The ideal temperature for a domestic bird is between 65- 80° F. Birds cannot handle sudden drops or increases in temperature. It is important to gradually acclimate your bird over several months.

A good common sense approach for inside birds would be if you are hot, your bird is too. Put on a fan that is not directly pointing at the bird. If you are cold and need a sweater, your bird is probably also cold. Turn on the heater.

Due to their extremely quick growth in the first few weeks of life, game birds require a diet that contains 28% protein like:

• Ace Hi Turkey/Game Bird Starter Crumbles or
• Kelley’s Game Bird/Turkey Starter Crumbles

Game birds, such as turkeys and pheasants, grow far more quickly than domestic hens and need a more concentrated, nutrient-dense diet to grow correctly.

Star Milling’s Ratite feed is a complete feed for ratite birds such as the ostrich, emu or kiwi.

Ostriches are of the ratite family which means flightless bird.

Male ostriches (roosters) are black with white wing tips and tail plumes. Females (hens) are light brown with grey plumage. Hens are smaller than roosters. When in season, the hens turn a silvery grey and the males will have red beaks, shins and neck.

Ostrich eggs take about 42 days to hatch.

The best diet for racing pigeons should be a balanced mix of proteins, carbohydrates, fats, vitamins, and minerals. A typical diet includes grains like corn, wheat, and barley, supplemented with peas and beans for protein. Ace Hi Racing Pigeon feed is a good choice. Additionally, providing grit and minerals ensures pigeons receive essential nutrients for digestion and overall health. During racing season, higher-energy grains such as maize and sunflower seeds can help meet the increased energy demands.

At Star Milling Co., we’re proud to craft Ace Hi Racing Pigeon Feed, the best pigeon food for performance-driven birds. Unlike regular pigeon feeds, which often rely on basic grains and may lack targeted nutrition, our formula is a premium pellet blend designed to optimize energy, endurance, and recovery for racing pigeons.

Key differences include:

• Higher protein and balanced energy sources: We incorporate premium ingredients like ground corn, soybean meal, and corn gluten meal to deliver sustained energy for long flights, without the filler-heavy mixes common in standard feeds.
• Integrated probiotics and prebiotics: Ingredients such as dried Saccharomyces cerevisiae (a probiotic yeast) and mannan oligosaccharides (a prebiotic) support gut health, aiding nutrient absorption and immunity—essential for stressed racers but rarely found in basic feeds.
• Chelated minerals and amino acids: We add bioavailable forms like zinc methionine, manganese methionine, and L-lysine to enhance muscle function and overall vitality, going beyond the simple mineral profiles in everyday pigeon mixes.
• Convenient pellet form: This ensures uniform nutrition in every bite, reducing waste and selective eating, while our feeds are fortified with a full spectrum of vitamins (A, D3, E, and B-complex) for peak condition.

Regular feeds might keep pigeons healthy at rest, but Ace Hi is engineered for champions, fueling the speed and stamina needed to cross hundreds of miles.

Racing pigeons are typically fed twice a day, once in the morning and once in the evening. This routine helps maintain a consistent energy level throughout the day. However, the exact feeding schedule can vary based on the pigeon’s training and racing schedule. It’s important to ensure they have enough food to meet their energy needs without overfeeding, which can lead to obesity and decreased performance.

Racing pigeons face immense stress, from intense training and long hauls to breeding and environmental changes, which can disrupt their gut flora and open the door to issues like E. coli or yeast infections. 

At Star Milling Co., we emphasize probiotics (live beneficial bacteria) and prebiotics (fibers that feed those good bacteria) because they restore balance in the digestive system, directly boosting performance and health.

• Enhanced nutrient absorption: A healthy gut microbiome maximizes the use of proteins, carbs, and fats from their feed, providing the quick energy bursts and sustained stamina racers need.
• Stronger immunity: Probiotics compete with harmful pathogens, reducing infection risks, while prebiotics promote growth of protective bacteria—vital during high-stress periods like post-race recovery or weaning young birds.
• Stress and antibiotic recovery: Racing disrupts gut balance, and antibiotics can wipe out good bacteria; these supplements rebuild flora, preventing diarrhea, improving feed efficiency, and supporting overall vigor.

In short, they’re not just additives, they’re the foundation for resilient, top-performing pigeons that return home faster and stronger.

Yes, even nutrient-dense pigeon food, free-choice grit and oyster shells remain essential for optimal digestion and mineral intake. Grit will help break down the feed efficiently, preventing indigestion and ensuring better nutrient release. While our feed includes calcium carbonate and other minerals, the extra from oyster shells will support peak performance without overload. 

Our Pro Tip –  Offer a mix in a separate, stable dish: small granite grit for grinding, plus crushed oyster shells for calcium. Replace if soiled, and always ensure fresh water. This simple addition complements our formula, helping your racers thrive at every stage.

Support your pigeons’ health and speed with a feed designed for champions. From balanced energy to probiotics for gut health, Ace Hi Racing Pigeon Feed delivers everything your birds need to perform at their best. Find a Local Retailer now.

Ensuring your racing pigeons stay hydrated is crucial, especially during training and racing. Always provide fresh, clean water, and consider adding electrolytes to their water during hot weather or intense training periods. Monitor their water intake, and if you notice any significant changes, check for potential health issues. Additionally, providing water sources that are easy to access and maintain cleanliness is essential to prevent bacterial infections and other health problems.

Wild bird that are seed-eating get their food from a variety of sources throughout a day. The feed that people provide in an outdoor feeder is a easy source of food, but not necessary to help the species of birds that come to feeders. This means that starting or stopping your feeding at any particular time of year won’t have much of an impact on those birds. The only exception is if there is bad weather (particularly a bad snow/ice storm) and natural food is buried for a period of time. In that case, the wild bird seed you put out could be life-saving for some birds.

Peanut butter is not harmful to birds. Some people dilute it with birdseed or cornmeal to reduce its stickiness, but that is not necessary. Uncooked rice is also not harmful. Uncooked grains are a staple for the diet of species of many birds, so throwing rice at weddings is not going to harm any birds.

To attract a specific bird species, it is best to know their preferred food in the preferred type of feeder. A great resource for this information by species is the Cornell Lab of Ornithology’s AllAboutBirds.org guide. Search for a specific species and read the Backyard Tips overview where you can find exactly what each bird prefers, seasonal range maps, birdsong recordings, ID tips and more.