55 Gallon Barrel

[usn128]

I am using a 55 gallon metal barrel for water for my flock. I’m wondering if I need to put anything in the water to help with algae growth etc.

The barrel is food grade and has a locking lid and it will be completely shaded. I’ll be using either nipples or cups directly on the barrel. I’ll take any recommendations anyone has that I haven’t thought of about this setup. Thanks in advance.

 

[Ecarroll]

Make sure there are no holes that slugs or bugs can get into. We had a barrel water for the summers (plastic bait barrel, but same idea), but it had a small hole, and slugs where always crawling in and drowning, fowling up the water. We stopped using it b/c of this and algae and so not worth it for our smaller flock, now we just use a bucket with cups.