Posted this long message on another forum, so I thought I might share it here as well I'm sure I've talked about a few of these here before, but I've added onto it.

When it comes to health, in my opinion, the most natural, organic remedies are always a favorite of mine. I do NOT like medicine. I myself do not even like taking medicine. Not because it's too much trouble or tastes nasty, but because I don't like the idea of it being in my system. I only take one medication everyday, because I...have to, haha. Other than that, I take lots of vitamins and a fish oil capsule. The point is, I like holistic stuff, and not this synthetic junk. So because of that, I've done a lot of research as to what's beneficial to feed the birds, that could be easily found at walmart or the local health store. So here it goes.

Garlic
- Natural antibiotic and anti-fungal, inhibiting/killing about 24 kinds bacteria and 60+ types of fungi and yeasts. Aids in healthy blood circulation and purifies their systems, overall boosting the immune system. Garlic has sulfur in it, so those who like to use sulfur to help rid of bugs, garlic is probably an easier way of going about preventing them. And two more things to think about, is that garlic is thought to help with dissolving lactic acid, which is what causes an animal's muscles to get very sore and bound up, so if that is true, it could be helpful after a race...and it's also been found to have anti-cancer properties.
There are 5 ways to give garlic.
1. Powder. Make sure it isn't garlic salt, but garlic powder. Put a little bit of oil (if nothing special is available, light olive oil will do) on the feed (a little goes a long way) and sprinkle some powder on the feed. Enough to where you think you've covered all the feed, but not to where it looks completely coated, LOL. I never really measure it with this stuff, just usually pour a 'cap full' into it, which of course would vary depending on the container. So I'm going to say a tablespoon or two for an ice cream (gallon) bucket full of food, ahaha.
2. Oil. You can put this on the feed the same way as you would if putting powder on. You can add whatever you'd like, or just put the oil on the food by itself.
3. Capsules. You can get the gel kind at walmart or anywhere with vitamin pills. For individual treatment you can just give the bird one of these. Depending on how big the bird is, you may need to find solid pills instead of gel calsules, because I've noticed some of the smaller breeds like rollers, haver a much harder time getting them down. So therefore, they'd need to be cut down to size.
4. Fresh cloves in the water. Crush up a few and put them in a gallon of water. Let it sit over night and give to the birds the next morning. This allows plently of time for the garlic to soak and get in the water. Otherwise your birds may drink it before the garlic really does any good in the water.
5. Garlic juice in the water. I am not sure the dosage of garlic juice per gallon of water, since I haven't gotten to use it yet. You wouldn't have to let this sit though, just add it in and stir or shake (best in a milk jug) then give to the birds.

Apple Cider Vinegar
- Another natural antibiotic. Helps sterilize the crop and water, and is great for discouraging salmonella. Creates an acidic environment in the digestive tract which helps good bacteria grow. Lots of trace elements/minerals and enzymes in the 'mother', which are beneficial to the pigeons' health.
Dosage is one tablespoon per gallon of water. While typical brands will still give you the acidity, the most natural and organic kind you can find, with the 'mother', is ultimately the best. With as much ACV as I use, brands like Bragg's are too expensive for me, but I would like to start getting some every once in a while when we can afford to.

Crushed chili pepper
- Parasite control, in and out. Reduces levels of a compound that contributes to inflammation and pain. They think it may help prevent cancer and heal lung problems as well.
I just sprinkle some over the top of their food.

Honey
- Natural antibiotic and overall 'miracle food' in my opinion. Works wonders with healing injuries when applied to the wound with a bandage. Helps keep infection away of course, but I've found it to help heal on a much faster pace. Honey contains sugars glucose and fructose, and minerals like magnesium, potassium, calcium, sodium chlorine, sulphur, iron and phosphate.
Also has vitamins B1, B2, C, B6, B5 and B3, and copper, iodine, and zinc. All kinds of good things that your birds' diet may or may not be lacking depending. Has powerful antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties, which can help a lot with calming and soothing race birds upon return. The sugars will also help restore energy. Can help with diarrhea and vomitting because it promotes rehydration of the body.
I'm sure there's a lot more to honey than that, but I'll stop there. I give my birds local pure honey, not the kind they stick in bottles at walmart. Helps support local beekeepers and is better for the birds.
I'm sure you've all heard of the bacteria honey can contain that is harmful to babies. Because of that bacteria, I wouldn't give it to squeakers until a few weeks after weaning. I've heard some horror stories of giving honey to feeding parents and newly weaned young because of this bacteria. As they grow, their immune system builds up to where honey isn't a threat anymore.
May or may not be the case all the time, but I like to take precautions for these sorts of things.
Dosage is one teaspoon per gallon of water. Easier to mix with water water, then let cool. Good for going to the race, and upon return, in my opinion.

Cinnamon
- Anti-inflammatory, Anti-microbial, and helps keep clotts and blood impurities away, which helps with overall blood circulation of course. The odor has been found to improves brain functions/activity (especially memory), and helps with blood sugar control. Antibacterial and antifungal as well, being proven active against candida (yeast infections and thrush) and bacterias responsible for stomach ulsers. Also helps with parasite control. Good source of fiber, iron, and calcium. Last but not least, aids in riding digestive problems like diarrhea, vomiting, nausea, and indegestion (sounds like a better tasing Pepto Bismol, LOL).
I give one teaspoon per gallon of water, usually along with honey, since the combination has been helpful for people with joint issues and arthritis.

Charcoal
- Adsorbs many different types of poisons, gases, chemicals, and drugs (so make sure the charcoal is taken away during medication periods. If it's in your grit, you will want to take that away for sure.), making them ineffective. Keep in mind this is adsorbtion, not absorbtion. It just attracts things to its surface and holds them there. Eases inflammation and bruises. It relieves symptoms of diarrhea, spastic colon, indigestion, and stomach ulcers. Adsorbs external would secretions, toxins, and bacteria.
The best charcoal is the activated charcoal, which you'd find in red grit.

Grapeseed extract
- Great for stimulating the immune system, and helps with various types of worms, parasites, and fungi and yeast infections. Good for more than just us and birds, but other pets to. Can be used for body odor, cuts and wounds, ear infections and mites, fleas, hoof disease in horses, mange, ringworm, and a good skin cleanser. Helps with diarrhea, and raises the pH level of the body, making it harder for many bacterias, including cancer, to live and cause problems. Saying that, it also works like ACV in that it makes a nice place for good bacteria to grow. Contains antioxidant properties, helps the body fight over 800 viral and bacterial strains and 100 fungi strains, detoxes the body, and helps with scar healing. I'm sure there is a lot more to the GSE than we know of right now. Another one of those 'miracle' things most people probably don't even know about.
I've seen the Grapefruit seed oil at the health store, along with GSE pills. Next time I go I'm going to pick up some of the oil and use it on the feed a couple times a week to either help powder stick, or just by itself.

I'll go get my supplement schedule out of my 'office' (feed storage building, LOL) and share it here too, so you can see how often I give this stuff.

Awesome information Becky!
Thanx for sharing it.
I can surely use it myself.
Consider it printed and saved in one of my books

Thanks for posting this information, Becky. I give my birds ACV and I have given them garlic before, but I haven't tried the garlic oil. That would be much easier than crushing the cloves and would easier to keep fresh. The rest of your suggestions, I have not seen before, but after reading what you have posted, I believe I will check some of them out.

Does anyone else think this would be a good sticky post?

DynaBMan wrote:Thanks for posting this information, Becky. I give my birds ACV and I have given them garlic before, but I haven't tried the garlic oil. That would be much easier than crushing the cloves and would easier to keep fresh. The rest of your suggestions, I have not seen before, but after reading what you have posted, I believe I will check some of them out.

Does anyone else think this would be a good sticky post?

ABSOLUTELY! Great information becky!

GREAT INFORMATION, BECKY!!

DEFINITELY needs to be a STICKY!!

Thanks for taking the time to post!!

Love and Hugs
Shi

Hi Becky,

I like your post, good information here! I was thinking that perhaps the title should be changed however to something like, "Natural supplements to give your birds". What do you think?

Sounds good to me And I'm glad I could help!

Becky, Thank you so much for the information. What kind of chile pepper do you use?

My husband grows them from mild to "hot".

'Goji Berries' - can be cut up with Scissors into small bits, and, 'Seed Popped' along with whatever else, for convelescent Birds of any Species.

Goji Berries are chock full of Vcitamins, Minerals and anti-oxidants.

Similarly with dried or semi dry or soaked and rehydrated Elder Berries, Sour or Dark Cherries, Lingon Berries or any other small, wild, Anti-oxidant rich Berries/Fruits.

Never give Birds 'Sulfered' dried Fruits though, of course.


Palitable Sea Weeds ( of the kinds people eat ) -

The fine textured ones, Pigeons and Doves can or will learn to eat on their own, and, these are very good for them.

Birds need natural sources of Iodine, and, Palitable Sea Weeds have this.

One can also grint it up in a little electric or other Coffee Grinder, and, add it to the forumla for Tube Feeding Convelescents, or, feeding to Babys/Infant Birds.


Drinking Water which does not contain "Floride' -

Use adequately filtered Tap Water, or, buy bulk purified Water for your Birds.
Flouride detracts from or even ruins many things in the Body, including Thyroid function, causing a cascading diminution of all the metabolic systems, weaking the immune system, and inviting amenibility to allergy, illness or a shorter Life.
Fresh CArrot Juice, Celery Juice or Leafy Greens Juices are very good for Birds, and, can be made fresh with any suitable Juicer, and, watered down fifty-fifty for the day's Gallon Waterers.

Kim Chee - the Korean fermented Cabbage food, is very good for just about any Bird Species, and, similarly, if can be purreed in a Blender, cut fifty=fifty with Water, and, used for the day's Gallon waterers.

Ducks and Geese and Chickens who were used to eating Kim Chee in the Orient, were noticed to have NOT gotten the H5N1, while same Species Birds not fed the food, did get it.
Sea Salt -

Birds need a little Salt, same as anyone else, and, in Nature, in most areas, it is a very ver yscarce or impossible thing to find in any direct form.

Putting a little coarse small crystal genuine authentic 'Sea Salt' out for them now and then ( avoid Table Salt or Purified Salt, as it will be devoid of all the important Trace Minerals, which are still present in actual Sea Salt ), is a good thing for them, and they will enjoy it.
Natural sources of Omega 3 Fatty Acids - Fresh cold pressed Olive Oil, Cod Liver Oil, fresh not stale Flax Seeds and or Flax Seed Oil, etc.
Can be added to their Seeds for the day, and, these also of course are very good for any Species of Birds.
Lecithin is probably somehting worth investigating and considering also, and, it is cheap, and, easy to add to formula or Seeds.

That was very nice of you pdpbison to think of us and share that information for it is good information. I know birds need a tiny bit of salt but I would be careful about this and really know how much because salt can kill a bird and I know you know that but I just wanted to emphasize that so know the quantity one should be dealing with and how much exactly, and like you suggest the very best with minerals is "sea salt". I love "Kim Chee" but it is soooo hot and I eat it with "rice" to tone it down a bit.. I did not know about that food item for birds...As far as oil is concerned and I know "Cod Liver Oil" is good because of the calcium but anytime I tried to use it to put vitamins in the seed--my birds --point blank--refused it...so I have to use veg or corn oil and sometimes I can get away with olive oil to use to stick vitamins to the food..maybe they are just spoiled and if I starve them first -- I love making teas for my birdies as well and that celery one and the sea weed one sounds wonderful to try and when I do this it is in my plastic waterer and that's all they have to drink so they will drink it. To tell you the truth I don't know what a Goji berry is but I am going to check this out and black cherries were interesting too...Thank you for the wonderful advice and do you know anything about "weeds" like "dandyline" for I know people can eat it but really don't know what to do with it and I have some in my yard and I pull them out...just wondering...Thank you so much for sharing this information with us...

Hi,

I know I'm late to this topic, but we just adopted two pigeons about two weeks ago. First of all, thank you for this incredibly helpful list of supplements. I have finely ground dried chipotle pepper. Would that be safe to sprinkle over their food?

Thanks,
Jane

Hi Capnjane and thanks for the complement on the list of supplements. Mary of Exeter and pdpbision are very knowledgeable about supplements as well as the others who contributed to the list. I am not into supplements per say but other people on the forum might be able to answer your question of crushed up chipotle pepper would be good for your pigeon. There is also a introduction thread where if you wanted to tell us something about yourself you could and then we could welcome you on that thread .Someone will know the answer to your question about that particular supplement.....Sometimes these things take time.. .

Ah, I see. Thank you c.hert. I think I posted something in the introduction thread a while ago, but will check.

Thanks to everyone here for being so helpful!

Absolutely brilliant information. I put apple cider vinegar in my water from today and am buying garlic capsules from tomorrow. Just need advice on feeding of rice. Sites all mention it as a valued food but dont say whether it should be cooked or not?

Hello everyone! It's been a while so I'm just now seeing the replies. I have no idea about chipotle peppers. I use red pepper flakes, which is found in the spice isle. I think it is mostly cayenne flakes/seeds but I have read that it is also made up of other red peppers.

As for rice, it doesn't have to be cooked. White or brown, doesn't matter. Brown is natural and better for you. White rice has been bleached and loses some of its nutrients I believe. A lot of pigeon feed mixes contain rice They have to get used to it but they'll eat it right along with the other seeds once they do.

Like pizza peppers? Got it. Thank you, Becky. In retrospect, it seems like a dumb question, so I guess I'm more confident in our ability to take care of pigeons now. Thanks again for your supplement list at the beginning of this thread. It is a huge help for the beginners!

Jane

Thanks cooked brown rice it will be. By the way when feeding other vegetables can or should they be cooked as well. ie carrots, potatoes, beans etc?