In this post, we’ll talk about the ins and outs of drinking water and why it’s important:
1.) Drinking Water – A clean drinking container containing fresh, cool drinking water is required. I replace my bird’s drinking water 3–4 times a day in the hot summer months. The rest of the months, twice a day, unless it gets low or dirty during the day. Be sure to keep an eye on their water so it remains clean and cool and not gross, sun-baked, dirty, warm water that breeds bacteria.
2.) City Water – Galvanized drinking containers can quickly turn to rust on the inside. City Water adds quite a bit of chlorine to the dispersed drinking water of all city households for the purpose of killing most of the various bacteria found in the water. By filling up your pigeon’s galvanized metal drinking container directly from the city water faucet or hose at your home, you are causing the metal to corrode, thereby making your pigeons drink an abundance of zinc and iron. This can cause health problems in pigeons. To avoid this issue, fill a 5-gallon bucket with water and let it stand for 24 hours so chlorine can evaporate before pouring water into metal watering containers for pigeons. If your water containers are already corroded with rust, throw them out and buy new ones. Of just buy plastic ones. But, either way, it’s still best practice to let water stand for 24 hours, as high concentrations of chlorine are not healthy for anyone to ingest, animal or human. We have never encountered any issue with our well water, which we run through our whole house water filter and softener and give to our birds. We live out in the rural area and do not have city water as an option.
3.) Water Container Buildup – Plastic water containers as well as metal drinking containers can develop a buildup of slime, algae, mold, and a sort of film residue from the water you put in them if they are not cleaned out properly. Every few weeks or sooner, depending on how it progresses; use a 5-gallon bucket filled with warm to hot water and dish soap. Submerge the containers in water in a bucket, then scrub them clean with a scrub brush.
4.) Add Vital To Their Drinking Water – To keep my birds in peak condition, I add Vital powder to a bucket of water and pour it into all of my pigeons’ drinking water containers every day during the summer. Vital is the equivalent of vitamins for pigeons. Vital is Not medicine; it’s an over-all nutritional additive containing vitamins and minerals.
In Conclusion:
So, as you can now see, all water is not the same. Where your water comes from and what you are putting the water in clearly matter and really do play a part in the health of your pigeons. Your roller’s lack of ability to perform in the sky can be directly attributed to the water it’s drinking. If your watering container has any kind of reddish-looking rust color on the inside of the bottom and sides, THROW IT OUT immediately. That’s all for now; drop us a line if you have any questions.
Until next time … Enjoy the backyard fun.
