BergerPIGEONS > Blog > Article of the Month > BergerPowder No. 1 – Why I developed a powder at all, alongside BergerPearls No. 1!
When I developed BergerPearls No. 1, my aim was clear right from the start.
Caring for carrier pigeons should become easier.
It’s not any more complicated.
Not more labour-intensive.
And the breeder certainly shouldn’t have to moisten different powders every day and mix them into the feed.
As a biologist, product developer and long-standing carrier pigeon fancier, I have been exploring one key question for many years:
How can functional ingredients be administered to each individual pigeon as safely and as easily as possible?
It was precisely this line of thinking that led to the creation of BergerPearls No. 1.
I am convinced that:
My mission is not to develop as many products as possible.
My mission is to make caring for carrier pigeons as simple as possible, whilst ensuring it is as effective as possible.
That’s why BergerPearls No. 1 were the ideal solution for me right from the start.
They are simply mixed in with the grain feed.
Do not wet.
No additional mixing required.
No further steps are required.
If pigeons learn from a young age to eat every grain in a feed mix, there is hardly a simpler way to provide them with functional ingredients on a daily basis.
And that is precisely why BergerPearls No. 1 remain the standard solution within the BergerPIGEONS system to this day.
I’m often asked whether pigeons are selective eaters.
My answer is:
You can do it.
However, you really shouldn’t do that if at all possible.
For me, a controlled, rather restrictive feeding regime has been part of good management for decades.
This teaches the pigeons to eat as many grains as possible from a feed mix.
This has several advantages.
It is not only functional supplements that are absorbed more evenly.
The nutritional content of the grain mix is also utilised more fully.
That is why I generally recommend not allowing pigeons to feed continuously until they are completely full.
As clear-cut as the theory is, the reality is just as varied.
Many breeders deliberately increase the amount of feed towards the end of the travel week.
Others generally let their pigeons eat more freely.
And it is precisely under these conditions that feeding behaviour often changes.
Well-fed pigeons are increasingly starting to be culled.
They prefer certain grains.
Other components of the mixture remain in place for longer.
At first, this is perfectly normal behaviour.
For me, however, this raised a different question.
I wasn’t concerned with the question of,
whether pigeons are selective in their diet.
What was really on my mind, however, was the question:
What are the implications of this behaviour for the absorption of functional ingredients?
After all, even the best formula is only effective if it is absorbed evenly.
As a biologist, I therefore look at more than just the composition of a product.
I am also studying in equal detail its journey right through to the pigeon’s metabolism.
For me, the simplest solution – modifying the BergerPearls – was not an option
After all, BergerPearls do their job brilliantly.
Instead, another idea came to mind.
Why not offer the same functional active ingredient matrix in a second dosage form?
A form that, when required, can be distributed throughout almost every grain in a feed mix.
That is exactly how BergerPowder No. 1 came about.
It contains the same groups of active ingredients as BergerPearls No. 1.
The difference does not lie in the effect.
The difference lies solely in the method of administration.
Whenever,
if the pigeons are fed in a controlled manner and eat as much grain as possible.
That is exactly what BergerPearls were developed for.
Simple.
Quickly.
Without any extra work.
Whenever,
if larger quantities of feed are given,
picky eating is more likely to occur
or where a particularly even distribution of active ingredients is required.
The powder is sprinkled over slightly moistened feed and adheres to almost every grain.
This means that the pigeons consume functional nutrients at the same time, regardless of their preferred grain.
I’m currently being asked this more often:
„Which product is better?“
My answer is:
None.
After all, both products have the same aim.
They differ only in their form of administration.
BergerPearls No. 1 remain the particularly straightforward standard solution.
BergerPowder No. 1 complements this system wherever the specific feeding situation suggests that an even more consistent intake of functional ingredients would be beneficial.
BergerPowder No. 1 was developed because I am convinced that good product development never stops.
Those who understand physiology observe what happens in practice.
Anyone who observes practice will discover new issues.
And those who take new challenges seriously come up with solutions.
No more products.
But rather, better opportunities for the breeder.
This is exactly what BergerPIGEONS stands for.
If you’d like to find out more about BergerPowder No. 1 or discover which dosage form best suits your care plan, you’ll find all the information on the product page.
➡️ Go to the BergerPowder No. 1 product page
BergerPowder No. 1 was not developed to replace BergerPearls No. 1.
My mission is to make feeding carrier pigeons as simple as possible, whilst ensuring it is as effective as necessary. That is precisely why BergerPearls No. 1 remain the standard solution within the BergerPIGEONS system. They can simply be mixed into the grain feed – without the need for moistening or any extra effort.
BergerPowder No. 1 was developed in response to a different question: How can functional ingredients be absorbed as evenly as possible, even when pigeons become more selective in their feeding when given larger quantities of feed? The powder provides a useful solution to this problem.
The main difference lies not in the ingredients, but in the form of administration.
Both products are based on the same functional active ingredient matrix and share the same objective: to provide carrier pigeons with a daily supply of high-quality functional ingredients.
This means that the appropriate dosage form can be chosen depending on the feeding situation
BergerPowder No. 1 is particularly suitable when feeding larger quantities of feed, or where there is a risk that pigeons may favour individual grains and eat the feed selectively.
As the active ingredients are evenly distributed across virtually every grain of feed, they are absorbed regardless of which grains are eaten first.
In day-to-day feeding, however, BergerPearls No. 1 remain the first choice, as they make feeding particularly easy.
Yes.
Both products form part of the BergerPIGEONS system and can be used flexibly depending on the situation.
Many breeders will continue to use BergerPearls No. 1 as their standard feed and will use BergerPowder No. 1 specifically at certain stages, for example when feed quantities are increased towards the end of the travel week.
What matters is not the combination of the two products, but choosing the form of administration that best suits the feeding situation in question.
BergerPearls No. 1 remain the simplest solution.
They are simply mixed in with the grain feed – no further preparation is required.
For BergerPowder No. 1, the feed should be lightly moistened so that the powder adheres evenly to the grains. This additional step ensures a particularly even distribution of the functional ingredients.
Which form of administration is the better choice therefore depends not on the quality of the product, but on the specific feeding situation and the breeder’s personal preferences.
The answer is not „either… or“, but „depending on the situation“.
One system. Two forms of administration. One aim: to provide the best possible care for your racing pigeons.
BergerPowder No. 1 was not developed to replace BergerPearls No. 1.
My mission is to make feeding carrier pigeons as simple as possible, whilst ensuring it is as effective as necessary. That is precisely why BergerPearls No. 1 remain the standard solution within the BergerPIGEONS system. They can simply be mixed into the grain feed – without the need for moistening or any extra effort.
BergerPowder No. 1 was developed in response to a different question: How can functional ingredients be absorbed as evenly as possible, even when pigeons become more selective in their feeding when given larger quantities of feed? The powder provides a useful solution to this problem.
The main difference lies not in the ingredients, but in the form of administration.
Both products are based on the same functional active ingredient matrix and share the same objective: to provide carrier pigeons with a daily supply of high-quality functional ingredients.
This means that the appropriate dosage form can be chosen depending on the feeding situation
BergerPowder No. 1 is particularly suitable when feeding larger quantities of feed, or where there is a risk that pigeons may favour individual grains and eat the feed selectively.
As the active ingredients are evenly distributed across virtually every grain of feed, they are absorbed regardless of which grains are eaten first.
In day-to-day feeding, however, BergerPearls No. 1 remain the first choice, as they make feeding particularly easy.
Yes.
Both products form part of the BergerPIGEONS system and can be used flexibly depending on the situation.
Many breeders will continue to use BergerPearls No. 1 as their standard feed and will use BergerPowder No. 1 specifically at certain stages, for example when feed quantities are increased towards the end of the travel week.
What matters is not the combination of the two products, but choosing the form of administration that best suits the feeding situation in question.
BergerPearls No. 1 remain the simplest solution.
They are simply mixed in with the grain feed – no further preparation is required.
For BergerPowder No. 1, the feed should be lightly moistened so that the powder adheres evenly to the grains. This additional step ensures a particularly even distribution of the functional ingredients.
Which form of administration is the better choice therefore depends not on the quality of the product, but on the specific feeding situation and the breeder’s personal preferences.
The answer is not „either… or“, but „depending on the situation“.
One system. Two forms of administration. One aim: to provide the best possible care for your racing pigeons.
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When I developed BergerPearls No. 1, my aim was clear from the outset. Caring for carrier pigeons should be made easier. Not more complicated. Not more labour-intensive. And certainly not should the fancier have to moisten different powders every day and mix them into the feed. As a biologist, product developer and long-standing carrier pigeon fancier, I have been involved in this field for many years […]
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