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Mon, 13 Nov 2017 14:14:52 +0000 |
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" I have always thought it was interesting how
similar they all are, up around
20%."
As some of you know I do pigeon genetics studies as a hobby. Pigeons like more or less 13% balanced protein. I feed a mix of two parts shelled corn and one part 20% game bird pellets simply because that is the most economic feed and gives roughly 13% protein. They will do very well at lower protein amounts and raise just as many young, but sickness issues become greater, particularly in just weaned young. A higher % does not cause any change until you get over 16% when you can start to see viability drop and abnormal feathers starting. Pigeons are exclusive grain eaters when truly in the wild as opposed to most birds which eat a lot of insects, so are likely adapted to a bit lower protein. Ferals in the city often will eat anything including hot dogs and are often not the healthiest birds around.
I have a friend whose daughter did a study as part of her 4H project using chickens. She fed them commercial pelleted diets with 14%, 16% and 20% protein after they were past the baby chick diet stage. She found that higher protein resulted in faster growth rates and higher death rates resulting in 14% being most economic.
The idea more is better does not seem to work with either pigeons or chickens.
Dick
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