Copper Sulfate

[ChicknsRock]

How much and how often for small bantams? Thanks.

A quarter teaspoon of copper sulfate per gallon once a week.

 

[cafarmgirl]

I would be very, very cautious using copper sulfate, in fact I would not use it for my birds or any animal. Check out the National Pesticide Information Center fact sheets re copper sulfate toxicity. Most animals do not need much copper at all and that requirement is usually met in their diet. It is very, very easy to reach toxic levels with over supplementing.

www.npic.orst.edu/factsheets/cuso4tech.html

 

[AxisOfBeagles]

I would be very, very cautious using copper sulfate

Yea, me too.

 

[ChicknsRock]

I would be very, very cautious using copper sulfate, in fact I would not use it for my birds or any animal. Check out the National Pesticide Information Center fact sheets re copper sulfate toxicity. Most animals do not need much copper at all and that requirement is usually met in their diet. It is very, very easy to reach toxic levels with over supplementing.

www.npic.orst.edu/factsheets/cuso4tech.html

The information is out there and available and one can do his own research. CS works for our chickens and I use it safely and correctly.

 

[AxisOfBeagles]

Speaking of information that is out there, here is just one excerpt from the National Pesticide Information Center that cafarmgirl linked before ...

"Laying hens were fed copper sulfate at concentrations of 78 ppm Cu and 1437 ppm Cu for 2 weeks. At the highest concentration, hens produced fewer eggs, consumed less feed, and developed ulcers in the gizzard and oral cavity. Other studies of chickens that were fed copper sulfate reported oral lesions proportional to the dose of copper, and conflicting effects on feeding rate and weight gain"

Just to underscore - that's 'parts per million'. Ain't much.


To each our own, but I'd urge caution to anyone not intimately knowledgeable with the handling and toxicity of this stuff.

 

[loveourbirds]

from this link:
http://npic.orst.edu/factsheets/cuso4tech.html
"Adult roosters were exposed by intubation to copper sulfate doses of 200, 600, 800, 1200 and 1600 mg/kg body weight. The acute LD50 was determined to be 693 mg/kg. Treated animals developed diarrhea and died within 24 to 28 hours. Necropsies revealed bleeding of the kidneys and liver, necrosis in liver tissue, and testicular atrophy."

"Newly hatched white leghorn chicks were orally dosed with copper sulfate at a concentration of 10 mg/kg body weight. Chicks were sacrificed after 24 hours, and bone marrow chromosome aberration tests demonstrated an increased incidence of micronuclei in exposed chicks, indicating DNA damage.51"

"Adult chickens were exposed to copper sulfate by gavage at concentrations of 200, 600, 800, 1200, and 1600 mg/kg body weight. Researchers noted testicular atrophy and spermatogenic arrest proportional to the concentrations of copper sulfate.18"

"Researchers fed 450 mg/kg copper from copper sulfate to male chicks for 21 days. They noted reduced feeding and less weight gain in exposed birds.40"


from this link:
http://msucares.com/poultry/diseases/solutions.html

"COPPER SULFATE SOLUTION
Use this solution as a treatment for mycosis (mold infection) in the crop. An alternate name for the condition is "Thrush." Use the solution as a "follow-up" treatment after flushing with epsom salt solution--refer to the section for LAXATIVE SOLUTIONS.

Dissolve .5 lb copper sulfate and .5 cup vinegar into 1 gallon of water for a "stock" solution. Dispense stock solution at the rate of 1 oz per gallon for the final drinking solution.​

An alternate method of preparing the solution is:

dissolve 1 oz copper sulfate and 1 tablespoon of vinegar into 15 gallons water.​

Use either solution as the sole water source during the course of the disease outbreak. Copper sulfate is often referred to as "bluestone"."

"Epsom Salt Solution

1 lb Epsom Salt per 15 lb feed
-or-
1 lb Epsom Salt per 5 gallons water for 1 day​

Give the epson salt feed mixture as the sole feed source for a one day period. This feed can be used only if the birds are eating. If the birds are not eating, use the water solution. If the birds are unable to eat or drink by themselves, use individual treatment with:

1 teaspoon of Epsom Salt in 1 fl oz water​

Place the solution in the crop of the affected bird. This same amount of solution will treat 5-8 quail or one chicken."

 

[Lazy J Farms Feed & Hay]

Copper Sulfate is used in livestock rations, particularly pig feeds, as an antimicrobial. In pig feeds we add 100 to 250 PPM to the feeds, adding more than that will cause malabsorption of other minerals which can lead to mineral deficiencies.

In the case of adding Copper Sulfate at low levels in water on an infrequent basis you should not have any adverse interactions with other minerals.

Jim

 

[Eggcessive]

The only kind of copper sulfate I have read to use on chickens is acidified copper sulfate--which is used to treat or prevent canker in infected flocks. I would not see a reason to ever use it for any other reason. Just keep your waterers clean.

 

[ChicknsRock]

I have been using copper sulfate for almost three years and none of my chickens have died from it. In fact, I currently have two BSL hens that are nine years old and still laying. I also had an 11 year old rooster that might have lived longer if a hawk hadn't gotten him.
The proof is in the pudding. If you choose not to believe it, then fine. But please do not come on my thread and tell people false information.

 

[Lazy J Farms Feed & Hay]

Linking the use of copper sulfate in water to longevity in hens is a bit of a stretch.

Copper sulfate is a proven antimicrobial, though, and its use in water may improve the environment in the intestinal tract.