For drinking water, dilute at 10-20cc per gallon of water. For hand-feeding formula a drop or two per cup or 5cc per gallon of formula. Recommended as a daily sanitation level wash for brooders and baby containers, and as a routine brooder wipe for containers with chicks present. Used as a skin antiseptic for soiled babies. A very low toxicity to birds and humans.
Chlorhexidines have some limitations which make some routine use inadvisable.
As a cleaner it has little value because of poor cleaning properties and due to a decreased effectiveness in the presence of organic matter and hard water. It is not effective against several types of bacteria including many Gram-negative bacteria and Pseudomonas. Not effective against bacterial spores or mycobacterium. Will not kill hydrophilic viruses. Moderately expensive, and solutions must be discarded daily to be within recommended guidelines.