in the September 1994 issue of the Racing Pigeon Digest (page 14). Written by Tom Erskine, it covers a talk on pigeon metabolism Dr. Gordon Chalmers gave to a group of fanciers in Baltimore. Read and re-read this article! There's also a good article in the January 1993 issue by Dr. David Marx (page 46). Of course, a sensible medication plan goes hand in hand with diet. The following is the scheme I used last old bird season. Flying only 7 widowhood cocks with no training 8 weeks in a row from one of the worst loft locations in the combine, we managed to win 6 combine diplomas and 2 diplomas in the NE National 4-State Race against 3,000 - 4,000 birds. Your mileage may vary, but this plan works for my birds. Fresh water daily available at all times; grit available at all times except when administering mycin antibiotics Sunday: High protein commercial feed mix Monday: Every other week for respiratory Tylan - 2 teaspoons per gallon, plus Aureomycin or Teramycin - 2 teaspoons per gallon (No grit - it neutralizes the antibiotics) Vitamins High protein feed Every other Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday for cocci and canker: Sulmet - 1 tablespoon per gallon Emtryl - 1/3 teaspoon per gallon (be sure to follow the directions); there are different kinds of Emtryl Tuesday: High protein commercial feed mix Wednesday: Substitute 1/3 high protein mix with low protein/high fat mix Thursday: Substitute 1/2 high protein mix with low protein/high fax mix Friday: Low protein mix with white rice and/or corn supplement Saturday:
(Shipping Day) Low protein mix with more rice and/or corn supplement Add more rice if weather is hot SHIPPING DAY
FEED SCHEDULE 100 miles
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