copper in water

[Craig52]

Cant you guys just give your birds clean fresh seed,clean fresh seeding grass and clean fresh water and sit back and watch them breed.I can't believe you want to pump them full of crap and then post that your birds look sick and/or dieing.Finchy you are the one suggesting that all the blue gouldians are full of medications etc so don't buy them and yet you are always experimenting or suggesting that crap like this will work for the birds.
I do use a vitamin and mineral plus amino acids product called solaminovit fed once a week for over 30 years.It contains all these things you talk about and there is no stuffing around pretending to be a chemist. Craig

[vettepilot_6]

I'm with Craig... I give a liquid Calcium once a week, Baycox after rain, followed up by apple cidar vinegar, And Moxi when needed..otherwise Clean Seed and Water, Fresh Greens,and Livefood..

[gomer]

Just to clarify this post was started about three years ago.It never went further then cattle troughs at my place back then.And was only a question as farmers in the area were using either copper blocks or blue stone to control algae.

Also just to let you know the 1 kg solid copper blocks did not completely eliminate the algae.

I still think its worth while trying to learn about other animal husbandry Old school or modern and then make a decision based on other peoples experience and science combined.Just look at all the other things we already or some already use.Sheep horse and cattle drenches just to name a few.As Craig has said I don't believe its worth pursuing for finches.But for me I still like to try to understand why and how some of these things are used.

The only thing that is in the water troughs is water at home.The exception is worming and baycox.If they want soluminavite they can get it from a 250ml drinker.every aviary has one and the blues actually drink less then the others.Touch wood out of 80 odd young blues and splits only one loss so far half way through the molt no drugs heat or hospital cage this year.

[BrettB]

In the interest of better understanding, and not because I think it has any place in the husbandry of finches.

Most heavy metals are toxic, and copper is no exception. It has been use for decades to treat water and is relatively effective at killing algea but is also effective at killing many other water critters. In my opinion it has no place in ponds where your aim is to have a living ecosystem not a watery desert devoid of life.
Whilst it is true that trace amounts of copper are required for most organisms, this is usually provided with adequate diet and supplementation is not required.
Copper sulphate may be a cheap source of copper supplementation in birds like poultry, that are not able to access anything like a normal diet.
It has also been used topically to kill fungi (you see it in garden sprays for grapevines ,etc) but it is not advisable to spray it on foods.
Acidifying copper sulphate simply makes it more soluble, there is no other magic.

Cheers
Brett

[Finchy]

I'm with Craig... I give a liquid Calcium once a week, Baycox after rain, followed up by apple cidar vinegar, And Moxi when needed..

Then I'm confused, because apparently Craig does not use anti-protozoals, wormers or even acidifiers of any kind. I've never heard of that turning out well in any situation other than a truly massive aviary with very low stock levels and a through-flow of fresh water all day.

I hate using chemicals but have come to understand the need for them in animal husbandry. I'm interested understanding simpler methods and substances (copper being an example) because occasionally these older tools end up proving safer and more effective than fancier patented things. I always like to learn and to find the optimal way, so if that grates with anyone in particular, please don't join in!

Craig the "crap like this" you refer to is/was a common disease control practice in bird rearing - copper or other metals like silver, in very small doses. Rather like chlorine and ammonia compounds in our drinking water. Not my idea. Never done it. Probably will never do it. Just seeking to learn. I did NOT "suggest this will work"! I ASKED if anyone knew about it! Huge flippin' difference.

And I am not "always experimenting" - I'm always reading, learning, specifically so as to avoid experimenting. Please don't get on my back because I'm curious about why other people use certain methods or whether they are safe or effective. Ta!