Clean water

[littlelizajane]

We are about 6 months into our first experience with chickens and having a grand time..... I have noticed no matter what we do, the chickens get their water dirty. They kick rocks and dirt into the bucket lips... green algae grows on watering device... and just looks gross in general to me. I would love to look into some of these watering systems that deliver the water via a spout.... but I don't know anything about them. Anyone have experience with them? I would love to see pictures of yours....

 

[sleddog123]

our chickens started kicking bedding into their food and water when the were still chicks so we hung the containers. we still have to clean them out periodically but its not as bad. also make sure their containers are no where near where they sleep because they might poop in them then.

 

[21hens-incharge]

Apple cider vinegar in the water will cut the algae by a ton. I scrub the water dishes with dish soap and a sponge every weekend adding acv when I am done.

Mine kick dirt into the dish every day and so I dump it every morning and refill. I only do the acv on sundays.
If you go with acv be sure to get it with the "mother" as it helps the digestive system.
Just a tablespoon to a gallon will work well.

 

[littlelizajane]

I could totally do the ACV... funny you mention it.. as I'm drinking a teaspoon of it with the mother 3 times a day with meals to help with my own digestion and diet.

 

[iwiw60]

We are about 6 months into our first experience with chickens and having a grand time..... I have noticed no matter what we do, the chickens get their water dirty. They kick rocks and dirt into the bucket lips... green algae grows on watering device... and just looks gross in general to me. I would love to look into some of these watering systems that deliver the water via a spout.... but I don't know anything about them. Anyone have experience with them? I would love to see pictures of yours....

Here's a C/C/P of a post I made earlier this year on how easy it is to make horizontal nipple water buckets:
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Oh now....c'mon....be brave!! Listen, if I can do it, ANYbody can! I'm 70 years old, single retiree, all by myself, have always in past years been the "gopher" on projects, never the 'doer'. Here's how, and TRUST ME! It has been a lifesaver...just think...no more cleaning out yucky waterers every day and no more filling up the waterers every day...it's da bomb! =============================================================
1. Get yourself a good plastic bucket. For women flock keepers I recommend getting ahold of a 2-1/2 gallon bucket (they're easier to bring back to the coop/run when you do rinse them out and refill).
2. Purchase a small set of horizontal water nipples ..they look like this:


You can get them in lots of places on the internet. HINT: Don't get the 'cup' style if you have freezing weather in winter months OR the 'vertical' ones...they freeze up on you.
3. Use a drill with a 3/8" bit (important, only use 3/8" bit) and drill holes in your bucket about 1-1/2 to 2" up from the bottom, spacing them out. The ones I bought came in a pack of 5 so I just evenly spaced them around.
4. Then all you do is screw them in. HINT: be careful you screw them into the bucket straight-on. These are "self-tapping" water nipples and they DO make a water-tight seal. Keep the nipples good and straight (you'll see an indentation of sorts where any possible drips could go..make sure they are level).
5. Guess what? After about 20 minutes you are DONE!
6. After filling your bucket put the bucket lid on the top but only 'snap' 1 or 2 snaps-worth...you have to have air or they won't work.
7. If your girls have never used water nipples before it is EASY to teach them. I sat in the coop and kept "clicking" the little stainless steel thingie. Out of curiosity one of my girls came up to it and tapped it herself and figured out "hey! There's water here girls!!" It didn't take but an hour or so and they were all using them....HINT: you must remove ALL other water sources .. all of them..that's the trick to it. Don't give in if your girls are timid to switch over....trust me....they WILL switch!
8. Now aren't you proud of yourself??
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I live in snow country so for the winter months I'll be dropping in a small 250-watt mini stock tank heater...voila! No more frozen water!

HOPE THIS HELPS YOU OUT!

 

[aart]

I have 2 one gallon waterers that I swap out every day. Carry out a freshly filled waterer in the morning and pick up the 'dirty' one that I bring in and rinse in the laundry tub whilst brushing with a bottle brush and hang to dry. I keep the waterer on a five gallon bucket turned over on the floor of the coop, very rarely gets any bedding debris in it and dumping it daily and brushing it keeps any kind of biological film from growing.

I also have used the horizontal nipples installed in all kinds of containers from 16 oz juice bottles to 40 oz salsa bottles to half gallon milk jugs to 3 gallon kitty litter jugs.

 

[littlelizajane]

iwiw60 ... that is exactly what I need!!! We do get freezing weather occasionally here... only for a short period... and not every year... what kind are good for not freezing the water? We go away for a week every year around Christmas and are still working out what we are going to do to ensure they have water and food for the week....

 

[iwiw60]

iwiw60 ... that is exactly what I need!!! We do get freezing weather occasionally here... only for a short period... and not every year... what kind are good for not freezing the water? We go away for a week every year around Christmas and are still working out what we are going to do to ensure they have water and food for the week....

Here's the link to the exact ones I purchased...online at Walmart...go figure! They are high quality and well worth the money:

http://www.walmart.com/ip/Allied-Precision-Deluxe-Bird-Bath-Heater-and-De-icer/17365953

I put a small Corelle plate in the bottom and placed the heating element on it just for added peace of mind, and cut a hole in the top of my water bucket for the electrical line. What I really like most about this particular model is that they turn on at 38 degrees and off at 40-something automatically....sweet!

But I really don't have to worry about it turning off...once our freeze hits they'll stay on indefinitely!!

 

[aart]

I've been thinking about bird bath heaters for this winter.

iwiw60 did you use this heater last winter?.....I think you only got your birds this spring?

One thing I'm wondering is how well will they work in deep water, like a 2-5 gallon bucket? Most bird baths hold only 2 or 3" of water, maybe 12-18" in diameter?
My 15 birds drink 2 gallons a day.....I guess I could bring out a gallon jug a couple times a day and refill the bucket.

Another thing that concerns me is that the heater linked above says not to use it with more than a 15 foot extension cord....and I have a 50 foot extension cord going out to my coop. Electrical resistance of the wires themselves can diminish voltage over distance, so may not deliver enough voltage/wattage to power heater.

Just some thoughts.......

 

[CrazyTalk]

It would depend on the gauge of the wires in the extension cord. If its a beefy one, it would probably be fine. If its a cheap 14/16/18 gauge one, it might cause problems/be a hazard.