The
addition of common household bleach to the drinking
water does, indeed, have beneficial effects on pigeon
health.
This seems a little weird since the drinking of cholrinated
water has negative implications in human health, especially
with suggestions that it may be incriminated in the
increased rate of cancer.
Chlorine is a strong chemical which binds to most
organic molecules and can change their chemical identity,
making some non-toxic compounds become toxic.
Personally, I use a filter on my drinking water which
removes chlorine; but my pigeons drink a lot of it
with what I percieve as beneficial effects. NEVER
PUT ANYTHING ELSE IN THE DRINKING WATER AT THE SAME
TIME AS CHLORINE.
The
ususal method of treating the drinking water is to
add 1 to 2 teaspoonsful of common household bleach,
such as Clorox or Purex, to each gallon of water.
The amount varies depending on the temperature. When
it is hot the chlorine leaves the water faster, so
use more; when it is cold, it leaves the water slowly
so use less.
Chlorine
is a very strong disinfectant and keeps the water-transmission
of disease organisms to a minimum. Most diseases of
pigeons can be spread via the drinking water, so the
judicious use of a disinfectant can prevent some of
the things that our pigeons may be exposed to.
There may be a hidden benefit as well: the increased
consumption of chlorine, which in turn is eliminated
by the kidneys, produces a more acid urine. The urine
is excreted along with the feces.(it is the white
cap on the feces) This net result is a more acidic
dropping. Salmonella, and other bacteria, dislikes
an acidic environment.
This may decrease the environmental proliferation
of the bacteria, making it less likely for pigeons
to contract an infective dose. This is theory, and
not proven scientific fact, so thake it for what it
is worth. I have given it a lot of thought and concluded
that this is why lofts that deal with paratyphoid
do better after treatment, if the birds are kept on
this chlorinated water.
I
handled convention race birds this last spring/summer.
The only thing that I did for the birds was to keep
them on chlorinated water. Mine was the only loft
that experienced no sick pigeons. Is that coincidence?
I think it probably isn't.
I
also theorize that drinking this chlorinated water
has a negative influence on the trichomonads in the
oral cavity. I need to do some simple research to
confirm this but, in my mind, it should have some
effect on the numbers of these organisms. It at least
will minimize the water transmission of trichomonas;
and this is the main route of spread.
Remember:
NEVER PUT ANYTHING ELSE IN THE WATER AT THE SAME TIME
AS CHLORINE. IT WILL PROBABLY NEUTRALIZE THESE COMPOUNDS
OR RENDER THEM TOXIC TO THE BIRDS . When wanting to
give vitamins or a treatment for coccicia, worms,
or trichomonas, etc., simply leave out the chlorine
for those days and then resume when the dosing is
completed.
Household bleach should not be considered a treatment,
but only a preventive measure.
Dr.
David E. Marx D.V.M.
