Virkon-S in water?

[nick86]

Has anyone used Virkon-S as a water additive to keep water and drinkers clean? I use it for sprouting and cleaning and know of several people that wash in the Virkon-S solution and fill drinkers without rinsing them first, so I wondered if a very small amount could be added to my water to keep it clean for a longer period of time. My biggest problem is when I use a vitamin additive to the water, it turns slick and scummy within a day. Anyone tried this? If so, what dilution rate?
Thanks!

[debbie276]

Virkon-s does not look like it can be used for anything but a hard surface cleaner but the slick and scummy is why many say not to add vitamins to the water, the water will go off quickly. If the vitamin is a powder can you sprinkle it on your soft food instead of adding it to the water?

[Smurf]

Some of the pigeon keepers do add virkon-s to drinking water but i don't know if it's a good/bad idea for smaller birds like finches
Here's an article i found

http://www.mclaughlinlofts.com/Secrets_.html

[debbie276]

Also after treating with virkon-s they say to "give several days of friendly gut bacteria and vitamins". Sounds like they use the virkon for a medicine and don't use constantly in the water though.

[cindy]

virkon is used for cleaning and sprouting and can be used in the drinking water.

One bird product site gave me the ratio of 1/2 tsp per gallon. Tried this some of my birds did not drink it until it was mixed at 18 of a tsp to gallon.... according to her the strength is diluted to much at 1/8 to be beneficial. So I went back to pure water no additives.

You can soak your drinkers in it and use without rinsing

Ratio for cleaning 4 tsp to gallon or if using a 5 gallon bucket use 6.5 oz of virkon

for sprouting 1/2 tsp per quart. I was told not to rinse your sprouts once you soak them in this, will double check on this.

[lnlovesorange]

cindy Do you know what dilution this is? When I ordered my Virkon all that was available at the time was the tablets, so I do one tablet to a quart of water (sorry not good at metric, whatever 2 cups is) and this gives me a 1% solution which is what I used to soak my seed, and also use in a spray bottle to clean the cage, and waterers. Just wondering if the amount you gave above is a 1% or .05% dilution. Thanks.
nick86
As far as the water, I've been told that it will not hurt the birds at a .05% dilution (possibly even the 1% but don't quote me on that) I am not sure if it will keep the water with vitamins in it longer, I would for sure check on the Virkon instructions you want to make sure there won't be any kind of reaction or that the virkon doesn't effect the vitamins. Good luck, i'll deffinitely be following this thread, as with molting babies, and gouldians that might be going into molt, and refuse to eat greens) I've been adding vitamins to the water. So thank you for this thread, and I will be checking back on it. I'll do a little research myself to see if I can find anything out. And if I do, I'll let you know!!

[Sally]

I use Virkon-S for disinfecting bird supplies. For water tubes, I put 3 gallons of water in a 5-gal bucket and then add 1 tablespoon of Virkon-S powder and stir well to dissolve (1 teaspoon per gallon of water). I have double the number of water tubes I need, so one set is on the cages, the second set is soaking in the disinfecting bucket. When I change out water tubes (ideally daily, but sometimes I'm out of town), I take down all the tubes from the cages and set aside. Then I take the tubes out of the disinfecting bucket and fill with fresh water--no rinsing--and place them on the cages. I dump out the water from the old tubes and then add them to the disinfecting bucket to soak. I use this same disinfecting liquid for a week, at which time the Virkon-S is no longer effective, so then I make up a fresh batch of disinfecting liquid. I have gone a month or more without washing my water tubes at all, simply soaking them in the disinfecting liquid. Eventually, I do wash all the tubes in hot soapy water and start the process all over again. Since I have lots of cages, I have two of these disinfecting buckets going at a time, and it definitely saves a lot of time for me.

For sprouting seed, I follow the Mike Fidler method which Bill Van Patten posted on his website (there is a video as well). I use 1/2 teaspoon Virkon-S powder mixed in a quart of water and pour over the seed instead of mixing the powder into the seed and then adding the water. I never rinse the seeds.

http://www.fabulousfinch.com/how-to-spr ... birds.html

[cindy]

cindy Do you know what dilution this is? When I ordered my Virkon all that was available at the time was the tablets, so I do one tablet to a quart of water (sorry not good at metric, whatever 2 cups is) and this gives me a 1% solution which is what I used to soak my seed, and also use in a spray bottle to clean the cage, and waterers. Just wondering if the amount you gave above is a 1% or .05% dilution. Thanks.
nick86
As far as the water, I've been told that it will not hurt the birds at a .05% dilution (possibly even the 1% but don't quote me on that) I am not sure if it will keep the water with vitamins in it longer, I would for sure check on the Virkon instructions you want to make sure there won't be any kind of reaction or that the virkon doesn't effect the vitamins. Good luck, i'll deffinitely be following this thread, as with molting babies, and gouldians that might be going into molt, and refuse to eat greens) I've been adding vitamins to the water. So thank you for this thread, and I will be checking back on it. I'll do a little research myself to see if I can find anything out. And if I do, I'll let you know!!

Right now I use the powder, it is easier for my to measure out.

[lnlovesorange]

Yeah, I only have the tablets right now, So i just went by the directions that came with it, and I do the 1% dilution. Just wondering if you knew what solution/dilution you were using. No problem, though. Thanks!

[debbie276]

Here is the material safety data sheet (MSDS) for virkon-s if anyone is interested
http://www.pharmacal.com/MSDS/US/MSDSVirkonS.pdf

[cindy]

virkon is used for cleaning and sprouting and can be used in the drinking water.

One bird product site gave me the ratio of 1/2 tsp per gallon. Tried this some of my birds did not drink it until it was mixed at 18 of a tsp to gallon.... according to her the strength is diluted to much at 1/8 to be beneficial. So I went back to pure water no additives.

You can soak your drinkers in it and use without rinsing

Ratio for cleaning 4 tsp to gallon or if using a 5 gallon bucket use 6.5 oz of virkon

* the ratio of 18 tsp is incorrect.... it should read 1/8 my key did not push down completely.

for sprouting 1/2 tsp per quart. I was told not to rinse your sprouts once you soak them in this, will double check on this.

[nick86]

Thanks for all of the input. I am going to do some experimenting and will update this thread with the results.
Today is day 2 of a 1/8 tsp per gallon ratio with three pairs of societies. One pair has babies in nest. Everyone is drinking fine and I will update on the water tube condition in a day or two.

[cindy]

the tubes stay cleaner with the 1/8 even though a 1/2 is recommended.