Hydrogen Peroxide in Water

[Balbinka]

Please don't do that.
When I had an eating disorder, Hydrogen Peroxide was one of the things that, well... got everything out of my stomach.
Peroxide should not even be put on wounds, as it eats away at the flesh. I learned that the hard way when my mouth and throat started "rotting out".

I guess some experts say it is OK for livestock, but I'm telling you from personal experience... it is not a good thing to ingest even in small amounts! Spare your hens the pain!

 

[Chris09]

The rule of thumb is 8 to 10 oz. of 35% hydrogen peroxide to 1000 gallons water striving to attain a reading 30 ppm after application. This same ratio is used for all animals: cows, pigs, poultry, sheep, goats, rabbits, and birds.

Livestock & Poultry Producers Have Reported:
• Cleaner well pumps/water pipes/waterers
• Increased water/feed consumption of animals
• Reduced respiratory or gut problems
• Improved daily gains
• Increased feed conversion
• Lowered medication costs and vet bills
• A way to dechlorinate chlorinated water supplies
• A natural deworming effect
• Higher conception rates

Swine Producers Have Reported Lower Incidences Of:
• Ileitis
• Hemorrhagic Bowel Syndrome
• PRRS
• Circo Virus
• Strep Infections
• E. Coli

Dairy Producers Have Reported:
• Increases milk yield (peaks are longer)
• Lowers somatic cell counts
• Increases butterfat levels with proper nutrition
• Reduces retained placentas
• Helps reduce scours in newborn calves
• Increases levels of colostrum after calving
• Reduces incidences of mastitis
• Eliminates foot rot
• Can be applied topically to hairy warts
• Improves conception rates
• Stronger heat cycles

Feedlot Cattle Producers Have Reported:
• Reduced shipping fever
• Improved hoof condition
• Cattle are more content
• Fewer waterborne diseases

Poultry Producers Have Reported:
• Fewer incidences of disease
• Fewer leg and tendon problems
• Drier litter
• Better egg quality for layers
• Better feed efficiency
http://www.foodgrade-hydrogenperoxide.com/id30.html

I will also add that only "Food Grade" hydrogen peroxide should be used.
Quote:
http://www.chemtalk.net/peroxide.html

Chris

 

[hannakat]

Quote:
At the risk of stepping on some toes here...

Dale asked a specific question, but most of what I've seen here is opinions with nothing to back it up. Now, I haven't been using H2O2 long enough to be able to provide definitive results, but everything that I have read (other than opinions posted on forums) indicates that when used correctly, Hydrogen Peroxide (H2O2) is both safe and effective in making sure that drinking water is safe. I have also talked with a friend who has been using H2O2 with his "kitchen flock" of chickens and his commercial goat operation. He is an enthusiastic supporter of its use. He owns and operates a very large scale commercial greenhouse operation (primarily floral greens), and he uses H2O2 for his plants. His study prompted him to start using it with his livestock as well.

My own chicken watering system is based on a 35 gallon water tank on a 10' tower that gravity feeds drinking cups via PVC pipe run underground to each of the chicken coops. I used to use a Chlorox dilution recommended by the USDA (for human consumption!) to make sure that the chickens all had good, clean water. It is my belief, based on what I've read, that H2O2 is safer and more effective. Studies have demonstrated that H2O2 is much more effective at cleaning the organic growth from the inside of water lines (and presumably from stand-alone waterers) than bleach is, so that is what I have switched to.

Hydrogen Peroxide is basically just a water molecule with an extra atom of Oxygen attached. It is fairly unstable, which makes it a powerful oxidizer - basically it "burns up" whatever it contacts. To say that H2O2 is "bad" without backing that up is misleading, at best.

Opinions are fine, and if someone doesn't want to use H2O2 because it is not "natural", then that's fine. I admire those who take that stand and go completely natural. Just make sure that you aren't misleading others into thinking that your opposition to the use of Hydrogen Peroxide is based on hard evidence rather than just personal preference.

Bottom Line: ALL evidence that I have seen indicates that, when used according to standard recommendations, Hydrogen Peroxide is a safe and effective additive to chicken drinking water. I use it for my own chickens, and know others who do also.

+1

When done properly H2O2 can be very useful, it is dangerous when used improperly (from experience on wounds and rats and H2O2 vs anitbiotics in rats)

x2

My SIL used it for years because of a medical condition. She had no ill side effects whatsoever, and to this day, will help anyone interested in learning its benefits.

 

[FireTigeris]

Quote:
Actually it only 'attacks' quickly dividing cells or damaged cells- the cells in the digestive (mouth to anus) tract are always replacing themselves- so any in active division or any damaged would get ruptured by H2O2 -it lyces them due to the instability of the molecule.

This is also why it retards healing in an open wound- it is killing the brand new dividing cells that are trying to close the wound...

this is sometimes necessary for deep abscesses to prevent the wound from sealing while still 'hot' but it is applied with a pipet and only to the edge of the wound...

 

[TheDonger]

Quote:
At the risk of stepping on some toes here...

Dale asked a specific question, but most of what I've seen here is opinions with nothing to back it up. Now, I haven't been using H2O2 long enough to be able to provide definitive results, but everything that I have read (other than opinions posted on forums) indicates that when used correctly, Hydrogen Peroxide (H2O2) is both safe and effective in making sure that drinking water is safe. I have also talked with a friend who has been using H2O2 with his "kitchen flock" of chickens and his commercial goat operation. He is an enthusiastic supporter of its use. He owns and operates a very large scale commercial greenhouse operation (primarily floral greens), and he uses H2O2 for his plants. His study prompted him to start using it with his livestock as well.

My own chicken watering system is based on a 35 gallon water tank on a 10' tower that gravity feeds drinking cups via PVC pipe run underground to each of the chicken coops. I used to use a Chlorox dilution recommended by the USDA (for human consumption!) to make sure that the chickens all had good, clean water. It is my belief, based on what I've read, that H2O2 is safer and more effective. Studies have demonstrated that H2O2 is much more effective at cleaning the organic growth from the inside of water lines (and presumably from stand-alone waterers) than bleach is, so that is what I have switched to.

Hydrogen Peroxide is basically just a water molecule with an extra atom of Oxygen attached. It is fairly unstable, which makes it a powerful oxidizer - basically it "burns up" whatever it contacts. To say that H2O2 is "bad" without backing that up is misleading, at best.

Opinions are fine, and if someone doesn't want to use H2O2 because it is not "natural", then that's fine. I admire those who take that stand and go completely natural. Just make sure that you aren't misleading others into thinking that your opposition to the use of Hydrogen Peroxide is based on hard evidence rather than just personal preference.

Bottom Line: ALL evidence that I have seen indicates that, when used according to standard recommendations, Hydrogen Peroxide is a safe and effective additive to chicken drinking water. I use it for my own chickens, and know others who do also.

I know I'm new here but I have used H2O2 to sanitize drinking water in the past and it is fine for internal use in small amount (8drops per Gallon I think), PLEASE fallow the directions and use FOOD GRADE H2O2 ONLY!

 

[geebs]

Food grade only and yes it is used internally... that is why it is called internal grade in fact I know a gal in Canada that used it to heal cancer in her horse.... There are many studies underway for internal use... It is highly concentrated and will burn you and you have to keep it stored properly. It runs about 20 dollar a bottle at your local health food store in the US and is a controlled substance with a much higher price tag in Canada.. I don't believe it's should be used without at full understanding of it's properties. I use it for wounds and I wouldn't live without it for wounds. I was a rescue/rehab agent for large animals... though I did take in small ones as well. It is the first line of defense against infection. I have used it for years on hundreds of animals without any side effects ever. It is the first thing I reach for when there is a dirty wound. I have never used it internally on chickens but have and do use it externally. It is worth a go.. Let us know how it works out for ya.

 

[Mac in Wisco]

Hydrogen peroxide is an excellent water sanitizer. Beyond that there are no health benefits to putting it in drinking water. The link that was provided cited producers that got better egg production or increased weight gain on broilers. That's highly possible, but only if they had water quality issues to begin with. Commercial watering equipment in warm barns are very susceptible to bio-film and bacteria growth and should be sanitized on a regular basis. Bleach and hydrogen peroxide are commonly used. We inject bleach on a regular basis (every few weeks) to sanitize the water lines in our layer barn. It is injected to create a 10 ppm solution and by the time it has done its job oxidizing organics in the water, the water consumed by the birds has less than 4 ppm chlorine, the same standard used for municipal water systems. Hydrogen peroxide, properly used, can also be used.

We also have problems with iron and sulfur reducing bacterias in our farm well. We shock the well once a year to clean it up. I used to use copious amounts of bleach along with muriatic acid to bring the pH back down to an effective level for the bleach to do its job. I have switched to peracetic acid, a hydrogen peroxide and acetic acid (vinegar) solution to sanitize the well. The peracetic acid isn't affected by water pH and works much better in the cold temperatures at the bottom of the well. It also hydrolyzes the bio-film buildup and kills bacteria that are embedded in the bio-film, something that other sanitizers don't do so well. We also use this to clean the watering lines in the barn between flocks. It cuts the bio-film in the lines, sanitizes well, and the acidity dissolves any mineral buildup in the lines. I do not use it at a regular sanitizer as it's a bit pricey.

So, if you are keeping your waterers clean by other means and have a fairly clean water supply to begin with, the hydrogen peroxide has no benefits. If you need a sanitizer to help with specific situations, then hydrogen peroxide may be useful and is safe for the birds to consume, when applied at the appropriate rate.

 

[Lazy J Farms Feed & Hay]

Quote:
A very nice summary!

 

[Balbinka]

Interesting! Learning a lot!

I did not know there was such thing as food grade Hydrogen Peroxide!

 

[Ariel301]

I raise freshwater angelfish, and when I have to hand raise eggs because the parents won't raise them, I put hydrogen peroxide in the water. About a teaspoon per five gallons, the cheap stuff you buy at any pharmacy. Normally the parent fish would clean the eggs with their mouths and fan water current over them with their fins, and pick off any bad eggs. Without the parents, they are susceptible to bacteria and fungi, and the peroxide helps to lower the risk. In that amount, it is even safe to use with the adult fish in there, or with hatched babies. I haven't used it for chickens, but I imagine it would be of some use for keeping the water clean if you had a large flock in confinement and it was too much work to clean the waterers daily. Sort of like chlorinating the water, without the chlorine, I guess.