In brief:
- Mon–Wed (post-race): full feeding, electrolytes, recovery
- Thu–Fri: racing mix, reduce fats and maize
- Saturday (basketing day): small morning meal, no feed 4–6 h before basketing
- Sunday (arrival): full feed immediately on arrival + electrolytes for 48 h
- Never experiment with new feed during race week
Race season is not the time to experiment. The feeding routine for race week follows a clear, tested protocol, repeated identically every time. Fewer variables equals more predictable performance.
The biggest enemy of flying performance is a bird that is too fat or too thin. The race-week feeding protocol has one objective: the pigeon arrives at the release point at optimal weight, with the right energy reserves and maximum motivation to get home.
Monday and Tuesday: post-race recovery
Immediately after a race, the pigeon is exhausted. The absolute priority is recovery.
- Ad libitum feeding in the first 24 h after arrival — let the bird eat as much as it wants
- Electrolytes in water for 48 h — replenish lost minerals and fluids
- Rich mix: maize, wheat, peas, a little wheat-germ oil on the feed
- Probiotics on day two — restore gut flora stressed by effort
Wednesday: transition to racing mix
- Reintroduce controlled feeding: 35 g/bird/day
- Replace 30% of the mix with racing mix (barley, peas, wheat)
- Reduce maize and fatty seeds
- Check weight: if the bird is heavier than last week, reduce the quantity
Thursday and Friday: full racing mix
- 100% racing mix: peas 30%, barley 25%, wheat 25%, sorghum 10%, rapeseed 10%
- Quantity: 30–32 g/bird/day — no more
- Fresh water, no supplements on these days
- Short training toss on Thursday morning, rest on Friday
Saturday: basketing day
- Small morning feed: 15–18 g/bird
- Do not feed 4–6 hours before basketing
- Fresh water in the morning, last water 2–3 h before the basket
- Do not add supplements or medications on this day
Warning: An overfed bird on basketing day flies heavily. The aim is for the pigeon to leave feeling light, with a stomach 60–70% full.
Common mistakes
- Maximum feeding Thu–Fri "to build reserves" — reserves are stored as fat, not available energy
- Changing the mix during race week — digestive stress at the worst possible time
- Unknown supplements before a race — risk of adverse reactions
- No electrolytes after arrival — recovery takes much longer without them
What to do in practice
- Write the protocol and pin it in the loft — follow it identically every week
- Weigh pigeons on Thursday and Friday — ideal racing weight is 5–8% below normal
- Prepare enough racing mix for the whole season
- Keep a stock of electrolytes — use immediately after every arrival
Consistency is the key. A simple protocol, applied identically week after week, beats any complex recipe applied inconsistently.