Changing chickens from rural water to artesian water.

[lahaskell]

I have been raising chicks in my basement & they have been drinking rural water for the last month. I am now moving them out to the chicken coop & will be switching from using our rural water to using artesian water from our free flowing well. Will I need to blend the water over a period of time to get them off the rural water & onto the artesian water? I am concerned that switching water cold turkey could make them sick since the artesian water has a much higher mineral content. Has anyone else ever dealt with this?

 

[cibula11]

I haven't really "switched", but mine are currently on well water. It is definitely not the type of water I would drink, but I've had no issues as of yet.

 

[pichuris]

I don't have experience with the two. My chickens are on well water but to be sure just mix the two over a few days. I don't think it will be a problem.

 

[A.T. Hagan]

Is there a radical difference in mineral content and flavor of the rural water and the artesian water? If there isn't then you should be able to just switch them over.

 

[chfite]

My chickens forage during the day. They drink from the nipples in the morning before they go out. This is tap water. When they are out they drink from the dogs' water bucket, the puddles in the driveway, the rainwater that collects in an inverted, small, plastic tub. Sometimes the water in the overturned tub has free protein swimming in it. I doubt the chickens will care.

Chris

 

[WoodlandWoman]

They do like to forage for different water sources, don't they?

I think the big water bowls I put out for the dogs are their favorites, here. We all drink well water, including the parrot.