Breeding Season Care Schedule
           
 
  A successful race season begins with healthy, strong youngsters so the proper care
  of your breeders is essential.   We highly recommend that you follow the guidelines
  below as it greatly reduces the chances for your breeders to develop any health
  problems.  
       
Medication Program prior to Breeding Season

    

    2 to 3 weeks before mating the birds, turn the lights on in your breeding loft for 18

    hours a day every day.  Continue to leave the lights on for 18 hours a day for the

    entire breeding season.  The birds will mate easier as: 1.) they think it is spring

    (more hours of light per day) and    2.) the birds build up more hormones and 

    3.) the birds lose weight.
    
   The breeding season is very stressful on the birds so it is very important to run them
   through a preventative medication program. This helps to ensure that the breeders
   do not develop medical problems, have a high hatchability rate and produce strong
   youngsters.  Start this program about 5 - 6 weeks prior to putting the birds together.
   It should include:
                Vaccinating the breeders for paratyphoid and paramyxovirus 
                Treat breeders with enroxil to clear up any infections in reproductive
                      tracts.
                Treat for canker (Ridzol)
                Treat for E-Coli  (Altabactine)
                Treat for Coccidiosis  (Miracle Life)
                Worm the birds.  (We usually only treat them once a year for worms
                     at this time.)  (Eqvalan or Ivomec Drench)
  
  A general note for any new fancier.  A good rule of thumb
  is to always have on hand a medication that will treat the
  major illnesses that are common to pigeons: canker,
  coccidiosis, e-coli.  If you have racing homers, respiratory  
  treatments every week during the races is necessary.
     
 

  Throughout the breeding season we give the breeders:
 
    h Vitamins in the water almost every day of the week.  We use Vita Preen about
         5 days per week and Vita Pro Combo the other 2 days.
 
    h Make sure the breeders have plenty of fresh grit before them every day.  We
        sprinkle in Calci Mineral and Vita King Multi Mineral in the grit.
 
    h We place small ceramic gallipots in the loft.  One contains Saline Powder and

        the other contains Red Racing Minerals.  

 

   We wean our babies when the feathers underneath their wings begin to open up -

   about 28 days old.  We dunk their heads in the drinker so they know where water is
   and feed them safflower for 5 days, then Canadian peas for 4 days.  Then we feed
   them a regular condition mix.  We feed the larger grains first so the youngsters
   learn how to eat large seeds, not just picking at the smaller grains in a mix.