Grape Seed Extract

[FoxersArtist]

Does anyone know if it is safe to use with birds and how well it works? I have heard of people using it (mixed with water) to clean cages and also putting a few drops in drinking water because it kills bacteria. It is supposidly colorless and odorless. Thoughts?
-Anna

[EasySpirit]

Do a search on it. ONe small study said it helps kill bacteria. Other studies do not support the claim.

[Dot]

I use it when I sprout. Some say that Apple Cider Vinegar works just as well. I would never put anything in their drinking water.

[too&me]

There are people making the same claim for wild Oregano with similar studies to back them up. Small studies I do not think there are enough scientific results to really know yet.

[Don]

Call the makers of GSE, in the past they have not been willing to warranty the claims made for the product. Apple cider vinegar or even plain white vinegar is better as a freshening agent in sprouting..

And I agree with Dot - do not adulterate their drinking water.

Don

[FoxersArtist]

I decided just to stick with vinegar for cleaning...and no...I'm not a fan of adding anything to water.
-Anna

[Chrissy and Flock]

Is the smell from the vinegar okay for the birds? Thats what I have been using to clean most things out in birdy room. Either that or dawn dish soap.

[Don]

""Is the smell from the vinegar okay for the birds?""

When used diluted as a rinse it's not harmful.

Don

[Chrissy and Flock]

Thats good, I have some in a spray bottle diluted with water just for quick poop cleanups from the floor and where ever else they decide to poop.

[Don]

Keep in mind that vinegars are edible - altho maybe not pleasant in quantity, many types are a good food condiment.

But in our house it seems downy feathers and cat fur are condiments too......
(all naturally shed of course:)

Don

[MoluccanZoey]

Sorry I'm going back on all your old threads and posting- but they are darn interesting! I thought I would tell you my experience with GSE. I use with (limitedly) with my reptiles. I use it in the concentrated form to wash their waterbowls, and then I put a drop in to keep them cleaner, in between fill-ups. (Reptiles can get NASTY waterbowls), but this seems to keep it fresher. I probably wouldn't use it on the more delicate birds, but I put some in my outdoor water dishes for the dogs in the summer too. Just make sure your dosing is right- they sell two versions, the normal and the concentrated. One drop of the concentrated goes a long way. I also use it to clean Zoeys dishes and feeding syringes, but I don't put any in her water. If you are changing often I don't think you really need to, but I change the reptile water every other day, so it can get gross. And the outside dog water is in a big bucket so it gets changed every 3rd day. (They have a smaller one that gets fresh water everyday, but with this New Mexico heat in the summer it dries up faster and I don't want the risk of them with no water). So if you have a pet that has standing water, I would add some.

[Birdlover]

I wont use GSE for anything after reading this article: http://www.terressentials.com/truthaboutgse.html

[MoluccanZoey]

Interesting! It came highly recommended to me, and was even meantioned in several parrot books I have - (I can think of the name right now, but if you are interested I'll dig it up). Thanks for the article!