Feeding

Feeding program:

After young bird racing all new race cocks will be introduced to the race loft and all young hens will be kept separated with the older widowhood hens in the young bird loft so they have access to the aviary. Stock birds are also separated. From now until Christmas the hens will remain shut in, only being allowed into the aviary during the day and only the race cocks will be given some light exercise once a week usually on a Saturday to get them used to trapping to the race loft. During that exercise keep all hens inside and not visible to the cocks.

Stock Birds:

August/September/October

Fed once a day only with an economy mixture with some added Hemp and Linseed.

All birds are fed from a trough and if any feed is still remaining during next feed then reduce the amount.

November/December

Still fed once a day with an economy mixture but with added barley to keep the mixture light.

December/January

Still fed once a day.

Two weeks before pairing feed a Breeding mixture.

January/February/March

Trough fed 2-3 times a day with Breeding mixture.

I usually put a small pot of Hormoform down once a day during breeding and will put a pot of feed in each nest box when the chicks are two weeks old until weaned.

This in on top of the daily feed so they always have access to some feed.

April/May/June/July

After breeding back to feeding once a day

Once breeding has finished in the stock loft return to the economy mixture with added Hemp and Linseed to assist the moult until August.

Race Birds:

August/September/October/November/December

For old race birds and young cocks when introduced to the loft from October

Fed once a day only with an economy mixture with added Hemp and Linseed

All birds are fed from a trough and if any feed is still remaining during next feed then reduce the amount.

January/ February/ March

Same feeding as for Stock birds before & during breeding until March.

Hens removed from loft after last young bird weaned usually middle of March.

April/May/June/July

All race cocks fed twice a day with a 15ml scoop per bird, per feed of Widowhood Mixture

No feed on Basket afternoon but usual in the morning.

Young Birds:

April/May/June/July/August/September

After weaning:

All young birds trough fed twice a day with 15ml scoop per bird of mixture.

Once weaned they go straight onto a combination mix of protein and high Maize.

They are kept on this mixture throughout training & racing. Reduce amount if any is left from previous feed.

No feed on Basket afternoon but usual in the morning.

Watering & Medicine

During breeding and racing, birds are given Aviform Ultimate added to the water 7 days a week.

A respiratory formular like Aviform Mycoform T is added to the water on a Wednesday.

Young and old birds are given a three in one tablet for Cocci, Canker and Worms every 3 months.

A one spot on neck every 3 months for the prevention of Tics, Lice and Mites.

All birds treated against Paramyxo Virus annually.