About Water...

I'm still having a great time with my precious conure, and still reading everything I can get my hands on, which leads to more and more questions. Today's big question is about water. How far do I need to go to give Calypso high-enough quality water? I read this morning that they really need dechlorinated water, and that a home filtering system such as Brita doesn't cut it; they should only have commercially packaged purified drinking water or natural spring water. The article also noted that distilled water is not safe because the removal of minerals can be devastating to a bird's health.

I've read enough articles about supposedly "purified" or "natural spring" waters sold commercially actually being straight tap water with a nice label, so it seems to me that if I really want to know what Calypso is drinking, I might be better off just home-filtering tap water through the Brita.

What's the right way to provide water for him? What do other people who love their birds do?

Thank you,
Kittie

I give Rosie water from the fridge, it's filtered, taste better, and doesn't get calcium build up like tab water. I do know people who give their birds natural spring bottled water, it can't hurt but most people don't.

i also give cooper water from the fridge. after a few months he is fine

The chlorine in the water dissipates soon after it has been poured from the tap. I keep a jug of tap water in the fridge and fill his water dish and bath (which is a second water dish) from there. Basil likes the water cold. We have really good quality tap water where I live. I have also heard that giving your bird distilled water can be very unhealthy as the absence of minerals in the water causes the water to leach those minerals out of the bird. Same goes for people drinking distilled water.

We have the water pitcher system from Pur. We keep one in the fridge and one out at room temp. Hahnzel doesnt care for the cold stuff, neither do I. No wonder he is bonded to me.

I have well water, everyone gets it. I like it more than any city water, even filtered a zillion times. The stuff they do to it and how they get it...ew, never again.

I think it really depends on the water quality in your area. If you're in a big city, or just have gross tap water (as in you can distinctly taste the chlorine), those gallon jugs of purified (not distilled) water may be a good solution as it still retains it's mineral content. Or you can just leave tap water out for a few days to let any chemical contaminates dissipate out. Personally, we live in an area with really good water quality, and I have no qualms about giving Kiwi water that has been filtered through one of those Pur sink things. My parents birds are in their 40s, and they get tap water that's been allowed to dissipate out (and they are all quite healthy). Truthfully, your birds primary fluid source should be from fruits and veggies (that's how it is in nature). While fresh, clean water should always be provided, they shouldn't need to be drinking vast quantities of it (enough to cause issues) to stay hydrated unless they are on an extremely poor diet they cannot get enough fluids from (like an all seed or pellet diet). While it's always there, I very rarely see Kiwi actually taking a drink. He uses his water dish for baths more than he does drinking.

secuono said:

I have well water, everyone gets it. I like it more than any city water, even filtered a zillion times. The stuff they do to it and how they get it...ew, never again.

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some of my friends in the mountains have well water, it is awesome Especially if you have aquariums(then you usually don't need conditioner)

Hi Kittie,

What the others have said is true, a Pur or Britta faucet filter will provide you with adequate filtration...you just have to keep the filters changed on schedule or you'll frustrate your efforts. Speaking of changing filters, for anyone who has a filter in their refrigerator, be sure you clean the filter body as per directions & replace the filter per instructions.....failing to replace as per instructions will have you & yours consuming any number of molds and other things you wouldn't want to know about.....

You'll find a whole-house filtration system not to be very cost effective proposition.....