Bottled Water or Tap Water?

[Spiritbird]

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]

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!

 

[BlueToast]

I love how many advertisement for water related products appear when viewing this post. What are the odds.

 

[Ratzy]

Our tap water is excellent, but my birds usually get tank water from the hose. Our bottled water contains chemicals.

 

[MaiTai]

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.

 

[Mel]

I give filtered water.

 

[HRH Di]

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.

 

[Spiritbird]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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...

 

[Spiritbird]

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]

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]

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]

AD - you're such an instigator!

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.

 

[Spiritbird]

Video of this adorable action please!!

Parrots and water: http://www.hagen.com/hari/docu/parrots_water.html

 

[HRH Di]

I'll get right on it! I promise.