Best way to water the flock?

[Joycats]

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Thanks for the picture, that's what I'm thinking of only maybe a bigger size. I don't think that's big enough for my ducks.

 

[Mac in Wisco]

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Softened water can be detrimental to birds. Water would have to have very, very high levels of dissolved solids (above 5000 ppm) to have negative effects on poultry. If you have hard water from a limestone aquifer the calcium in the water is used by the birds as part of their mineral requirements.

However, water softeners replace the "hard" minerals like calcium and magnesium with a "soft" mineral, sodium. The sodium and chlorides introduced by a water softener can be detrimental in much smaller amounts than the hard minerals that they replaced.

I'm not saying that all soft water is bad for the birds, but only a lab analysis can tell you what is truly going on and whether the trade-off of sodium for calcium would have any negative impacts on your livestock.

We have fairly hard water. We do get mineral deposits on the nipple waterers in the barn. I run citric acid through the lines to help dissolve it. If some get too bad I actually take needle-nose pliers and crack the deposits from the nipples. For systems like the Little Giant waterers you can just remove and soak the equipment in a mild vinegar solution to remove the deposits.

 

[zookeeper15133]

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Thanks for the picture, that's what I'm thinking of only maybe a bigger size. I don't think that's big enough for my ducks.

What about one like this for your ducks? Just turn it over and dump to clean out their mess?

http://www.mcmurrayhatchery.com/automatic_water_bowls.html

 

[thompsonfarm]

here are my pics again hope they work
https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/uploads/95724_img_0467.jpg
https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/uploads/95724_img_0405.jpg

 

[Joycats]

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Yes, the link worked this time. Thanks! So is you drinker cups hooked up to a hose and faucet?

 

[speedy2020]

I am thinking using the 5gal bucket or 55gal barrel with nipples setup. I would like to add apple cider vinegar to the water. The issue is the water will not be replace or clean until the tank empty, which can be 2 months. How safe is the water for the chicken to drink?

 

[DickGJ]

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I posted my "report" on the nipple system with a 55 gallon somewhere on this thread about a week ago. Disregarding what many suggested...I opted to use the nipple system with my 55-gallon gravity feed system. Apparently the water pressure is too great for the nipples cause they leaked all the time. The system was outside in the run so I guess I really shouldn't care much that it leaked on the ground, but more concerning to me was that the chickens didn't appear to be as satisfied with the volume of water they were getting out of the nipples. Here in South Carolina we've been in the 93-100 degree temp range for a month straight now. To supplement the nipple system, I filled my 2-gallon galvanized waterer and placed it back into the run. The chickens hardly let me set that waterer on it's brick platform before they started drinking (all the while those nipples were leaking like sieves)! That finished it for me...I ordered the Little Giant 2500 and replaced the nipple system with it. I will tell you that this is the best system for me with a 55 gallon rain barrel set-up. I'm told the nipple system will work well with a 5-gal bucket, but trust me...I should have heeded the recommendation made to me by others here...all I did was waste money on the nipple system. The little giant automatically fills when the water level (weight) is lowered in the bowl. It took a little time to get the adjustment right, but once you establish the correct level...the auto fill system automatically stops filling the bowl when it reaches capacity without spilling over. The birds love it!

 

[MyChickenWishList]

What is the Little Giant 2500?? Do you have a photo?? I am way north (northern MN) And I would love a water system that didnt freeze up in the winter (can get -40 sometimes)

 

[thompsonfarm]

I have a 15 gallon container mounted to the back of my coop that has a splitter on it so it can go to both waterers it's a gravity feed system. and those cups are big enough for ducks we have 6 pekins and they drink from it just fine they even splash it enough to clean there beak

 

[DickGJ]

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I dont believe this will be the system for you based on your winter climate. There's no doubt it will freeze during the winter even down here in South Carolina (on our worst days). I just googled Little Giant 2500 and got all kinds of returns (to include pictures). Here's a link to where I bought mine:

http://compare.ebay.com/like/230436203385?var=lv&ltyp=AllFixedPriceItemTypes&var=sbar