What grit is everybody feeding, and what grit do your pigeons actually use?

[LamarshFish]

I started my homing pigeon hobby just a few months ago. I vowed to keep it simple, and not go overboard with feeds, grits, medications, etc, but here I am, a few months later, with 5+ different types of grits, different feed blends, and adding ACV and garlic to my pigeons' water.

Just wondering what everybody uses in terms of grit, and what of that grit your pigeons actually like to use the most. Do they change what they like based on season, molt, breeding? What are your observations?

I feed the following grit listed below, it all comes from Belgium, I can't seem to find much that isn't imported from Belgium. So far this spring/summer my pigeons pick out the red grit the most, second favorite is the charcoal, and they don't seem to be bothering with the oyster shells at all. They LOVE the red stone pick pot. I hear they really go for the stuff that has the anise added to it.

1. Roodsteen red stone grit (Oyster Shell, Granite, heat-treated Silica, Calcite, Potassium Sulfate, Magnesium Sulfate, Zinc Oxide, Calcium Carbonate... anise added)

2. Versele-Laga "Neo Grit" (gastric grinding stones, silex stones oyster shells, seashells and redstone... anise added as well)

3. Granulated charcoal (simply granulated hardwood charcoal)

4. Versele-Laga Seaweed Grit (I add just a small amount of this, it contains minerals and trace elements, including iodine, Calcium carbonate, Sodium chloride, Magnesium oxide, and from those items you get the following: Crude Ash - 95%, Calcium - 33%, Phosphorus - 0,35%, Sodium - 0,50%, Lysine - 0%, Methionine - 0%)

5. Versele-Laga Red Pickpot (just a clay pot with redstone grit in it in sort of a cake format that requires more picking, not sure if it serves a good purpose, but my birds go totally nuts over it)

 

[cavemanrich]

I think the assortment you are giving is just fine. Pigeons will choose what they want/need. I only purchased a red type grit. Threw out the bag, so I keep contents in a bucket. Just cant recall the name, but it was in 40 lb bags and lasts a long time. It contains all type of different minerals that are good for pigeons nutritional needs. I also do offer cracked oyster shell on the side as well. (have a 50lb bag of that also) Pigeons do prefer the red grit over the shells. I offer both grits to my chickens as well.
WISHING YOU BEST.....

 

[jak2002003]

Wow that is a lot of different grit.

I my country I could not get any.. so for many years they had none. They found what they needed pecking around when out free ranging. They did very well.

Now I managed to find crushed oyster shell and the red / grey grit mix. So they have that. However, they hardly eat any of it.. my chickens seem to like it better. I think they still find what they want outside.

I also tried the charcoal, but they won't touch that.