Algae in waterers?

[dunnmom]

Also, algae was worse when I filled the waterers with a garden hose, as opposed to the kichen sink. I guess the algae was growing, or laying dormant in the hose.

 

[chickens really]

Algae is only a cosmetic matter. I just use a kitchen scrubbing thing and refill. Won't hurt the Birds.

 

[TomRussell]

Bleach is okay for the chickens to drink?

Cities have been adding chlorine to drinking water for decades. Many well systems for rural properties have devices that add a tiny, tiny bit of chlorine to each gallon of water that gets pumped.

Having said that, I’d like to know what ratio water to beach I should use for my just completed (but not yet perfected) watering system.

I’m thinking maybe just a drop or two per gallon.

 

[21hens-incharge]

A word of caution regarding apple cider vinegar. Galvanized dishes and ACV are not a good combo. There is a chemical reaction between the vinegar and the metal that is harmful.

I use a scrungy sponge and dawn. A quick clean out once a week or as needed. No bleach or ACV needed just a cleaning.

 

[Sammi_0411]

I wash them every day throughly keep out of direct sublight and use bitt of apple cider vinager xx

 

[LadyofChickens]

How much apple cider should I use for a 5 gallon waterer?
I have plastic 5 gallon waterers, sitting in shade and also under a roof on the run. It will immediately very next day start turning green. Temperatures have been in the 90s and humid.
Need to figure out something to help keep the algae way down or even gone.
Having a 5 gallon waterer and having to clean it out every day pretty much defeats the purpose of having that big of a waterer.

 

[21hens-incharge]

How much apple cider should I use for a 5 gallon waterer?
I have plastic 5 gallon waterers, sitting in shade and also under a roof on the run. It will immediately very next day start turning green. Temperatures have been in the 90s and humid.
Need to figure out something to help keep the algae way down or even gone.
Having a 5 gallon waterer and having to clean it out every day pretty much defeats the purpose of having that big of a waterer.

Start low with a teaspoon per gallon. If they still green up try 2 teaspoons per gallon. I would not go over 1Tablespoon per gallon though.

 

[centrarchid]

Odds are you have algae carrying over between fillings. The birds then provide nutrients needed for algae to grow by transferring feed particles to waterer. Some forms of algae do not need a lot of light to grow. Most of the low light algae types are growing attached to container rather than free-floating. I simply have a large tub freshly filled with chlorinated water to knock the algae back. The waterers are thoroughly rinsed and filled with clean water before putting back out with birds. I like to pull waterers at night to let them soak until following morning as birds not need to drink while sleeping. Extra time soaking gives better control over algae. Then waters put back out as birds come off roost.