Fantastic Finch Waterers At Last!!

[annague]

Love the information about the Virkon-S soaking -- didn't know that!! Thanks for sharing Candace and Sally.

I do want to say that these glass bottles actually get very clean in the dishwasher and are pretty easy to clean by hand because their necks and openings are so wide -- I have yet to see how they perform for a period of time -- but I like that they keep the water cleaner while the birds are using them.

I will definitely be switching to a Virkon-S soak when quick cleaning them. I use a Virkon-S solution in a spray bottle (and a clean rag) to 'quick clean' all of the dishes I use to put the eggfood and veggies in every day and it works great.

[albert]

Just a short note, Virkon-S will eat away the metal that come into contact, even in the dilute solution. A member in this forum told me he noticed corrosion in the cage in the area around the drinker.

[bugaboo5]

Just a short note, Virkon-S will eat away the metal that come into contact, even in the dilute solution. A member in this forum told me he noticed corrosion in the cage in the area around the drinker.

Oh, great. That's no good. Anything that causes corrosion is a no-go in my book. Thanks for noting that.

[annague]

Whoa! Thanks for that note, Albert!

[albert]

Oh, I forgot to mention it was the 36" galvanized cage as I have in my photo. I do not know if it affects the powder coated cages or 30" white breeding cages or not.

[FeatherHarp]

I really appreciate all the information in this post. What good timing! I am currently using coop cups for the water and was just thinking about a different method as I am getting tired of changing out the 'bath' water 3 times a day and having wet newspapers all the time.

What do you use to keep the water sterile in the waterers? I read where acv12 used ACV in the water to help it stay clean longer. I am asking mainly if I needed to be gone for a couple days and wasn't around to change the waterers daily. I have heard of Sparkle. But is there a safe bleach ratio to use for drinking water? Looking for suggestions. Thanks

[annague]

I don't think any of us use bleach in water to kill bacteria but someone speak up and tell me if I'm wrong about that!

What I have been using for years as an antibacterial agent in my water is about 4 drops of Listerine per cup of water. It is an "old-timey' resource (so people tell me) but seems to work great. (I also put a few drops in the bath water of the birds). It is very inexpensive too. And... they make it specifically to kill the bacteria that comes from a mouth -- it is very effective. Some people are afraid of the alcohol in it but I've never had a problem and know people who have used it for over 20 years without an issue.

Others may also have suggestions that would work.

[debbie276]

As per Robert G. Black 1 drop of bleach for every 2 ounces of water is the dosage to use. (I know lots of people that use bleach)

[CandoAviary]

Sally,
Those are the exact ones I use, the long lip waterer. I have had some for over 10 years and the plastic still has not cracked...and they soak in bleach water all the time.

[lstyles]

This is great information from people with lots of experience for us new people with little experience. I am going to switch over to those waterers and use a little bleach I'm water to keep it fresh. I also like the idea of a bucket of bleach solution to just dump them in. What sort of concentration of bleach do you use in this bucket. I have been using 3/4 cup to one Gallon for cleaning the cages etc. Do you use something like that? Also how often do you change it? Lastly I thinking of putting up one waterer with nectar-s vitamin water. It says to change it out daily but I can't see why all those vitamins would degrade in a day.
Thanks again for all the helpful info...this forum remains one of my favorite places to visit!
Lori

[CandoAviary]

This is great information from people with lots of experience for us new people with little experience. I am going to switch over to those waterers and use a little bleach I'm water to keep it fresh. I also like the idea of a bucket of bleach solution to just dump them in. What sort of concentration of bleach do you use in this bucket. I have been using 3/4 cup to one Gallon for cleaning the cages etc. Do you use something like that? Also how often do you change it? Lastly I thinking of putting up one waterer with nectar-s vitamin water. It says to change it out daily but I can't see why all those vitamins would degrade in a day.
Thanks again for all the helpful info...this forum remains one of my favorite places to visit!
Lori

For cleaning I have a 5 gallon bucket (I have lots of tubes and cages) I use the concentrated pool chlorine , not household bleach. Probably 3 times stronger I would guess... also cheaper and less trips to the store + reusable containers ... I put about 1 cup to a 3/4 full 5 gallon bucket. I usually leave the tubes to soak overnight and then dip them out, rinse and fill with clean water and rehang on the cage. The dirties are removed from the cages, emptied and dropped into the bucket.
I change the bucket water when I no longer smell the chlorine...that pool smell. Usually every 3 days or so.

I usually do not add chlorine to the actual drinking water as I use the city tap water which already contains chlorine

[Sally]

For those who want to use Virkon-S for soaking water tubes, the dilution rate is 1/4 tsp. powdered Virkon-S powder per quart of water, or 1 tsp. per gallon of water. Since I have cats, I have lots of buckets that Tidy Cat litter comes in, they are perfect for this. One bucket for Virkon-S water, one bucket for dirty water. (I actually have more than one bucket for the Virkon-S water, just because I have so many cages, but for most, one bucket would be plenty.)

I just go thru and empty the waterers into the dirty water bucket. Then I fish out clean waterers out of the Virkon-S bucket and fill, no rinsing needed. Then I dump all the empty dirty waterers into the Virkon-S bucket. Done.

I checked with Bill at fabulousfinch, and the Virkon-S water is good for one week, so once a week, I make up fresh solution.

I actually add 1 Tbs. of organic apple cider vinegar per gallon of water to the drinking and bath water. I have alkaline water, so I feel the acv helps neutralize it.

Anna, Mr. Abbatte that owned Abba Seed used to say to use listerine in the water every so often for mites--don't know if that really works or not, but as you said, an old-time remedy.

[Sally]

Sally,
Those are the exact ones I use, the long lip waterer. I have had some for over 10 years and the plastic still has not cracked...and they soak in bleach water all the time.

I used to use the Benelux tube waterers, but I have had some of them crack and leak. They also tend to shatter when dropped. I prefer the S.T.A. brand.

[annague]

This post is also assisting me!! I am not brand new but there are still tons of things I am working out with my birds!

You know, Sally, someone mentioned that about the mites and Listerine to me and my birds do seem to relish their baths -- (but then I think they all love to bathe regardless of what's in the water) --- either way, it doesn't harm them and may help.

I've got to look for some big, strong, buckets -- I think drywall patch stuff comes in big old strong buckets -- can maybe get my husband to pick me up a couple...

[bugaboo5]

Bill at FabulousFinch.com has a wonderful sale on Sparkle and a whole bunch of other Morning Bird and Vetafarm products. If anyone wants to start or replenish their medication/first aid kits, I would recommend FabulousFinch.com. I've ordered from Bill before and he is beyond wonderful. I just ordered a whole bunch of meds and suppliments, including Sparkle, which is a water conditioner.