Water PH

[ukbirdkeeper]

Hi,

I was wondering if anyone has any experience of altering the PH of water given to birds. I have an aviary of approx 20 pairs of budgies and have an on-going problem with high mortality in chicks between 10 and 20 days. Some nests are unaffected, some just the youngest couple will die, and occasionally all the chicks die in a nest box. The chicks are usually well fed but start to become hunched and depressed and die within 48 hours usually.  I have spent quite a lot of money with the vet without getting to the bottom of it, but losing 10-30% of chicks cannot be normal can it?
I have read that alkaline water can be dangerous to birds, and our tap water is hard with PH 8. I use Aviclens everyday, and Megamix twice a week. Is that sensible? i read a PH of 5 is ideal?
If anyone has any advice i would be grateful as i am finding this frustrating. I keep my aviary clean and tidy, with good quality seed etc

Many thanks

[clt80]

Sorry I’m not quite sure.

I have a water butt so try to use rain water, and failing that I use a bucket of tap water but leave it for 24 hours before using any of the water for the budgies to drink.

Hope you find out what is causing the issue with your new chicks, it must be rather upsetting for you.

[Hezz]

No experience with this, sorry, but have you tried sourcing your water from elsewhere? Bottled water? If you are sure that water is your problem. Do the breeding pairs have fresh air and sunlight, or the equivalent artificially?

[samwiseg]

I would pose this question ukbirdkeeper to someone like The Budgerigar Society Uk as they might be more qualified to answer this question

They are very helpful on other things to of course

[Marianne Marlow]

I've PM'd Barrie to see if he can think of an answer. I have to think of 10-30% of chicks dying,t hat must be horrendous for you.

[Marianne Marlow]

Barrie said

"Not much I can help you with Marianne. I do always boil the birds water, all water fountains are soaked in Milton twice a week . does he suspect it may be Megabacteria?"

[ukbirdkeeper]

Hi all,

Thank you all for your comments. I am not sure it is the water but I thought it might be worth a try. Our water is very hard and high PH. Been reducing it with mega mix for about 5 days now. Perhaps I should try bottled water instead? I change the water daily and clean the drinkers etc.
It is extremely disheartening to see chicks dying, I have decided to stop breeding once the current chicks have fledged.

[Hezz]

I think by using bottled water for a breeding season, at least then you will be able to more definitely determine whether the water is having any influence in the outcome. If you don't try changing over their water, you will always be wondering. To me, it seems like a easy thing to change so as to determine whether it is the water or not.