Electrolytes ,, Heat

[jimmy white]

it seems as usual the weather in scotland is crazy , nothing unusual in that [snow last week , heat wave f/c today

 

i note a lot of feds up early, i would assume this is to avoid the extreme heat f/cast for later on in the day.

 

i should imagine many birds would be de-heydrated , flying in this heat,

 

i am wondering what the the fanciers thoughts on electrolytes, /re-heydration salts,

 

having read, many use these b4 a race, some after a race, some dont believe in them,

 

i myself have have , in the past have used electrolytes, ,, honey,, glucose , pure water, etc etc , even milk,,,,, whats the fanciers views on best recovery , if any, after such a race in extreme heat?

[Tony C]

its many years since I gave mine eltrolytes. From what I've read pigeons dont lose salts from their bodies through sweat, pigeons are incapeable of sweating = no loss of salts. For me the quicker a pigeon can break down the lactic acid build up the quicker it will be to recover. Plain water will not over burden the liver/kidneys whereas a concoction of unneeded salts could in fact have a contra effect by slowing down the recovery process.

[jimmy white]

its many years since I gave mine eltrolytes. From what I've read pigeons dont lose salts from their bodies through sweat, pigeons are incapeable of sweating = no loss of salts. For me the quicker a pigeon can break down the lactic acid build up the quicker it will be to recover. Plain water will not over burden the liver/kidneys whereas a concoction of unneeded salts could in fact have a contra effect by slowing down the recovery process.

 

very interesting post tony,,,,,, makes you think of the money [being a tight scot] that is being spent by fanciers on the so-called many concoctions , that are supposed to improve stamina, make them race better,recover better/quicker, etc etc,, in my opinion rubbish,,,, in my opinion the best recovery is rest and clean water,

 

mind you there will fanciers be doing salts to-day,,,,summer salts, the winners

[REDCHEQHEN]

I disagree on the 'water only' - as I lost a bird a few years ago that I believed could have been saved had some sugar and salt been added to the water in the first instance (he was found by a non fancier - in good time the day of the race collapsed by a stream but became 'waterlogged' and never recovered)

 

so my birds are only allowed a small amount of water, then electrolytes, as the races get longer and fewer birds are sent - I can tend to them individually - swapping cups over. As for the lactic acid build up - getting them out to exercise the next day, I think is crucial even if its just for a short fly and a bath

[Guest IB]

Been a real scorcher today, at 0900 in my loft it was 20C (in the shade) so got a chance to compare birds wants water-wise. My birds trap into a corridor with water and wheat/barley mix available to them. I leave them there for as long as they want then let them into their boxes. Theres plain water and food available in boxes too.

 

Some big gaps today, my first pigeon came home to plain water in corridor drinker; she drank plenty from that. Big wait for my 2nd bird so while waiting decided conditions warranted changing corridor drinker to cider vinegar & honey. Noted slight hesitation as second arrival eyed up 'bubbles' in water, then took a drink, followed by a right deep pull.

 

None of the birds (bar one) passed up the corridor drinker, they all spent a bit of time there, before wanting through to their boxes. Only one wanted straight to box, and he had a few good pulls of plain water there. Longer time on wing must be a factor, but I don't think he perked up just as quick as the birds that had had honey in their water. Honey is there because glucose helps rehydrate, and I think it gives the birds a bit of a lift too.

 

I'm not convinced theres a role for electrolytes for healthy race birds. A bird that has been downed in the wild for days is different.

[Guest mick bowler]

As Tony C said tackling lactic acid build up, as well as muscle repair are more important than electrolytes and so first feed more important than first drink.

[jimmy white]

As Tony C said tackling lactic acid build up, as well as muscle repair are more important than electrolytes and so first feed more important than first drink.

 

with due respect mick,and excusing my ignorance, would the birds not need that first drink to be able to have that first feed, or am i reading you wrong,?,

,

or should i be reading it, once theve had their drink,,,, the first feed is the most important?

 

birds i saw returning on saturday, [very, very hot], made straight for the drinker, they looked pretty tired,,,,, but when visiting the same loft approx 6pm that night, looked as though they had never been away, these birds were lightly fed approx an hour after arriving,[about 10- 11 am [4 to 5 hours fly] ,rested untill fed at 5pm,

do you reckon this was the feed, or simply the re-heydration ?,,or both?

 

on red cheq hens post i agree, i meant a nights rest, then out asap,the following morn. bath if poss,

 

 

[Roland]

Well I agree 100% with Tony. Electrolite actualy dehydroates. Never used it - Was warned via Gordon Chambers long time back that it was a for deheydration! So how can via doing the same, as what you think it may suffer from, do any good? Honey and Mallasses even yes I have used.

Well water or mineral spring waterand plenty of rest if flown out. A little linseed, then 3 peanuts when suitable. Followed via a protein, feed which is simply for repairs and a building block, for torn, worn muscles! Now if the bird has flown out in as much that it has had to biurn out the muscles for heat units, then it will be 2 - 3 weeks before even thinking of sending again. Most likely it will need toxins cleaning out from it's system then muscles replenished etc..