FINCHforum

Hi,
Baltimore (where I live) is supposed have excellent tap water quality, one of the best in the country. My question - do you use plain, unfiltered tap water. If not, why not and how do you filter yours?

I just use tap water, because they drink from their bath water

If you have good tap water, there is no reason to use anything else. My birds all get plain, unfiltered tap water (they also drink their bath water, too).

I use tap water also.

I figure if it's not killed me yet, then it must be okay.

I used to use only bottled water. Then I got more finches, so I put a filter on my faucet. Then I got more finches, so they now drink the same unfiltered stuff I drink (too expensive to keep buying those filters!).

Thank you, thank you. I had read in numerous places that you shouldn't use plain tap water. That seemed excessive to me but I've been filtering mine anyway, since that was the advice I'd come across so far. The process (just thru the fridge but very time consuming to stand there filling a big pitcher everyday) was beginning to get on my nerves abit. I was hoping this was over doing it. You all have saved me time and money.

I have always uses tap water but I also add "Sparkle" or some other additive to the water. Finches tend to do a lot of things in their water, such as poop and bath. It will keep algae, bacteria, etc. from growing and making your birds sick.

hi all
you can go to far with giving your finches special treatment such as water additives..if its ok for you its ok for them you can i am afraid pamper them to much without realising it!

ken

Hey Ken, you are (possibly) raising a point that I have been a little concerned about. Immunity issues. If we try to keep everything too clean are we setting ourselves (and our birds, more importantly) up for lowered immunity? From a lifetime as a lab tech (medical and plant biochemistry) I have a passing understanding that too much pampering is a bad thing if you want strong strains of animals and plants. Resistance is developed from exposure to bugs and such.

That's a point that Mr. Abbate (from Abba seed) has been raising recently in some of his posts (on Yahoo Groups). He visited several breeders in Italy recently. The spotless aviaries were having a terrible season, while the filthy disgusting ones were spilling over with chicks. Go figure. I have to think there's a happy compromise between the two.

kenny wrote: you can go to far with giving your finches special treatment such as water additives.

Ken, you are probably right. But then again, you and I dont poop in our water.

Yeah, but I think all those mud pies, earthworms, and bugs that I shoved in my mouth as a kid helped build up immunity! And my dogs and cats have fresh, clean water in bowls, but will head for the nearest mud puddle on a rainy day.

That is so true, Sally I think thats why my daughter is so healthy, because I let her play in the dirt as a toddler. I get sick easily and my parents were constantly disinfecting the house.
But seriously I do agree with Ken, Hilary and Hoji. I may need to rethink this whole disinfecting thing.
I have a good friend who breeds finches, parakeets, Lovebirds, Ringnecks, Conures and every other species you can think of. His aviaries are all outside on dirt and not the cleanest but his birds thrive and breed like mice. his only problems are rats and the weather. (I find excuses to go to his house because its like Disneyland to me)

I used to use a water cleanser but haven't lately (since I ran out), and haven't had any problems yet. I will still prepare veggies, eggfood, etc., for the birds, but I am trying to cut down on supplements. I was turning into the mad scientist, mixing up all these additives, and actually had a printed schedule so I knew what to give them on which days. Some things you still have to use, like kelp for the Goulds, but I'm trying to simplify my life and the birds' life. I'll keep an eye on them and see how they do.

Ah - now that's another one, supplements - hmmmm . . .