Electrolytes

[Murray]

I was poking around on the interweb this afternoon, killing half an hour before I went out to do the afternoon fly and chores, and noticed that a lot of supply companies, and their resident 'experts', are promoting electrolytes for pigeons. A word I saw repeated was "essential".

I know a bit about electrolytes in athletes, up in Queensland where the horses train in 30 degree heat and massive humidity they feed them electrolyte salts with a shovel.
And the jockeys

But pigeons do not sweat. If the water they drink contains more salts than their cells, they start sacrificing fluid, making them more dehydrated. I think giving electrolyte salts to pigeons needs to be very carefully considered. If the only water available to them has added salts, so they have to drink it, the birds can be made very dehydrated. Rather than helping the recovery, I believe it can make them worse.

This is of course just an opinion,

[Devo1956]

On Hot days, i used coconut water before basketing. This was added to their drinking water, when you knew it was going to be a hot one. But like you say Murray the birds donr sweat, they pant.

[king]

WATER is essential. Electrolytes ain't.

[Andy]

The only time I ever used electrolytes was with calves that were scouring. Usually due to rotavirus. Taking them off milk for a couple of days and onto electrolytes sorted them out.
Would never use them on pigeons.

[Trev]

I have to admit that I do use Aviform's Electroform on race days and the day after, I also use their Dimethylform Monday to Friday, do they need it Who knows but they do ok on it so I'll keep using it

[Murray]

I have to admit that I do use Aviform's Electroform on race days and the day after, I also use their Dimethylform Monday to Friday, do they need it Who knows but they do ok on it so I'll keep using it

Absolutely, Trev.
When you are winning races you can't be doing much wrong