Electrolytes

Leading on from the amazing video clip Hal sent in, regarding making one's own probiotics, I want to bring up another myth and that is the use of so-called electrolytes for racing pigeons.

These 'so called' Electrolytes do not and cannot work for our pigeons. This is not a theory, this is a scientific fact.

Professional cyclists in races like the Tour de France drink electrolytes WHILST they are racing. You will never see a professional cyclist drinking electrolytes AFTER they have finished a race, because it is completely useless and a total waste of money.

Electrolytes enable a human athlete to re-dress the amount of liquids lost through perspiration and to counter-act the amount of essential salts and minerals lost during sweating. Once the race has finished, electrolytes are no good to the athlete.

Human athletes and racing pigeons are completely different - their anatomy, physiology and biology are very different and do not work in the same way. So what makes pigeon fanciers think that, if a product is good for a human athlete WHILST competing, it would be any good to a PIGEON after it has stopped exerting its self - racing, and is back in the loft?

It is as silly as feeding your birds - THEN letting them out for exercise and expecting them to fly well.

Just something to think about over the weekend.

Phil

Ive heard this quite a lot at the club, everyone talking about giving their birds electrolytes when they get home, swear by them in fact, but like you Phil, everything I've read about it says completely useless for pigeons after a race, so I'll keep my cash in my pocket thanks

Lofty wrote:

Ive heard this quite a lot at the club, everyone talking about giving their birds electrolytes when they get home, swear by them in fact, but like you Phil, everything I've read about it says completely useless for pigeons after a race, so I'll keep my cash in my pocket thanks

Smart man Roy Spin & bling men will not be happy with you I suspect . But most know the game they attempt to play with pigeon flyers amongst others etc. Strange I believe how the poor old rock dove, survived as long as it has without using electrolites amongst other goodies on offer as such.

each to his own I use belgasol only after a hard race would not be without it birds pick up quicker after a hard race or run down after missing for some time I have seen it with my own eyes so that's good enough reason for me to use it ...expensive but the results are fantastic I have had birds on deaths door and turned them around using belgasol for a few days so for me they have their uses at times atb

Lofty wrote:

Ive heard this quite a lot at the club, everyone talking about giving their birds electrolytes when they get home, swear by them in fact, but like you Phil, everything I've read about it says completely useless for pigeons after a race, so I'll keep my cash in my pocket thanks

I am glad I could be of some help Lofty.

Of course, there will be those that are so deeply entrenched in their thoughts that they will just 'poo-poo' what I have said and what the real truth is.

But hey - As I used to say when I was a college tutor - "You can try and teach them everything you know, but you can't make them learn"!

Thanks for the support.

Phil

oldstrain wrote:

each to his own I use belgasol  only  after a hard race  would not be without it  birds pick up quicker after a hard race or run down after missing for some time I have seen it with my own eyes so that's good enough reason for me to use it ...expensive but the results are fantastic I have had birds on deaths door and turned them around using belgasol for a few days so for me they have their uses at times atb

Darren - it is more likely the vitamins, trace elements and particularly the amino acids that are doing your birds the good - NOT the electrolyte content of this very expensive product.

I wonder what would happen if you gave the birds that are 'nearly on death's door' a good multi vitamin and mineral mix like Tollyamin Forte 1000.

It is a physical or biological impossibility that the electrolyte content of whatever you give your birds AFTER they have come back from a race, can do them any good at all.

Phil

oldstrain wrote:

each to his own I use belgasol  only  after a hard race  would not be without it  birds pick up quicker after a hard race or run down after missing for some time I have seen it with my own eyes so that's good enough reason for me to use it ...expensive but the results are fantastic I have had birds on deaths door and turned them around using belgasol for a few days so for me they have their uses at times atb

If your happy O/S I'm happy .  

same here, use belgasol after hard races, makes me feel better I think .

redrog wrote:

same here, use belgasol after hard races, makes me feel better I think .

Yes but does it make the birds feel any better?

A lot of the things on the market are for the pigeon MEN - not the pigeons!

Phil

Right on Phil and others! Electrolytes for live stock here are relatively cheap. I have been using them more in he breeding and moulting season than any other time. Why? They get the vitamins and minerals when they need them. I do not buy any product especially made for pigeons. Except grains of course.

not my style to rubbish other peoples opinions ...I have just said on the topic my findings atb with whatever you do or don't use

Whatever works!! Stick with it!!

halcanada wrote:

Right on Phil and others! Electrolytes for live stock here are relatively cheap. I have been using them more in he breeding and moulting season than any other time. Why? They get the vitamins and minerals when they need them. I do not buy any product especially made for pigeons. Except grains of course.

Cheap skate "No pigeon products" . What hope has Mr average pigeon flyer etc have of making sense out of the Electrolyte issue, when even the top pigeon Vets differ on there use as such . Example I know one, that is a deciple of using them on race day. Could have even loaded his troughs up this weekend in desperation but my bones tell me thou it's not going to help him all that much .
*****

oldstrain wrote:

not my style to rubbish other peoples opinions ...I have just said on the topic my findings atb with whatever you do or don't use

OK Unfortunately for me O/S when the spin & bling types, mouth of with waffle etc I tend to speak my piece even if they are world renowned in the market place .

I suppose yer referring to the big dr W over their lol

oldstrain wrote:

I suppose yer referring to the big dr W over their lol

Who Never heard of him etc is he a pigeon lover, or a pigeon racer O/S . Now !!!   remember the face book champion I mentioned earlier here etc "lost 80 odd" actually I've since been told it was 94 & they all had chip rings on, at around $2.50 a ring     .

Cheap skate? Thrifty! Example. I shave every few days. Use one time disposable blades. Was having to use two as the blades were plugging up. Solved the problem!! When it plugs rinse in water and clean out the hairs with an old toothbrush! So, one disposable instead of 2 or 3.

halcanada wrote:

Cheap skate? Thrifty!  Example. I shave every few days. Use one time disposable blades. Was having to use two as the blades were plugging up. Solved the problem!! When it plugs rinse in water and clean out the hairs with an old toothbrush! So, one disposable instead of 2 or 3.

I knew I had a twin out there some where etc Hal. I'm a one hair cut & one packet of disposable blades a year type man also .