Bottled Water or Tap Water?

Spiritbird

Banned
Banned
Aug 20, 2009
5,749
Media
10
6
I have always understood it is important to give our parrots bottled water. How many of you do? For me it is difficult to get the big bottles and I go through the little ones so fast. I found this on a bird web site and wonder if any parrot person has heard of this.

Organic Water (top)
1 gallon tap water
1 tablespoon Organic Apple Cider
 

parrotqueen

New member
Jan 14, 2010
1,020
Media
1
2
United States
Parrots
Pineapple & Sunshine--Gray/wildtype male cockatiels
Actually, I have never heard of giving a parrot bottled water. I just give cold filtered water to them.

Thanks for sharing the organic water Idea, I might have to try that!
 

MaiTai

New member
Apr 25, 2010
108
0
Parrots
Mai Tai Sun conure
no name TAG
We use bottled water we just buy the gallon jugs at walmart for 68 cents and they get that. I change it twice a day at least so we do go through a lot of it.
 

HRH Di

New member
Jan 9, 2010
1,537
Media
3
9
McKinney, TX
Parrots
Max - Alexandrine, Jade - Red-Front Macaw, Ruby - CAG
Be careful about using some bottled waters. The "spring" and "natural" waters often contain more chemicals - including arsnic and other heavy metals - than tap water. Actually, most municipal tap waters are purer than the spring or natural bottled waters on the market - such as Fuji. We have a Britta pitcher that we use for our birds' water, but they also get tap from time to time.
 
OP
Spiritbird

Spiritbird

Banned
Banned
Aug 20, 2009
5,749
Media
10
6
  • Thread Starter
  • Thread starter
  • #8
So I see this is an area where we are not all in agreement. I am going to try the receipe I included instead of bottled water. I do not have filtered water. Most likely tap water is OK like many of you write. Thanks
 

Auggie's Dad

Administrator
Dec 28, 2007
1,995
Media
12
Albums
1
13
South Hadley MA
Parrots
Auggie: Dusky Conure
I use tap water. But I think this depends a bit on the area. I would NOT give Auggie tap water from where I work - but then NO ONE drinks the tap water there - we know it's contaminated.

I really don't understand this 'organic water' thing. I hate to be such a cynic (okay, actually I like to be, but I'm trying to be polite) but if you have one ingredient which is questionable, mixing it with another ingredient that is 'organic' does not make the whole concoction organic.

I am familiar with the positive claims associate with cider vinegar - though I can't vouch for them - but purifying unsafe water has never been one of those benefits.

Mixing in a good ingredient with an unsafe one does not make the mixture safe.
 

Auggie's Dad

Administrator
Dec 28, 2007
1,995
Media
12
Albums
1
13
South Hadley MA
Parrots
Auggie: Dusky Conure
Of course with bottled water we now have everyone up in arms about PCBs ...

Tap water looks pretty good to me. I don't understand how people can complain about gas prices when they $3 per gallon, yet they'll pay $5 for a 12 ounce bottle of water.
 

antoinette

Supporting Member
Jul 6, 2009
13,114
Media
9
18
Sunny South Africa !!!
Parrots
African "Grey"
"Mishka"
Male
7 Years old
I agree, most municipal tap waters are purer, than the spring or natural bottled waters on the market.
I have always given my parrots tap water her in South Africa, as do all of my parrot friends. Never ever had a problem.
 

Ecclipse

New member
Oct 24, 2009
571
0
Southern Africa
Parrots
RIP Hugo (African Brown Headed Parrot) 2 years old, lil Rosie May (Lovebird)
I have been drinking tap water all my life....that explains alot - haha. I cant afford to buy bottled water but I do boil it and then let it cool when I remember. I should make a habit of it and give Hugo cold boiled water daily...
 
OP
Spiritbird

Spiritbird

Banned
Banned
Aug 20, 2009
5,749
Media
10
6
  • Thread Starter
  • Thread starter
  • #13
I agree that a little bit of vinegar does not make the whole gallon organic. How can water be organic anyway? Most likely someone just termed it organic. Anyway I am going to try it. I will be moving in July to a different part of Md. and different water.
 

Auggie's Dad

Administrator
Dec 28, 2007
1,995
Media
12
Albums
1
13
South Hadley MA
Parrots
Auggie: Dusky Conure
Certainly if the cider vinegar is good this sounds like a good idea. It just doesn't add up as a means to make the water safe.

Boiling (for long enough) will take care of any microorganisms, but that is rarely the concern. Water contaminants would most often be heavy metals or chemicals - boiling doesn't address this.

Brita (or other similar) filters are quite affordable and do work well if you suspect there are chemicals or metals in your water.
 

Mel

New member
Mar 30, 2010
652
Media
1
0
Sydney Australia
Parrots
Eclectus - Shadow /
Sulfur Crested - Chicka
I agree it depends where you live. There was a big scare in Sydney several years back in regards to contaminated water, then I did a nutrition course which talked about what's in our water supply. I've become a little paranoid so I've used filtered ever since.
 

HRH Di

New member
Jan 9, 2010
1,537
Media
3
9
McKinney, TX
Parrots
Max - Alexandrine, Jade - Red-Front Macaw, Ruby - CAG
AD - you're such an instigator!:p

Keep it up! You always make very good points that are, imo, reasonable and well thought out...even if I don't necessarily agree with you. I'm really being serious and don't want you to think I'm being sarcastic or ugly.

Jade's favorite way to drink water is to perch on the kitchen faucet with the water tuned about 1/3 of the way on. Then she leans over and lets the water run into her upper beak. When her beak is full, she stands up and lets it roll down her throat. Of course, sometimes she just likes to have her head upside down and lets the water run over her face. She's a goober, or as my son says, a goo-bird.
 

Most Reactions

Top