Algae help

[sawilliams]

How do I control algae growth in the water buckets? I rinse and fill then everyday but despite my labor i have to clean them every 2-3 days. The winter I don't have to clean them except to remove extra dirt but with the summer heat coming there is already algae growing

 

[Granny Hatchet]

If you dont have shade for it can you make a shade cloth to go over it ? I know barley kills alge in water but I dont know what it might do for chickens. I have the same problem. scrub it every other day and it still builds up. I bought a toilet bowl scrubber. I remember someone saying something about using Vinegar w/ the mother. I dont like to give mine vinegar.

 

[HuskerHens18]

I deal with this too. I guess I've never tried to fix the problem, I always just scrape it out every time.
Do you keep the bucket in the shade or in full sun?
What if you rinse out the bucket two or three times a day? I don't really know a solution :/

 

[sawilliams]

The big water bucket is under a huge oak tree it gets some light but not a lot. Infact i think it's in the shade at least 90% of the day or more

 

[Granny Hatchet]

The big water bucket is under a huge oak tree it gets some light but not a lot. Infact i think it's in the shade at least 90% of the day or more

Then I would try a different material.

 

[HuskerHens18]

Is it a plastic bucket? I've heard those gather bacteria and algae faster.
One website suggested stainless steel, I've never tried it though.

 

[sawilliams]

Yes they are all plastic buckets

 

[Ducklover2]

 

[lazy gardener]

Provide shade, otherwise scrub it out as needed. I keep a bottle of liquid Dawn handy to clean my waterers. I use a fist full of hay, long grass or creeping charlie as bio-degradable scrubbers.

 

[red horse ranch]

A friend gave me two galvanized waterers for my chickens. Since the sunlight doesn't get inside the container the algae doesn't grow inside either. It will grow in the small water trough around the container but that is easy to wipe out.