When the final flight feather is fully grown, the winter transformation begins in my loft. That’s when the Pigeon Boss flips the script and goes all in on a bold but time-tested strategy: 100% barley. Not just any random switch — we build it up like a maestro preparing his orchestra:

Week 1: 25% barley, 75% moulting mix
Week 2: 50/50
Week 3: 75% barley, 25% mix
Week 4: 100% barley, plus a daily scoop of small seeds or weed seed

This transition kicks off in mid-December and runs right through mid-March. Deep winter. While others wrap up their birds in fat-rich kweekvoer, mine are slimming down, sharpening up — and man, what a show they put on.

They Fly Like They’re Reborn

I kid you not: once that barley kicks in, it’s like my birds have hit the reset button. The cocks and hens, now kept separately, take to the skies like teenagers in spring. They train like maniacs. I find myself standing outside for hours — coffee in hand, jaw dropped — watching them glide, soar, and swirl as if they’ve got something to prove.

My Boss Tip: clear out the cupboard and switch to Berger Products Today

Why Barley in Winter? Here’s the Science

People ask me all the time: “Pigeon Boss, why barley? Isn’t that old-school?” Well, let me tell you something — some traditions survive for a reason. Barley brings:

Low energy – prevents fat buildup in inactive months
High fiber – cleans the gut like a broom
Digestive peace – less stress, more rest
Mental calm – it settles the birds without sedating them

Scientific data backs this up: barley contains ~66% carbohydrates, very little fat (~2%), and is high in indigestible fiber (~5%), which stimulates gut function and balances the microbiome. It has only about 75% of the energy content of corn, so your birds don’t bulk up unnecessarily. Perfect for winter.

Some legends in the pigeon game — like the Hendriks brothers — feed their entire team pure barley for three to four weeks each winter. Why? Because it resets the system. It builds internal health. It gets the birds lean, calm, and quietly ready.

Seeds for Shine

But I’m not crazy. Barley isn’t complete on its own. That’s why I add a daily handful of small seeds or weed seeds — think linseed, hemp, rape, wild seed mixes. These are packed with oils, essential amino acids, and micro-nutrients that barley lacks. They keep the feathers silky and the immune system ticking.

“But Isn’t It Too One-Sided?”

I’ve heard the skeptics. “Barley is boring.” “It dries the birds out.” “They lose weight.”

Sure, if you don’t know what you’re doing. Timing is everything. You don’t feed 100% barley in breeding season. And if your birds are flying intense races? Of course, you switch to rich, protein-packed mixes. But in deep winter, when there’s no racing and no breeding? That’s barley season. Period.

Just make sure it’s de-hulled barley, factory cleaned and safe. Old-fashioned farm barley can still have sharp hulls that cause crop irritation. We don’t want that. I only use top-quality barley.

From Doubters to Believers

Every year I challenge fellow fanciers to try it. Build up to full barley from mid-December. Feed it daily with a touch of seed. Watch your birds. Feel the shift.

And almost every time, they come back with the same look in their eyes — a mix of surprise and newfound respect. “Boss… you were right. They fly like it’s May.”

So go ahead. Be bold. Be the Boss in your own loft.

Jan de Wijs
The Pigeon Boss