**Before reading this article I would like to tell you that I DO NOT AGREE! with putting chlorine, bleach or any other chemical like that into your birds drinking water. These chemicals are toxic to the birds, in the article below you will notice that Dr. Marx states that after using the chlorine in his loft his loft was essentially disease free. I have no doubt that Dr. Marx’s birds were disease free because the chlorine will kill all bad bacterias in the birds however along with killing the “bad” bacteria the “Good” bacteria in the birds will also be destroyed which in turn will destroy the birds immune system and natural immunity to disease. Let me give you a little scenario lets say you chlorinate your birds drinking water in your loft yes your birds seem to be disease free but after drinking the chlorinated water your birds immune system becomes weak. Now lets say you ship your birds to a race and now your birds are kept in a loft that doesnt chlorinate their water. Without the chlorine acting as an artificial immune system in the birds your birds own weakened immune system will be bombarded by normal bacteria from both the new loft and the new birds that they come in contact with. Now your birds are highly subseptable to new disease that normally the chlorine would have killed and so on and so fourth. My opinion when keeping pigeons is to only medicate when absoluetly necessary. Some fanciers in my opinion go overboard and weaken the natural immunity of their birds with artificial supplements. The reason why I posted the below article was to show you different ideas and opinions that fanciers have. Again I DO NOT agree with chlorinating your birds drinking water, in my opinion please use it for what is was meant for; a cleaning solution and a cleaning solution only.**
Thanks -Chris
The Miracles of Chlorine
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.
The Miracles of Chlorine by Dr. David E. Marx DVM
The Leading Online Pigeon Racing and Racing Pigeons Magazine – The Pigeon Insider
I never use chlorine bleach in the waters NEVER it has no need to be in there waters. IF YOU PROVIDE THEM WITH CLEAN DRINKING WATER DAILY..
There should be no reason to put it in there drinkers.
john
Hi all,
I only use chlorine on any new bird that i bring into the loft for 3 to 5 days and never again, after that making the water acidic would be prefer ,i do need a good idea on what to mix in a spray bottle for lice what are you all doing.
There are facts no miracles
Hi guys,
I think there is only one easy way to see if chlorine is good or bad: better racing performance?
If it harms the kidneys liver etc. it could depends on dosage and how often it’s used..
Too much of the best medicine can kill the birds, less will fail to cure exact dosage will do the job. It’s just my opinion.
I TAKE A LARGE PLASTIC GARBAGE CAN FILL IT WITH WATER PUT IN A 1/2 TABLET OF A SWIM POOL CLORINE THIS I USE TO CLEAN MY WATERING CONTAINERS I RINSE THEM WITH CLEAN WATER BEFORE I LET THE BIRDS DRINK FROM THEM. RAY BROWER
Returning from a race it is important to make sure your birds gets rid of all the bad bacteria etc they have or might have picked up in the baskets. What better way of doing that a Saturday evening – second drink after returning from the race. Even their dropping look good the next morning. I have been doing this on a “vets”, dr Wim Peters, suggestion and never looked back!
Hi Fred,
Have you seen any racing improvement after using chlorine, what dosage do you use and how often?
Geork
Applecider vinegar works just as well.Just get them used to it before the season and you won’t have any problems with them drinking it.2 TBS per Gal.
The reason that you want to use clorine is just as you say Chris, kill all the bacteria, good and bad. Immediately follow up with probiotics of some type to replace the good bacteria that you killed. Sending them off to a loft or a race is POOR management not the clorine. If there is not a health regiment in a one loft race, they will kill birds with health issues. Only send your birds to a loft managed for health as you would your own.
HIMM”
I am not agree to use chlorine in water because it will destroy all good bacteria.
Apple cider viniger or whey is good.
thanks.
In my opinion the only use for chlorine in the loft is to clean (disinfect) your water containers or feeders. I also use bleach as a spray once yearly as a disinfectant after I clean my nest boxes and perches in early spring before breeding. Chlorine will destroy all good gut floral bacteria as well as pathogenic (harmful) bacteria. Thus upsetting the proper balance and function of the digestive tract. Further compromises the birds immune system which leaves them open to numerous disease causing Bacterial organisms. Tjher are many alternative means to promote the population of friendly useful bacteria that promote good health to your birds ie. Acid pac 4- Way , viniger, probotics and prebiotics, whey, and a host of other natural occuring comodities on the market. All the best to you in the Sport.
Brite – Knight Lofts
Carvel, Alberta