Mary Allen
The health of the pigeon is the top priority for breeders. It is not uncommon for problems in well-being to be associated with a disturbed intestinal flora. Boiled barley can be a tried and tested way to whip it into shape.
Barley has long been highly regarded in pigeon feeding as the “pigeon’s bread”. No one can really explain why she suddenly disappeared into oblivion. Maybe it was because pigeons don’t like to eat them. So people sought their salvation in feedstuffs that were better received by the animals. But the alternatives mostly led to an overload of the intestine. As a result, barley was rediscovered. Today there is no question that it can make up a quarter to a third of the feed ration.
You can also read about sprouted barley, which the pigeons love to eat. Due to the germination process, it is of even higher quality and easier to digest. A new method of barley feeding is now coming from pigeon breeding. There, several breeders report that they have carried out a spectacular intestinal cleansing with boiled barley. Although it takes a lot of time, it is rewarded with a significant increase in vitality.
For 50 pigeons, take around 1.1 kilograms of barley (summer or winter barley) and boil it with 3.5 liters of water. Then let the whole thing simmer for about three hours. During this process, the barley will double to two and a half times its volume. You have to consider that and possibly set up several pots at the same time. Rice is a good gauge in this regard.
Barley Water for Drinking
The water is almost completely absorbed during cooking so you sometimes have to add a little more. In any case, the barley must not boil down. If you can crush the individual styles with your fingernail, you should pour them out through a sieve. The collected residual water can easily be given to the pigeons to drink. In the past, barley water was given to sick people.
The still-hot barley is then shaken in a bucket again and again so that it cools down. After ten minutes it has the right temperature. It has to be lukewarm and is fed that way. Warm feeding is immensely important. In this state, the mucus surrounding the individual grain is still completely present, covering the entire digestive tract. Don’t worry, the pigeons are incredibly greedy for this warm barley and love to eat it. Of course, the pigeons should be hungry. But this is always the case in a successful pigeon breed anyway.
If you have wooden troughs, you should let them dry out well after feeding to prevent mold from forming. This warm barley can be given all year round. However, due to the greater amount of time it takes, very few breeders give it every day. They should definitely be given before and during breeding and especially after medication. A requirement is a minimum five-day gift. After all, intestinal rehabilitation and stabilization do not work so casually.