Tap water for finches?

Updates, stories, and other finch related topics.
User avatar
30 Seconds to Bob
Weaning
Weaning
Posts: 1786
Joined: Tue Jul 31, 2012 7:12 pm
Location: west central florida

Re: Tap water for finches?

Post by 30 Seconds to Bob » Wed Nov 13, 2013 11:46 pm

Don't know where you live, but around here we have automated "water stations" at literally every corner where you can fill water jugs purified by reverse osmosis. A gallon of water costs 25 cents and a five gallon jug is only $1.00. We bought a water cooler for our living room, and the animals and us all drink this delicious water. Well worth the small investment for chemical free water. Bob
3 canaries
2 orange cheeked waxbill finches
2 java finches, 1 split to normal, 1 white
2 bourke parakeets
1 american staffordshire/american pit bull terrier
1 boston/jack russel terrier mix
6 adopted stray cats
2 adult, 1 young leopard gecko
4 fish tanks and 4 fish bowls
3 turtles
2 teenage kids and 1 wife

User avatar
David
Jute Junkie
Jute Junkie
Posts: 505
Joined: Thu Oct 24, 2013 12:00 am
Location: California

Re: Tap water for finches?

Post by David » Thu Nov 14, 2013 6:57 pm

I will used tap water for now and let it sit longer. I will try different ways next time with filter water when I have enough bottles for all of them. :shock: since I've got 20something zebbies now :)




David

User avatar
David
Jute Junkie
Jute Junkie
Posts: 505
Joined: Thu Oct 24, 2013 12:00 am
Location: California

Re: Tap water for finches?

Post by David » Thu Nov 14, 2013 6:59 pm

Bob ,
I lived in SF Bay Area which our city water not consider hard water. It should be ok, I was just worrying about my finches can get better water than they were before hehe. I used tap water for few years already and nothing wrong or have any problems so far. Thanks for your answer, which will try it sometime. :)




David

User avatar
Sunbay
Amateur Architect
Amateur Architect
Posts: 460
Joined: Fri Jun 14, 2013 9:13 pm
Location: Northeast Florida

Re: Tap water for finches?

Post by Sunbay » Thu Nov 14, 2013 8:12 pm

Interesting topic!
I have always used bottled "purified" water. But that gets expensive over time, and it's cumbersome buying, hauling and storing.
We are on artesian well water here - probably very safe.

Will give it a try. :-)

Lauren
Lauren



Purple Grenadiers
Blue Dacnis
Blue-Capped Cordon Bleus
Painted Finches
Black-Faced Fire Finches
Black-Bellied Fire Finches
Gloster Corona Canary
African Quailfinches
NFSS, NCBS Member and CITES permit holder
English Cocker Spaniels

User avatar
Angela&Shalamar
Novice Nester
Novice Nester
Posts: 405
Joined: Sun Jul 07, 2013 8:08 pm
Location: Maryland

Re: Tap water for finches?

Post by Angela&Shalamar » Thu Nov 14, 2013 9:15 pm

Use all the water no worries. I personally use a Britia pitcher and that's what I and my animals drink at least most of the time.
Angela&Shalamar

dcompt
CocoFiber Craftsman
CocoFiber Craftsman
Posts: 604
Joined: Mon Jan 30, 2012 10:37 pm
Location: Louisiana

Re: Tap water for finches?

Post by dcompt » Thu Nov 14, 2013 9:33 pm

I use city tap water for the birds - it's what I drink myself. So if it's a sinking ship, we'll all go down together. :lol: As far as I know, none of us have suffered any ill effects.
Donna

7 happy societies: Pippin Onewing, Badger Boldfinch, Gaffer McChirp, Hermit Funnyfeather, Ziggy Streakwing, Patch Rowdybird, and Chip Potterfinch.

User avatar
Toddmin
Sisal Slave
Sisal Slave
Posts: 569
Joined: Tue Feb 05, 2013 8:34 am
Location: Atlanta, GA

Re: Tap water for finches?

Post by Toddmin » Thu Nov 14, 2013 10:59 pm

I use city tap water for all my animals, and for myself as well, and have never had any problems.
- Todd

User avatar
David
Jute Junkie
Jute Junkie
Posts: 505
Joined: Thu Oct 24, 2013 12:00 am
Location: California

Re: Tap water for finches?

Post by David » Fri Nov 15, 2013 1:28 am

Thanks for the comments. I think will continue use city tap water like I was before :)




David

User avatar
Red_Rose
Nestling
Nestling
Posts: 86
Joined: Sun Nov 10, 2013 4:24 pm
Location: Canada

Re: Tap water for finches?

Post by Red_Rose » Fri Nov 15, 2013 1:37 pm

Pukasand wrote: I always used tap water for my birds. Two years ago, I started putting water in a pie tin on the heater in my bird room to provide moisture for them. I could not believe the amount of buildup of minerals, etc. that was left as a residue in the tin after only a few days. I immediately went out and bought a water purifier (PUR) to use for the birds and my family.
Well, last year was the worse year I ever had in chick production and survival rate. I couldn't understand what was wrong. I was feeding them the same as I always had, etc. Then it finally dawned on me about the water filter. I think I was actually filtering out the iron and trace minerals they needed. I immediately went back to tap water, and the birds seem much healthier and happier. I agree with Sally in that I use distilled water when hand feeding, though.
The residue you saw on the tin pan was actually calcium. The Kh of your tap water is probably high or at least, moderate and when water evaporates, it leaves calcium behind.

A lot if people think it's toxins they're seeing when that happens but it's not. Just calcium. :)

User avatar
David
Jute Junkie
Jute Junkie
Posts: 505
Joined: Thu Oct 24, 2013 12:00 am
Location: California

Re: Tap water for finches?

Post by David » Fri Nov 15, 2013 7:51 pm

Thank you Red-Rose! :)




David

User avatar
Fred's Finches
Pip
Pip
Posts: 14
Joined: Fri Nov 15, 2013 11:46 pm
Location: Champaign, IL
Contact:

Re: Tap water for finches?

Post by Fred's Finches » Sun Nov 17, 2013 8:50 pm

Our city goes nuts with the chlorine. So I have a filter on the faucet and one on our ice maker now. It was like trying to drink water out of a pool before the filter. So I would not give it to my birds.
Just find me on a Facebook, look for Fred's Finches

Three Lady gouldians
Two owls
Three cordon blues
Two orange cheeks
One star
One male canary and one female

Jeff McKee
Flirty Bird
Flirty Bird
Posts: 236
Joined: Mon Jan 09, 2012 9:59 am

Re: Tap water for finches?

Post by Jeff McKee » Tue Nov 19, 2013 10:41 am

Yes chlorine evaporates. I once saw the "rate" at which it evaporates.

Pretend it's 50% daily.

50% after one day is gone.
75% is gone after two days.
87.5% is gone after three days.
93.75% is gone after four day.
96.875% is gone after five days....

50% of the remaining total leaves every day. (or whatever the evaporation rate is)

debbie276
Bird Brain
Bird Brain
Posts: 14789
Joined: Fri Aug 28, 2009 7:30 am
Location: WV

Re: Tap water for finches?

Post by debbie276 » Tue Nov 19, 2013 11:01 am

Chlorine will dissipate in 24 hours if left in an open container.
Debbie
long time breeder of lady gouldians:
Green
SF Pastel (SF Yellow)
Pastel (Yellow)
Blue
SF Pastel Blue (SF Yellow Blue)
Pastel Blue (Yellow Blue)

GREAT articles on avian lighting:
https://mickaboo.org/confluence/downloa ... ummary.pdf
http://www.naturallighting.com/cart/sto ... sc_page=56

User avatar
David
Jute Junkie
Jute Junkie
Posts: 505
Joined: Thu Oct 24, 2013 12:00 am
Location: California

Re: Tap water for finches?

Post by David » Tue Nov 19, 2013 11:21 am

Thanks for your replies, I still use tap water for now to my finches :) they are healthy just like before :)




David

jennifer
Pip
Pip
Posts: 17
Joined: Wed Nov 06, 2013 7:06 pm

Re: Tap water for finches?

Post by jennifer » Tue Nov 19, 2013 12:07 pm

Hi Judy,
I am replying to your last post here. I have been specifically giving my gouldians distilled water as I was under the impression that this was somehow safer for them. After reading your post here I am going to change to plain old tap water.
Thank you for the post -
New and so much to learn :?
Jennifer

Post Reply