Homemade electrolyte?

[ClickityChick123]

Hi everyone, I was just wondering if I should make some homemade electrolytes for my chickens. It is really hot where I am and I'm wondering if electrolytes might help.
Thank you and all help is appreciated!
P.S. If I should, does anyone have a recipe?

 

[nuthatched]

A quart of water, tsp of salt, tsp of sugar, or dilute some normal Gatorade or pedialyte/powerade:
1 part Gatorade, 9 parts water

 

[rosemarythyme]

I do:
1 gal water
1 Tablespoon sugar
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon salt

Scale it down if needed as you're only going to use this sporadically. Make sure they still have regular water available as well.

You can also drink this yourself if needed (when we had a heat dome there was no gatorade to be found). I was giving it to my dogs as well.

 

[Altairsky]

There is a lot of misconception about what electrolytes truly are.
Electrolytes are:
Sodium, potassium, chloride, calcium, magnesium, and phosphate.
Sugar is not an electrolyte but it helps, while salt and backing soda are both sodium so there isn't much electrolyte in the electrolyte water recipe that is often suggested.
Gatorade is basically a scam if you read the ingredients list.
Since real electrolyte powder is quite expensive, my suggestion is to get some molasses instead.
Molasses has a very high content of most electrolytes, plus it's sugary which gives energy.
Molasses has:

• manganese
• magnesium
• copper
• vitamin B-6
• selenium
• potassium
• iron
• calcium
• sodium

It's also a healthier replacement for sugar so it's great to sweeten coffee for example. I started using molasses for my chickens but now I could never stay without in my kitchen!

 

[CabritaChicks]

There is a lot of misconception about what electrolytes truly are.
Electrolytes are:
Sodium, potassium, chloride, calcium, magnesium, and phosphate.
Sugar is not an electrolyte but it helps, while salt and backing soda are both sodium so there isn't much electrolyte in the electrolyte water recipe that is often suggested.
Gatorade is basically a scam if you read the ingredients list.
Since real electrolyte powder is quite expensive, my suggestion is to get some molasses instead.
Molasses has a very high content of most electrolytes, plus it's sugary which gives energy.
Molasses has:

• manganese
• magnesium
• copper
• vitamin B-6
• selenium
• potassium
• iron
• calcium
• sodium

It's also a healthier replacement for sugar so it's great to sweeten coffee for example. I started using molasses for my chickens but now I could never stay without in my kitchen!

Finally—yes! So glad someone brought this up. Sugar and salt alone do not make an electrolyte solution. True electrolytes are minerals that carry an electric charge in the body and are essential for functions like hydration, nerve signals, and muscle movement.

The four primary electrolytes are:

• Sodium
• Potassium
• Magnesium
• Calcium

While sugar (usually glucose) is often included in hydration formulas because it provides quick energy and helps with electrolyte absorption in the gut, it is not an electrolyte. It plays a supporting role, not a starring one.

It’s also important to note that chickens don’t sweat like mammals. Because of this, they don’t lose large amounts of sodium through perspiration—so giving them sugary salt water doesn’t actually help, and may even be counterproductive.

For heat support, the best thing you can do is keep water plentiful, shaded, and cool—simple steps like moving it out of the sun, refreshing it often, or adding a few ice cubes can go a long way. If you’re dealing with extreme heat stress, cyour birds also may not be eating well- consider soaking some pellets or crumbles- and putting a couple ice cubes in it (they slowly melt and are fun to play with).

And GATORADE is a complete scam.

 

[Mother of Chaos]

Finally—yes! So glad someone brought this up. Sugar and salt alone do not make an electrolyte solution. True electrolytes are minerals that carry an electric charge in the body and are essential for functions like hydration, nerve signals, and muscle movement.

The four primary electrolytes are:

• Sodium
• Potassium
• Magnesium
• Calcium

While sugar (usually glucose) is often included in hydration formulas because it provides quick energy and helps with electrolyte absorption in the gut, it is not an electrolyte. It plays a supporting role, not a starring one.

It’s also important to note that chickens don’t sweat like mammals. Because of this, they don’t lose large amounts of sodium through perspiration—so giving them sugary salt water doesn’t actually help, and may even be counterproductive.

For heat support, the best thing you can do is keep water plentiful, shaded, and cool—simple steps like moving it out of the sun, refreshing it often, or adding a few ice cubes can go a long way. If you’re dealing with extreme heat stress, cyour birds also may not be eating well- consider soaking some pellets or crumbles- and putting a couple ice cubes in it (they slowly melt and are fun to play with).

And GATORADE is a complete scam.

Thank you, especially about the (not) sweating issue!! I keep reading electrolytes, electrolytes, and wondering, but why?!

 

[BoundlessLove]

There is a lot of misconception about what electrolytes truly are.
Electrolytes are:
Sodium, potassium, chloride, calcium, magnesium, and phosphate.
Sugar is not an electrolyte but it helps, while salt and backing soda are both sodium so there isn't much electrolyte in the electrolyte water recipe that is often suggested.
Gatorade is basically a scam if you read the ingredients list.
Since real electrolyte powder is quite expensive, my suggestion is to get some molasses instead.
Molasses has a very high content of most electrolytes, plus it's sugary which gives energy.
Molasses has:

• manganese
• magnesium
• copper
• vitamin B-6
• selenium
• potassium
• iron
• calcium
• sodium

It's also a healthier replacement for sugar so it's great to sweeten coffee for example. I started using molasses for my chickens but now I could never stay without in my kitchen!

Been taking blackstrap molasses daily for years. Helps with iron, as well.

 

[CabritaChicks]

Chickens require around 40–60 mg of iron per kilogram of feed, depending on their age (and even less for parrots as it can be a death sentence...).

If you're feeding a commercial diet, it already meets these needs—no need to add more.

Molasses is extremely high in iron (about 4.7 mg per tablespoon), so it should be used sparingly and only on occasion—for example, 1 tablespoon per gallon of water for just one day. Frequent use can lead to iron storage disease, which often goes undetected until symptoms like pasty butt show up—especially in chicks. This condition can cause liver damage and other health problems, so it’s best to avoid using molasses regularly or in large amounts.

Edit to be more clear:

• Chickens have no efficient mechanism to excrete excess iron. Like many birds, they absorb iron readily and can accumulate it over time.
• In situations where:
  • They are given iron-rich supplements (like molasses, multivitamins, iron-fortified water),
  • They’re under stress or suffering from liver issues,
  • Or they’re very young (chicks)

 

[BoundlessLove]

Chickens require around 40–60 mg of iron per kilogram of feed, depending on their age (and even less for parrots as it can be a death sentence...).

If you're feeding a commercial diet, it already meets these needs—no need to add more.

Molasses is extremely high in iron (about 4.7 mg per tablespoon), so it should be used sparingly and only on occasion—for example, 1 tablespoon per gallon of water for just one day. Frequent use can lead to iron storage disease, which often goes undetected until symptoms like pasty butt show up—especially in chicks. This condition can cause liver damage and other health problems, so it’s best to avoid using molasses regularly or in large amounts.

Edit to be more clear:

• Chickens have no efficient mechanism to excrete excess iron. Like many birds, they absorb iron readily and can accumulate it over time.
• In normal conditions with balanced feed, chickens regulate iron well enough not to develop iron toxicity.
• However, in situations where:
  • They are given iron-rich supplements (like molasses, multivitamins, iron-fortified water),
  • They’re under stress or suffering from liver issues,
  • Or they’re very young (chicks)

Yes, for chickens everything in moderation.
I have given diluted blackstrap molasses to chicks, poults, etc. when they needed it, as in sickly or recovering. Have Never had any problems with using it as stated.

I, personally, have been taking blackstrap molasses daily for years.
And @Altairsky said she uses it as a sugar replacement. For herself.