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The other day, I came across an article that I found very interesting. The reason it was interesting is that I came to the conclusion several years ago that electrolytes were of little use to racing pigeons since they controlled their temperature by means other than cutaneous evaporation and therefore did not sweat out mineral salts. Since they do not sweat out mineral salts, they do not need mineral salts replacement through electrolyte supplementation.
[Excerpt from the article "Probiotics, Prebiotics and Immunostimulants , etc.. by Gordon A Chalmers]
The use of electrolytes is a controversial subject in pigeon racing. In my opinion, if birds have daily access to a good wide-ranging mineral mix (that includes the trace mineral selenium) and an adequate diet, there should be no need for electrolytes in the days prior to a race. Such use of electrolytes could induce unwanted thirst.
A number of veterinarians including Drs David Marx, John Kazmierczak and Nik Weber (USA), Dr Frank Harper (UK), Dr Pascal Lennault (Belgium) and Dr Wim Peters of South Africa believe there is no need at all for electrolytes for healthy racing birds. As one example, this is Dr Peters’s reasoning, used with his permission, quote: “Electrolytes are often included in a vitamin preparation. I do not think that their use in pigeons is necessary as a matter of fact I believe that they could be harmful, particularly to the dehydrated pigeon returning home from a long race on a hot day. Imagine this scenario: it’s a hot day and the race is from 800 km (500 miles). A bird makes it back just before dark. What has happened to it during the day? Flying requires muscular activity which rapidly builds up heat, particularly with high (environmental) temperatures. The bird must dispose of this heat, otherwise it will be unable to continue. Too much heat will kill it! The only way to rid itself of enough heat is via respiration. (Some is lost through the legs and skin but the eventual effect is the same). Respiration causes water loss from the mouth and respiratory system. Note well: water only, no salts. Increased respiration causes increased water loss. The pigeon becomes dehydrated from all this loss but manages to reach home. We now have a flown out and dehydrated pigeon and wish to restore its physiological equilibrium as quickly as possible. Water was lost from the system (from blood and body tissues) but the salts (electrolytes) are more or less unchanged - in other words the concentration of electrolytes is higher than normal (because of the loss of water).
Giving more electrolytes now would worsen the condition. What is needed is plain water – as soon as possible. Warm it up, by all means, but do not add electrolytes. The usual feed can be given. But I prefer pellets, as they are semi-cooked, turn into mash after intake which means that they do not first have to be ground to pulp, have a large surface area exposed to the digestive enzymes and are pretty much balanced in their proteins, carbohydrates, fats, vitamins and minerals. All this means they provide a rapid supply of essential food stuffs with which to build up the pigeon as quickly as possible. The electrolytes that the pigeon did lose via its kidneys and bowels are easily replaced by the salts normally contained in a balanced diet. It does not need extra replenishment.
I should note, that there is a small amount of cutaneous evaporation that goes on during flight, but the amount is small in relation to the repiratory heat pump (mouth, throat, nasal cavity, lungs, air sacs). You can read more about how a bird cools itself at the following links:
http://www.racingpigeonmall.com/loft/articles/dewpoint.html
http://www.racingpigeonmall.com/loft/articles/eyesign-radiator.html
If you are interested in finding an excellent product that actually does recouperate your birds after a race without the risk of electrolytes, and that quickly rebuilds the muscles, then click on this product link: Muscle Max