What's in the water

What do members put in the water on the build up to the race and on the birds return.

I have tried tons of things over the years and I can honestly say that I have never seen any difference no matter what is in the water, don't get hung up on pills and potions as they don't help real good pigeons, however if you need to put something in the water for peace of mind then HONEY is the best thing ever as we know its sugar so it will help recovery, and honey contains natural antibiotics and other goodies which will help stop any bugs they have picked up in the basket.

I would suggest that you put it quite strong and not skimp on it a good 2 table spoons full to a 5 litre drinker, a word of caution when using honey though, a good friend of mine who is a very educated doctor and bee keeper told me if you buy any honey from any super market then it will have no good benefits at all and is basically just sugar, this is because all honey sold to the public through super markets will be super heated pasteurised in other words and everything good has been destroyed, so buy honey from a local supplier with a garden apery.

Boosey wrote:

What do members put in the water on the build up to the race and on the birds return.

I would suggest you have asked the wrong question here Boosey as it appears ???  we're all clean water freaks .

I disagree and find ropa-b which is a oregano based product extremely good I also use a iodine based product and both keep on top of canker and cocci ,worms and bacterial infections ...they wont make your birds go faster but they certainly help keep the birds healthy ...especially when they are mixing in the baskets I don't use vinegar or garlic anymore I found the birds don't drink as much but take to the oregano very well I have also found other herbs made into a tea very good as a antioxidant after racing atb

oldstrain wrote:

I disagree and find ropa-b which is a oregano based product extremely good I also use a iodine based product and both keep on top of canker and cocci ,worms and bacterial infections ...they wont make your birds go faster but they certainly help keep the birds healthy ...especially when they are mixing in the baskets I don't use vinegar or garlic anymore I found the birds don't drink as much but take to the oregano very well I have also found other herbs made into a tea very good as a antioxidant after racing atb

That's OK I disagree Race day I've never been all that big     on goodies in the water etc as I much prefer Sunday here, when most of my birds will be away training with other birds in the toss units. All that being said, I do tend to alternate between Bi Carb soda & Betadine Iodine, which are both cheap cheap items.

Boosey would agree with Martyn yes Honey is perfect but for me

The best honey to use is the Manuka Honey from New Zealand

But I always mixed 2 teaspoons of Honey with a little splash of Lemon juice plus never placed boiling water on the honey to help it desolve as boiling water will destroy the good bacteria

For me get some very Luke warm water to help desolve the honey and lemon

Yes Don you are quite right , something I forgot to mention I never dissolve the honey in hot water its like I said heat kills the good stuff. It will dissolve in cold or luke water over night easy.