FINCHforum

I've thought about getting some vitamins for my birds - but the only kind there is in sweden are the vitamins that are mixed with the drinking water. I've read that water vitamins are no good - but why is this ?
I figured that maybe it is because the water gets "slimey" fast with the vitamins in - but i change their water every morning, and sometimes more often than that, so maybe the water wont turn gooey ?

Hmm

I don't know why vitamins in water wouldn't be good - maybe you/they are thinking about things like potential for bacteria growth, etc., but that would be preventable.

I do prefer, however, not to use vitamins in the water, but it is a personal preference - just reflecting the way I keep my birds. I like to keep larger water dishes available for my birds so they can bathe whenever they feel like it. (That also means changing the water often!)

Because I would need to use more vitamins to make a correct dose in a larger water dish, it is a lot more expensive delivering vitamins that way.

While it's probably fine, I don't know about the wisdom of birds covered with vitamin water.

Some vitamins can stain the cage and surrounding areas. When I first started with birds, I was using Nekton vitamins in their water. Wherever that Nekton water dripped or was splashed, seemed to develop a yellowish stain that was difficult to remove - especially plastic and wire that wasn't powder coated. Still use Nekton - LOVE it - but now sprinkle on food.

I have drinker tubes and I put vitamins in their water as needed. It's the only way I give them vitamins.

Lol - birds covered in vitamin water xDDDD i have a bird bath in my aviary (one of those that is attached to an opening in the cage) and one small bowl for drinking - they dont fit in that one, its too small, so i dont think there is any chance they'll take a vitamin bath

Do you have pellets available in your country? That may be one way to go. I don't add vitamins to their water but serve it to them in pellets instead. Do you get Zupreem or Roudybush, Lafebers?

You can also shave down a mineral block and cuttleboe and serve that to.

Im not sure there are pellets here in sweden - but i will take a closer look when im at a big petstore that has lots of birdstuff!

Im giving my societies eggfood with some grated cuttlebone today, we'll see if they accept it

I remember reading someplace that the vitamins in water loose their potency in less than a day. So you can give them vitamins in the morning water and fresh water in the evening.

Since I feed pellet food to the birds, I have stopped giving them vitamins, for fear of overdosing the vitamins.

To change the water again in the evening sounds like a good plan, thank you My birds eat seed (finch mix) so i dont think i would be giving them too much vitamins if i added it to the water

yes vitamins in water loose their potency in less than a day. you are better off prinkling some over some sprouted seed or cucumber that way its absorbed alot better.Provide the bird some seed sprays or vegies for extra vitamins

Diamond Sparrow wrote:yes vitamins in water loose their potency in less than a day. you are better off prinkling some over some sprouted seed or cucumber that way its absorbed alot better.Provide the bird some seed sprays or vegies for extra vitamins

Yeah that seems alot better, the only thing is that they dont sell powdered vitamins that are mixed with food here in sweden :/ there are only yhe in-water type. The next time i order from ladygouldianfinch i will include some vitamins in my order The birds already get vegetables and fruits almost every day, spray millet, eggfood + eggshells, and sprouted seeds often