SALT

[Diamond Dave]

Just wondering if due to the expected climate change and continuing hot weather predicted for the next few years if anyone would consider giving it to their birds, or perhsps you already do?
I was always told that every living thing needs salt and I saw a David Attenborough program where parrots in some jungle somewhere regularly landed on a river bank to get the salt out of the soil.
I know it's in some of thr minerals that we give the birds
, but I only give black minerals when rearing.
What are ppls thoughts on giving more salt to the birds?

[Devo1956]

Dave, here is a small video for you.

[king]

Just wondering if due to the expected climate change and continuing hot weather predicted for the next few years if anyone would consider giving it to their birds, or perhsps you already do?
I was always told that every living thing needs salt and I saw a David Attenborough program where parrots in some jungle somewhere regularly landed on a river bank to get the salt out of the soil.
I know it's in some of thr minerals that we give the birds
, but I only give black minerals when rearing.
What are ppls thoughts on giving more salt to the birds?

I don't give extra salt, I know many do, or provide cow licks ect. Mine do when rearing use pick stones which contain salt. I used to give cress or lettuce with a bit of salt on. But I've never and won't start giving extra.

[Murray]

First of all, Dave, The climate is changing, for sure, but some people are profiting from selling fear of it.
You have had some hot summers, we are getting milder summers. It's shifting around like it always has.

Salt. If you look at the makeup of grains you will see that they all contain a low but adequate amount of sodium. Pigeons do not sweat so there is not the heavy loss of sodium during exertion like horses for example.

I have changed from a grit product that I have used for some years. It is fine sea shell off a beach with added pink minerals. The pigeons go mad on it. The reason they go mad on it is because it's full of salt. They devour it and it makes them thirsty so they are pumping water into the babies which then have wet nests. So I have to strictly ration it.
That is hopeless.
I am changing back to a bucket of PMV pink minerals and some normal fine grit.
Be wary of salt.

[Murray]

Further to the topic of salt the other week, I was getting very frustrated about the pigeon's droppings.They'd be good for a while, then I'd see loose droppings and wet nests and then it would come right again.
In the finish I concluded it was the grit I was using. It used to be good. It's sea shell with pink mineral powder added. But I think it is full of salt and damp.
So I changed to a nice fine shell grit that I dry in the oven to make sure it's healthy, a good red pigeon grit and a mineral powder.
Look at the sputnik now I don't scrape it clean so much as brush it clean.
Much better.

[Wiley]

Salt has many benefits. A little put of salt in a box where birds cannot get access too will tell ya if your humidity in the loft is right or wrong.

I'm a big believer in salt licks in the stock loft

[Murray]

Welcome to the site, Wiley.
Great to see you getting straight into it.

I agree salt is good, but I recently had a problem with a grit that was damp and full of salt and caused all sorts of problems.
I used to put a chunk of the old rock salt in the loft. I haven't seen it in years. These days its all the pressed salt licks.

[Wiley]

Hey Murray, damp salt no good for anyone.....

Hence the tip about the salt in a place where birds can't get to....you know your loft is right If you can pour the salt out the way you put it in....if you can't there's a humidity issue.

[Wiley]

Regarding grit, I'm very fussy with grits. The birds get one teaspoon of red stone everyday, they will eat this with relish.Tip I got from Leo Heremans

Oyster shell and all that likes is a waste of time, they just flick it about.

Matrix is great but take the aniseed away and it's not as flavoursome to them.

Little and often and refreshed daily, bang on.

[Diamond Dave]

Salt has many benefits. A little put of salt in a box where birds cannot get access too will tell ya if your humidity in the loft is right or wrong.

I'm a big believer in salt licks in the stock loft

Great tips Wiley - good to have you on board mate.
Is this just normal table salt.?
Of late. I have been using a sprinkling of kiln dried sand
under the perches. I've made a "riddle" and riddle it every day. (So much easier than scraping). I sweep it all up into a dustpan then put it thro the riddle back under the perches. Half a dustpan of sand lasted me about a week during the hot weather but since it has changed I am losing the same amount over 3 days. The droppings haven't changed and I have slightly less birds.
I am putting this down to the air being damper and more sand sticking to the droppings.
I am paranoid about the ventilation in my loft so can I ask if you would consider that to be a sign of the wrong humidity?
Sorry if that's a bit long winded (not the best at explaining myself)