tonic/vitamins

snowy · August 20, 2005

apart from the normal food & grit/minerals, is there any tonic/vitamins that you are supposed to give them? as i remember yrs ago i used to give a drop or 2 of something in their water? thanks

August 20, 2005

If you want to give them tonic the simplest is Johnsons tonic And vitamins I put on the corn after first damping with a little lemon juice. There are so many different products on the market it makes my head spin just reading all the adverts. My advice is to keep it as simple as possible races are NOT won out of a bottle.

snowy · August 20, 2005

yes thanks will do.

you dont get many specialist shops now that sell pigeon supplies, like years ago, there was a shop called the corn bin that just sold pigeon stuff, oh well the good old days(lol) cheers anyway.

Joe90 · August 20, 2005

so whats the best way of giving the tonic via the corn pls explain

jimmy white · August 20, 2005

hi snowy you can give ordinary pigeon vits once a week also cider vineger or garlic are good for keeping birds healthy, any of these things are quite cheap but i think its more important to have a dry well ventilated loft cheers jimmy

snowy · August 20, 2005

hi jim, thanks, got vents built into my loft, just got to get the big thing up! (next week ), cheers, how much garlic or cider vineger do you add? just a drop or 2? or do you leave a clove in some water before you give it them?

August 21, 2005

Snowy, garlic is a really important addition to the birds diet, and should be given regularly. It helps develop and stimulate their natural immune system. You can buy lots of natural powders and liquids which will come with dose rates, or you can simply cut up a clove of garlic and put it in the water dish at least twice a week. Remeber to remove it after 24 hours. You will also notice a change in the smell inside your loft!! lol

August 21, 2005

so whats the best way of giving the tonic via the corn pls explain

Igive tonic in the water if need be, peronally I stick to garlic, cyder vinegar and yeast keep all treatment simple. Do not believe most of the adverts in the papers they are only aftter your money

jimmy white · August 21, 2005

hi snowy agree with most of the posts , doostalker is def. on the right track. i simply peel garlic cloves, cut 2or 3 up put in lemonade bottle, hot water, not boiling [as would break bottle] no but seriously if you boil it you boil the natural ingrediant away which is allicin, i have a leaflet some where? which i will look out ..... the virtues of garlic,,,, will print later . jimmy

snowy · August 21, 2005

yes, i take garlic capsules myself, ive hardly ever got a cold, plus my doctor has advised me too as i have a heart condition (hereditry). but didnt think for pigeons" saying that, i was told to put some in my pond, keeps the nasty bacteria out & keeps the fish healthy, so must be good for everything, thanks anyway

August 21, 2005

Garlic - have a look at the 'please help' forum. I took an article off the web some time ago on garlic and have recently posted it in that forum. A bit on the long side but good arguments for and against the use of garlic in humans and in pigeons, I think. Leaves you to make up your own mind.

I believe that you shouldn't heat garlic at all and I use it as a sort of policeman.

I agree with most of the thread that you dont need bottles and pills and potions when there are natural alternatives available, probably better than the pigeon specifics and certainly a good deal cheaper.

August 22, 2005

A saying I learned years ago....KISS Keep It Simple Stupid. Applies well to every venture. Bruno is right, use the natural way at all times. It also works out cheaper. I am constantly amazed at how things grow in price when you slap the word "pigeon" on the bottle!! :-/