Salt Deficiency

I was doing some reading and came across the following information in an article by Dr. Marx. The question as come up several times about excessive water around droppings. While the following may not be the only reason, it's worthy of consideration.



Remember, salt deficiency frequently occurs during reproduction, especially after the parents have fed more than one round of young. Symptoms associated with salt deficiency are watery droppings, wet nests, eating excessive grit, nibbling on unusual objects (salt deficiency can result in pica, an unusual or depraved appetite).

If you cannot taste any salt in the grit you are feeding, it may be salt deficient. This need for salt only becomes obvious when feeding young, as a rule. Adding salt to the grit (in moderation) may prevent this. Giving salt to salt-starved pigeons can be a problem too.

The birds crave it so much, they will overeat salt, and this can cause salt poisoning. Salt poisoning causes swelling in the brain and can result in death. Replace the salt gradually to prevent this.


A little salt (1/2 tsp./gal) can be given in the drinking water to help restore the normal needs. Do this only for a few days and only if the pigeons are salt deficient.

http://www.pigeonnetwork.com/vetdirectory/vetusa/drdavidmarx/considerationsbreeding.cfm

Matilda wrote:

I was doing some reading and came across the following information in an article by Dr. Marx. The question as come up several times about excessive water around droppings. While the following may not be the only reason, it's worthy of consideration.



Remember, salt deficiency frequently occurs during reproduction, especially after the parents have fed more than one round of young. Symptoms associated with salt deficiency are watery droppings, wet nests, eating excessive grit, nibbling on unusual objects (salt deficiency can result in pica, an unusual or depraved appetite).

If you cannot taste any salt in the grit you are feeding, it may be salt deficient. This need for salt only becomes obvious when feeding young, as a rule. Adding salt to the grit (in moderation) may prevent this. Giving salt to salt-starved pigeons can be a problem too.

The birds crave it so much, they will overeat salt, and this can cause salt poisoning. Salt poisoning causes swelling in the brain and can result in death. Replace the salt gradually to prevent this.


A little salt (1/2 tsp./gal) can be given in the drinking water to help restore the normal needs. Do this only for a few days and only if the pigeons are salt deficient.

http://www.pigeonnetwork.com/vetdirectory/vetusa/drdavidmarx/considerationsbreeding.cfm

This is really interesting, and I'm going to check the grit I'm giving my pigeons. I'm wondering if this can be the cause of Sammy's somewhat wet, but otherwise normal poops, especially considering that she eats grit like there's no tomorrow!

Very interesting info.

Yep, that grit doesn't taste salty at all! And Sammy exhibits all the above symptoms except wet nest -- she eats so much grit I have to limit her to one helping per day, and if you remember she pecked at daft things like the putty between the floorboards.
That may also be the reason why Hercules and Piper pecked the walls though they had grit available all the time. I bet the sandy matrix of the old walls is saltier.

I've added a tiny pinch of salt to Sammy's grit. She dived into it, but I took the dish away after she'd eaten about half a level teaspoon. Do you think that's all right for a day?

Sammy really does eat a lot of grit.
It will be interesting to see if she exhibits any changes since adding a bit of salt to her grit.

Please keep us posted, Teresa.

It's working!!!

Both Sammy and Hercules' poop consistency improved with the addition of just a very few grains of salt to their grit! But Sammy is not pleased that I should dose out how much she can have... When I presented her the grit dish today I thought she was going to attack me for it! I've never seen such a grit-greedy bird!

This article on salt deficiency has been an eye-opener!

Teresa wrote:

It's working!!!

Both Sammy and Hercules' poop consistency improved with the addition of just a very few grains of salt to their grit!
But Sammy is not pleased that I should dose out how much she can have... When I presented her the grit dish today I thought she was going to attack me for it! I've never seen such a grit-greedy bird!

This article on salt deficiency has been an eye-opener!

That's great to hear, Teresa.