Do you give your birds rainwater?

[BYC Project Manager]

Many backyard poultry keepers try to use rainwater for their birds, especially if they’re aiming for a more natural or self-sufficient setup. After all, chickens and ducks out in the wild drink from puddles, streams, and whatever rain collects around them. Some people say rainwater is softer and more natural than treated tap water, and it can be a great way to conserve water and cut costs.

On the other hand, some flock owners worry about things like roof runoff, dust, droppings, or other contaminants getting into collected rainwater. A few prefer sticking with tap water unless the rainwater is filtered or stored carefully.

So let’s hear from you: Do you give your birds rainwater?
Do you collect it intentionally, or do your chickens just drink from puddles after a good rain?

Share your experience, tips, and opinions. Does your flock seem to prefer rainwater or is clean tap water still your go-to?

 

[Poultrybonkers]

I have my gutter draining into my goose pool so I guess I use rainwater lol since I have a well saves me water.

 

[RubelliteRose]

We have a well, so we eventually use the rainwater, but we do not intentionally collect it for our flock.

 

[BlindLemonChicken]

My chickens have been drinking nothing but rainwater for about a month. There’s nothing on the roof they aren’t exposed to when they’re free-ranging and it saves me a lot of time. Waste not, want not.

 

[kattabelly]

They mostly drink rainwater either out of whatever it lands in, or collected off a roof and stored in IBCs. I'm not carting tap water a mile and a half uphill unless I absolutely have to.

 

[Ridgerunner]

I grew up on rainwater. We had a cistern that collected water that fell on the house roof. We burned coal for heat in winter so the roof could be covered with black soot. The system was set up so we would divert the first rainwater that fell first to wash off the soot and then switch it to collect water. The cistern was big enough that it acted like a settling basin, the particles would sink to the bottom. I'm sure no health professional would recommend a system like this but I'm into the 4th quarter of my first century and in reasonable health so it was not an immediate death sentence.

On the farm, our chicken's main source of water was a farm pond, naturally collected rainwater, with fish, frogs, and turtles living in it and also used by dogs, cats, cattle, and horses. In the summer it would turn green with algae. A lot of wild animals and wild birds drank from it also. I doubt very many people on this forum would allow any of their animals to drink from that pond. I certainly did not go swimming in there. It did get nasty in summer.

The only rainwater my chickens get is from mud puddles after a rain. I have a frost free hydrant to provide them with "city water".

I collect rainwater to use in the garden or when watering newly planted trees. If I only need a few buckets it's easier than dragging a hose. But if I need enough water I drag a hose.

 

[DemeterAD9]

I honestly don't see the point of trying to keep their water super clean because they are bound to find some water source absolutely riddled with dirt, bugs, and all sorts of other contaminants while out free ranging. A multi-trunked oak grows next to the pen and the base often holds water (and mosquitoes!). I see the birds drinking out of it all the time. Same with containers, tarps and whatnot that get left outside when it rains. They seem to just drink out of whatever is closest to them. So long as it isn't contaminated with motor oil or other nasty chemicals all is well in my book.

I do keep fresh well water in their pen though, summer is far too critical a time when it comes to keeping them hydrated. Oftentimes I end up filling their two 5gal and 3gal waterers daily. There's a couple particular hens that come over right away to get that first sip of fresh water.

 

[Knobby]

I bought a 275 gallon, food grade, IBC tote to be able to collect water to use with my chickens, as well as to water my garden. I don't worry about roof runoffs, since the water trickles down the plastic roof of the shed I converted into a coop. If we don't get enough rain, then I scoop up several gallons of water from the pond next to my coops. Works fine for me.

 

[ABQ chicken keeper]

Many backyard poultry keepers try to use rainwater for their birds, especially if they’re aiming for a more natural or self-sufficient setup. After all, chickens and ducks out in the wild drink from puddles, streams, and whatever rain collects around them. Some people say rainwater is softer and more natural than treated tap water, and it can be a great way to conserve water and cut costs.

On the other hand, some flock owners worry about things like roof runoff, dust, droppings, or other contaminants getting into collected rainwater. A few prefer sticking with tap water unless the rainwater is filtered or stored carefully.

So let’s hear from you: Do you give your birds rainwater?
Do you collect it intentionally, or do your chickens just drink from puddles after a good rain?

Share your experience, tips, and opinions. Does your flock seem to prefer rainwater or is clean tap water still your go-to?

Yes we have an in ground cistern to collect roof rain water. We installed a prefilter that diverts debris such as leaves, dead birds or anything on the roof, which is then run off to a tree area.
For a while I kept several aquariums with tropical fish, I used the water whenever I changed tank water which was often. We have used the cistern for our horses and ourselves when needed. As mentioned our cistern is buried and as @Ridgerunner mentioned any dust settles to the bottom, there is no light so no algae grows. A pump draws water from the upper level not the bottom. The water is crystal clear when it is pumped out. Incase of a fire the local fire department can drop a hose in the cistern and pump the water out.
Some may see this as overkill but here in the Southwest where water is precious we felt it was good investment.

 

[GoosesGeeses]

Whenever it rains, we but buckets by the roof and and collect sometimes 100+ gallons of rainwater, which we store in a barrel.