Algae in water healthy??

[crystalchik]

Hello,
Just had another question...a very well known breeder told me that I should encourage the growth of GREEN algae in my watering bucket (but not red). If I do, then my chickens will hardly ever get sick. Does anyone else agree with this? And if so, why does it work this way?
Thankyou very much,
Crystalchik

 

[dlhunicorn]

that is utter nonsense.

 

[LittleChickenRacingTeam]

I think the breeder is confusing the benefits of "Blue-green" algae or Spirulina with the common green algae that grows in water.

I've used Spirulina for years. Here's some info...

Spirulina Green Food Algae Benefits


Spirulina helps the body to detox in a natural way and helps reduce cholesterol.

Spirulina is a single cell type of algae that thrives in warm alkaline fresh water. Spirulina is one of the most natural, clean foods that can be found in nature. Benefits of spirulina include: natural Beta-Carotene, Vitamin D and GLA (Gamma Linolenic Acid). Spirulina contains all nine essential Amino Acids. It is extremely high in natural protein, much higher than beef.

Spirulina is a food that has extremely long shelf life. It contains 26 times the calcium of milk and has a good supply of niacin and phosphorus. It is of great help to almost any kind of ailment known to mankind. It helps build the blood, gives energy, and strengthens cells and tissue. Spirulina helps balance blood sugar and satisfies hunger.

Spirulina balances RNA/DNA, it helps the brain function and gives better mental clarity. Energy is noticed in a few short days as well as a keen alertness. Spirulina is a complete protein, contains the complete Complex vitamins and the essential Trace Minerals and Fatty Acids.

Spirulina benefits help the body to detox in a natural way and eventually will rid the body of toxic poisons. It helps the body with mineral absorption and helps reduce cholesterol.

The name Spirulina is derived from the word Helix, meaning a normal spiral of Electric Charge. This is interpreted to mean - to help correct the body polarity. This along with Bee Pollen make the greatest boon to the puzzle of why do some people seem to always be sick or shopping for a doctor to help them with their chronic fatigue, depression. anxiety, nervousness, sleeplessness, hypochondria and many other problems.


Green algae extract can boost the body's immune response to flu vaccine, says a Canadian study. Researchers from Dalhousie University in Halifax, Nova Scotia, and Ocean Nutrition Canada found that taking a carbohydrate extract of green algae in pill form greatly boosted the immune response to the flu vaccine in people aged 50 to 55.

This is the first published human study to show how a derivative of food source algae improves the body's immune response to the influenza vaccine. The study appears in the current issue of the Canadian Medical Association Journal.


BENEFITS OF SPIRULINA:


Stimulates immune system to destroy invading disease organisms.


Potentiates the immune system.


Helps to sanitize the bowel by detoxifying the colon and promoting the growth of friendly bacteria.


Promotes tissue repair in wounds and burns and has anti-infectious properties.


Decreases cholesterol levels.


Works as an anti-inflammatory, helping to reduce the inflammation.


Provides superior nutritional support as one of nature's whole foods for anyone who is weakened by disease, alcohol or drug abuse.


Helps to balance RNA/DNA (nucleic acids)


Curbs the appetite and helps to stimulate the metabolism.


Works like an antioxidant in detoxifying the body of pollutants.

Spirulina grows naturally in Lake Chad and Lake Nakuru in Africa and in Lake Texcoco in Mexico. Spirulina is not actually a marine algae.

Spirulina is carefully cultivated in special water-farms in subtropical regions. Spirulina is farmed in Hawaii, California, Thailand, Taiwan, India, China and elsewhere. The farms are situated in subtropical areas around latitude 20.

 

[ravenfeathers]

i wouldn't go out of my way to encourage algae in your waterers. on the other hand, some algae growth is indicative of healthy water. sick water can't grow green plants.

personally, i'm pretty lax on a little bit of algae. i dump and rinse my waterers and tubs as needed (daily for the hen). there's always some green left behind, especially in very warm weather. i then scrub them with a brush and mild soap once weekly. that takes off all the gunk, but doesn't kill it. once a season (or as needed, but generally not more than twice) i scrub with a dilute bleach solution, rinse really well, and let the containers air dry in the sun.

 

[WoodlandWoman]

Green algae does consume ammonia and waste products. That's what it lives on in ponds and aquariums. So, it actually improves the quality of water in those environments. It's also a nutritious food for fish, freshwater shrimp, daphnia and lots of other tiny little life forms. It's an aquatic green feed. Some life forms eat the free floating kind and some eat the kind that is attached to things. Both kinds can have positive effects in a healthy pond.

I don't try to grow green algae in water containers, but it doesn't freak me out if I see some, either. I don't start getting out the toxic bleach at the first sign. I do wipe them out at each refill. Bowls get a "power spray" with the hose at each refill, as that may happen more than once in a day. I'm sure there are some people washing water containers every day and some never. I am somewhere in between on that schedule.

 

[crystalchik]

Well I guess I better get scrubbin'!

I always kind of qustioned that theory, but at least I know my water is healthy!

LittleChickenRacingTeam, WOW, that is super amazing!!! Where do I get some of this stuff? Lol

Do you know how Spirulina gets growing? It sounds like it would be really beneficial.
Thank you for all of your info everyone!
Crystalchik

 

[blurose]

If I'm not mistaken, and if I am I'm sure you guys will quickly point it out to me, that stuff is farmed/harvested in only a few places, one of them being my hometown of Klamath Falls, Oregon, directly out of Klamath Lake. I grew up inhailing that gawdoffal smell every summer and now somebody literally turned it into a goldmine. They take millions of dollars of that stuff out of Klamath Lake every year and it just grows naturally.

I cut and pasted this from a website on the subject.

The most potent of the Green Superfoods is undoubtedly, Klamath (Lake) Algae. It grows naturally in Klamath Lake, Oregon, north-western United States. It is the only place in the world where it grows in harvestable quantities. In the recent past, there were fears expressed about toxic pollution from other algae growing in the lake but all Klamath Algae from the leading makes, have been fully tested to stringent standards laid down by the Oregon Department of Agriculture and the Food and Drug Administration. Klamath Algae has recently become a cult food among Hollywood stars such as Demi Moore and Bruce Willis, who find it beneficial for the stressful lives they lead. The main claims about Klamath Algae are that it provides top-up nutrition for people who feel their diet is inadequate and its antioxidants help the body to detoxify naturally. The neuropeptides in the algae help to nourish the brain and nervous system. Regular use has been shown to help the body balance itself, especially the female hormones. The best Klamath Algae is the freeze-dried, just like the best instant coffee.

Here's more if anybody is interested. Personally, I can't get past the smell of my childhood to actually swallow any of it. http://www.thesynergycompany.com/pages/klamath-algae.html

 

[Akane]

Algae isn't entirely bad. It can help filter water so in some ways they are right. Some forms of algae do improve water quality but part of the reason algae grows is because the water is polluted or unbalanced. Just having green algae is most definitely not a sign of a good water. Ask any aquarist. The tanks with the most algae are badly polluted tanks. There's lots to feed the algae. However a bit of soft green algae is normal. In a container of water without plants to help balance the nutrients you will get some algae while the water is still quite drinkable and it will only improve the water. Brown algae is also normal in hardwater with a lot of silicates.

It's the odd colored algaes like red or the common types of blue green. What normally gets called blue green or BGA in a fish tank or from tapwater is potentially toxic cynobacteria. Not all forms are bad but the risk of getting a bad type of BGA (has wiped out the entire population of many tanks) and the fact it's darn hard to kill off an in aquarium makes it the most hated algae of all fish keepers and definitely not something you want to find in your waterers. Also dying algae is bad. You want to scrub it out because if you let it build and it starts dying off it will release any pollutants or high levels of nutrients like phosphorous back into the water. Some algae like the red or BGA will also release their potential toxins while dying.

 

[crystalchik]

Hey everybody,
I just wanted to thank you for all of your help on this and I wanted to let you know that I found this Blue-Green Algae in a drink!! It is called Green Goodness or something like that at Publix, it has many green fruits and veggies in it....I think I am going to try it! Lol

One question...I have access to "Green Marine Algae", it is dried for marine fish to eat. Is that the same and could I use it to start my own culture??
Thanks again,
Crystalchik

 

[holliewould]

Quote:
Are you so sure about this? I grow certain algae on bricks and woods and the chickens always visit those spots. Don't know the reason why yet as this is my first flock, however, they really dig what I like to call "Homemade Greenies". Also, other birds, squirrels, and other numerous pests frequent this part of my algae grown bricks and driftwoods. So, in conclusion, there is something to be said about the algae besides "utter nonsense". I'm just saying..

That is not to say that I have clean water for them, or promote algae growth in their watering hole, but, they prefer a nice stagnant drink from an old potting bottom before they do fresh water.