clorox bleach in water - ever heard of this?

[Mac in Wisco]

Quote:
So what "safer and healthier" alternatives do you recommend?

 

[Ohhhdear]

A few drops of bleach in a plastic gallon poultry waterer will keep algae and bacteria from growing in the water and help prevent disease. I believe it's the most cost effective multi-purpose solution available, especially for large flocks or a deep-cleaning/sanitizing situation.

However, perhaps for those who have concerns about chlorine bleach would prefer to use white vinegar instead in the waterer. It is not a disinfectant, but it is a very effective cleaner and is a more natural solution. Like bleach, it should not be used in metal containers.

 

[mons02035]

Will the bleach have the same effect on the metal in the water nipples or is the amount of metal too small compared to using an actual metal waterer? Or are the nipples stainless steel and not effected by the bleach?

 

[mamabahre]

Quote:
So what "safer and healthier" alternatives do you recommend?

I'm not saying this is practical but few people know that you can actually leave water untouched for a full day in the sun (doesn't work if it is cloudy) and any parasites/bacteria etc will be killed. It has to be in a clear plastic bottle though and it can't really be moved around just leave it lying on the ground or something....There is this whole initiative in African countries with poor drinking water supplies because it is cheap and easy for people to do. You don't add anything to the water you just leave it out in clear bottles and the next day it is drinkable.

 

[hennyannie]

Quote:
Bleach can harm even stainless over time. Diluted like this it would be less harm but aren't the nipples expensive, I wouldn't riskit. I have seen some natural product for waterers in the catologs I have. One of them is Fleming, I have not ordered from them but I just saw the product in there. www. FLEMINGOUTDOORS.com

 

[5chicks4us]

Quote:

I know what thread you're referring to. It's...uh...interesting...

 

[darkmatter]

Quote:
My In-laws were also on well water like me and would add bleach to their well on a regular basis-------it corroded their submersible pump, requiring an expensive replacement. My submersible well pump is over 40 years in place and still working, I don't pour anything into my well, just keep it sealed.

 

[mons02035]

Quote:
My In-laws were also on well water like me and would add bleach to their well on a regular basis-------it corroded their submersible pump, requiring an expensive replacement. My submersible well pump is over 40 years in place and still working, I don't pour anything into my well, just keep it sealed.

Yeah, on a regular basis it is bad but every year you should test your well and there are times when you have to bleach it. that was my point to "once in a while". Even I am not so good about testing, it has been 2 years and counting for me..... In the house I grew up in, they put the well near the leaching field, needless to say we had to drill a new well but we drank it for years and never even thought anything until the smell started. Then we finally tested and it was bad. Live and learn, I'm still alive....

 

[Mac in Wisco]

In the concentrations required to sanitize the water it won't hurt stainless steel nipples. If you are constantly putting bleach in a galvanized watering can it won't be too long before you have a rusty mess.

As far as treating the well... We shock the well once a year with bleach as we have problems with iron and sulfur reducing bacterias. We throughly pump down the well to remove the chlorine after the appropriate contact time. Continually adding bleach and not removing it is not a good idea.

 

[lfreem2]

So, Mac, are you saying the the correct amount would be 1 Tablespoon per every 2 gallons of water? Just want to confirm amounts to use.