Copper Sulfate added to water

[Melissa R]

Hi guys. I'm new here and appreciate so much all of the help I've already received reading through the forums. I just added a 1/4 teaspoon of copper sulfate to the waterers (about a gallon and a half buckets). For some reason I thought the water would be clear but the water is now a milky blue. Is this right? I've searched it on google and can't find anything at all about that. Thank you so much in advance!!

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

Isn't copper sulfate used to treat foot rot in hooved stock? I wouldn't be putting that in the water.

 

[Ridgerunner]

Melissa, copper turns things blue so yes, I'd guess that is a normal natural reaction. Reading up on it copper sulfate is sometimes used to turn fireworks blue.

OHLD copper sulfate is a fungicide, algaecide, and herbicide. I knew copper was used in sprays for fruit trees and such but I didn't know what chemical form it took without research. In certain dosages it can be toxic to humans and I'd guess other animals and if you get it in your eyes you are in trouble. My guess is that Melissa is using it to treat the water to prevent algae growth. I could be wrong, it could be used to maybe stop the growth if mosquito wigglers. Or maybe something else. I haven't heard of using it for either and I don't know the correct dosage but it wouldn't surprise me if she read about it on this forum.

I handle algae growth by washing the water containers in a mild bleach solution when they start to turn green. I handle mosquito wigglers by totally dumping the water out of the waterers every couple of days before they have time to turn into mosquitoes. But my watering system is just bowls. If you have some type of automatic watering system such as nipples or some type of big vacuum tank where you store water for many days or weeks you may need to treat the water somehow to prevent algae, slime, or wigglers. I don't have any experience with those types of watering systems so I don't know how appropriate copper sulfate is or what the correct dosage might be. All I really know about it is that copper turns stuff blue.

 

[aart]

This is the dosage I've used in the past:
Make a Solution with 2 TBS CS in a quart of hot water with splash of vinegar.
2 TBS of Solution in a gallon of water for 7-10 days.

At this dilution the water was barely blue in waterers.

Did a lot of research on it a couple years ago, some dosed once or twice a year for internal/external parasites, some used it year round.
Some dismissed it as a highly toxic chicken poison, never to be used.
I had mixed results and feelings about it.
It is toxic, so must be dosed with care,
but it is also an ingredient in some chicken feeds.

Here's the thread on HST that I kind of consolidated my research in.

 

[Ridgerunner]

Aart, you were using it for internal/external parasites. Could you please expand on which ones? Were you responding to a specific issue or just using it as a general preventative?

Thanks

 

[Akrnaf2]

Copper Sulfat is used for treatment of Eukaryote parasites, such as Trichomonas, fungi, and algae.
The dosage for internal treatment is, usually, 0.1% =1/1000
You need to put 1 gram of Copper Sulfat for 1 liter of drinking water.

 

[aart]

Aart, you were using it for internal/external parasites. Could you please expand on which ones? Were you responding to a specific issue or just using it as a general preventative?

Thanks

Both to treat for existing lice and as preventative for internals.
It's all in that thread I linked.

 

[WVduckchick]

Not sure if there is a difference, but I've always seen reference that it should be "acidified" copper sulfate.

https://www.jefferspet.com/products/acidified-copper-sulfate-1

 

[aart]

Not sure if there is a difference, but I've always seen reference that it should be "acidified" copper sulfate.

Yep, why I added some ACV to the plumbing 'root destroyer' version (99% copper sulfate pentehydrate) that I used.

 

[Mrs. K]

I would NOT give my chickens milky blue water from this. Way too strong.