Drinking water cleaner and Cage Disenfectant

[sierranomad]

I found these products on FabulousFinch.com, and want to know whether they are overkill or considered beneficial.

Sparkle Drinking Water Cleaner (Morning Bird) has this to say about its use: retards the growth of bacteria, fungi, yeasts, and other pathogens in drinking water. SPARKLE is ideal for use when soaking seeds keeping water sparkling clean and hygienic.

Seems like this is a cheap way to prevent some perplexing problems. Should I get it or would I be a sap and going overboard?

AVI CARE Cage Disinfectant Cleanser Concentrate says this: Cages, perches and bird toys should be cleaned and disinfected daily.

Do I need to buy a product like this, or can I use a bleach solution?

I really appreciate all the good advice I am getting here.

[Ursula]

I use sparkle for the soaked seed and in my fountain in the aviary. I change the water only once a week in the fountain, this way it stays fairly clean. It seems to work too, I definitely could tell the difference. The birds hardly ever drink that water though.

I change all other water bowls daily so I don't use anything in them.

Make sure that water bowls/baths are located where there is no perch or seed feeder over it, that way the water stays cleaner too.

I think drinking water should be changed daily. I'd rather do that than have the birds drink some solution all the time...

[debbie276]

I also change the drinking water every day so don't use any of those products. When I clean the aviary walls and such I use bleach and water.

[lovemyfinch]

I put sparkle in their drinking water at all times. They way I see it is that during the day I cannot control any foreign objects that might and usuaolly do end up in it.

[sierranomad]

I use sparkle for the soaked seed and in my fountain in the aviary.

I think drinking water should be changed daily. I'd rather do that than have the birds drink some solution all the time...

Ahh. I was wondering how to keep fountain water from getting too bad between changes. Makes sense to me about not wanting them to be drinking solution all the time too. Thank you!

When I clean the aviary walls and such I use bleach and water.

Great! Thanks.

[B CAMP]

I put ACV in the water about three or four times a week i have the sparkle and use that for the sprouts

[sierranomad]

I put ACV

apple cider vinegar?

[B CAMP]

Its keeps the water a little cleaner and supposed to help keep there gut healthy.
Do a seach on ACV and it will give some other things that its for

[Ursula]

Forgot to mention: I clean the aviary with water with a splash of cheap white vinegar in it. I also soak the fake plants in the bathtub in hot water with white vinegar, then rinse off with the hose outside.

I use as little bleach as possible, it's real bad for the environment/waste water and can be harmful for people and animals if overdosed...

[trljr14]

I also just use apple cider vinegar,it helps retard the growth of bacteria.I put a few drops every time i change the drinking water,tom.

[sierranomad]

Thank you! (and my future birds thank you, too )

[diinin]

I use AviClean for a LOT of things. It's great for taking spots off the carpet. I use it more for cleaning up poop messes from the conure than from the finches. Also like Poop-Off wipes.

Haven't had any luck with ACV at all. I used it when trying to sprout seeds to keep them from molding, and it was totally worthless, no better than using nothing at all. I now only use it for Sloppy Joes, because IMO that's all it's good for.

[hutchk]

Forgot to mention: I clean the aviary with water with a splash of cheap white vinegar in it.

I do this too - 1TBSP of white vinegar to 500ml of warm water in a squirt bottle. Spray surfaces with this first (it's very good at softening poos), then wash down with warm soapy water, and a final rinse with the garden hose. I use bleach only once a year and always empty the aviary before doing so.

[ac12]

Can AviCare be used with birds in the cage, or do I have to empty the cage to use it? I have stacked cages, so it is impractical to remove one cage from the stack.

thanks

[CandoAviary]

I don't add anything to the drinking water or sprouts. I do use tap water so there is already chlorine in it. I just change water/fountain often.
I use either bleach or vanodine for cleaning.