Salt Licks

[Winfort Lofts]

So,

This is something I've seen a few times but not lots of times.

I have seen some people using salt licks in their lofts, and they'll say that's the birds love it, and is great for them!

Now, I can kind of understand how it may contain some minerals and such, as well as salts obviously.

But what are the advantages of this?

I know back in the day, my grandad used to put down salted veg peels from the Sunday veg prep and such, would this have been a similar goal in mind?

[George and Morgan]

i always thought the black minerals was salt of a kind

[Diamond Dave]

Is that the big ol salt block they used to give to horses Winfort?

[Winfort Lofts]

Is that the big ol salt block they used to give to horses Winfort?

That's a picture from a while back on Facebook rather than my own lofts, but yes, it's the same ones they give the horses!

I saw on a video on YouTube a year or so ago someone was saying they hang them in the aviary, and the the moisture in the air soaks into the string/ropes, and the birds can then be seen pecking at the rope and drinking the moisture out the strings/ropes.

[Diamond Dave]

Seems like a strange way to give salt, wouldve thought it would be easier to put it in the water.
Do ppl give their birds salt anyway?

[Winfort Lofts]

Found the link now too

https://youtu.be/k_2LQIHAMHY?si=1DeA5_9BbGPHOnYN

[Andy]

We used to use salt licks with dairy cows. I haven’t ever used it with the pigeons. I do sometimes give seaweed powder to the stock birds. They seem to love it.

[Murray]

I use shell grit with added pink mineral powder. It must contain a fair bit of salt because they love it and some pairs that eat lots of it have youngsters with wet nests because they are getting too much salt. I have to ration it to them.
I'm not sure how a pigeon eats a salt block. Can a pigeon even lick?

[Trev]

As Andy says, that looks like rock salt that you would use with cattle, sheep etc, not convinced how a pigeon would use it !! I suppose they might peck at it and get something from it.
I would think most of the grit/minerals, especially the modern multi mixes will contain salt, probably far too much in many cases !! Not sure I'd put salt in the water, I imagine that will only make the birds thirsty, although I have heard that some fanciers put salt in the water on basketing day to ensure the birds are thirsty so drink on the transporter, not something I'll be doing any time soon.
I used to crush up fresh, uncleaned, cuttle fish from the beach and give that to the birds, they do love that. Unfortunately having lost our Mum last year I've got no one to go and collect it for me anymore

[Diamond Dave]

I've seen those things they use for horses - they are rock hard! No way is a pigeon gonna peck at it.
But like Winsfort said they get the salt from the wet rope - suck, lick, peck, who knows???