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From: Dave Walters
Security: 54321
Date: 06 Sep 2008
Time: 17:44:26 +0100
Remote Name: 88.106.125.142
Dave – I think Neil has given you some very sound advice on how to condition a bird One or two things to add and that would be make sure your birds have plenty of fresh air do not keep the loft enclosed a bit of cold air on their backs will tighten them up quickly and you have never heard of a bird freezing to death so plenty of fresh air but no draughts – Secondly plenty of baths – Pigeons enjoy bathing as much as humans and I try to give my birds a bath at least once a week weather permitting. I couldn’t agree more with Neil about peanuts – they are a soft kernel and unless stored in perfect conditions are suspect to fungi but what I do is use a very small amount of peanut oil on my food 2 or 3 times a week and when I say small I mean small barely enough to cover the grains as a guide a teaspoon to about 5 kilos of corn mixed on the day you are going to use it and not left. To build muscle make sure the bird gets enough carbohydrates in the form of beans, peas, maize (I like cinquantino no Sharpe edges) and tares but as Neil says a good all round variety of grain. Besides the medication Neil has mentioned I do inject my birds every year for paramyxo virus. A lot is down to trial and error but make sure your birds are content with their environment and they will soon come on in leaps and bounds. Good luck Dave