Aussie Finch Forum

Yes I know it makes kids hypo ...
I always learn something new when we pay a visit to Ted McIness's aviaries , Ive wondered for a while about why his birds drinking water was red and today I found out it was raspberry cordial yes the cottees kind of ordinary cordial .
http://forums.budgiebreeders.asn.au/ind ... opic=28416 so I found this site and what do you know old farts from way back have been using it to keep water free from some germs kinda like the chemical additives .
Now I know this is gonna open up a can of what abouts ie. too much sugar , hypo birds etc but right in front of me were a lot of geriatric finches that didnt look to have diabetes and were in picture perfect health so who knows.

Red Factor Canarys (Overdose on red cordial )

I have seen food with colour additives at some of the bird dealers to enhance the red colour, so why not red cordial to keep water healthy? I have heard the same about travelling overseas, to ward off some of the gastro bugs maybe?? ...
Mind you I was horrified at the thought of artifically colour enhancing birds!

It needs to be raspberry juice with at least 25% pure raspberry. The everyday Cottees cordial will have bugger all effect. It may help with colour enhancement but it does nothing to keep the nasties away.

Well according to the article cordial is the go and the old timers are using cordial . Did you read the article about test done at the Uni ? And as far as colouring the bird the only birds of old mates here that have changed colour is the plumheads because they bath in it ( gotta admit they looked rather dapper with pink bellies)

Most old avis have used it and Ted is not real young either.
It has been used in the Pig industry for even longer.
I am not sure if it really needs a high concentrate of actual juice.
In all honesty it is just another water additive like the clove of Garlic,Apple Cider etc etc.
These days I am not concerned about what I put in it but what the councils put in our drinking water.
While I do not put anything in I will only use water from my Bore.It has natural minerals in it but no Clorine or anything else.
Just a personal opinion,to me rain water or water from an underground bore/spring is far far safer for birds and animals with a small body weight.
I guess I am in the old fart class

Oh very true Eorix about the council water supply and Ted is up to 78 this year .

E Orix wrote:I guess I am in the old fart class

Welcome Don't have town water here all bore & rain water= healthy birds

Hmmmm may have to start running the birds water through the purifier ... never thought to do it before

people do it mainly to enhance all colours. Old codger in our finch club does it, all his birds look absolutely FAB, especially his male gouldians