Drinking dirty rain water

[LynnMarieFLA]

Hey all!
hubby and I had chickens many years ago, and have just started having a flock again this spring. The girls have started laying and are all happy and healthy, and I want to keep them this way. Living in south Florida, we’ve had lots of rain lately, like every day! The girls have been drinking from puddles all over the yard and I was wondering if this will give them worm and parasites. Should I be giving them a wormer and if so, what is the best suggestion ? I remember we gave the old flock a goat wormer, but I can’t remember which one and thought to ask you all first. Thanks for any advice!!

 

[Yardfulla poopers]

I don't think they have any higher chance of getting water from puddles as they do pecking the ground and eating insects.

 

[PioneerChicks]

I think they would be fine. Rainwater can't hurt them. I have never had problems with worms or internal parasites.

 

[Yardfulla poopers]

I meant no higher chance of getting worms from the water as...

 

[Ridgerunner]

I personally don't worry about it. You can't stop it, they enjoy it too much. If the water is not muddy enough mine often scratch in it to get it the right color. They will not get anything from drinking rainwater they will not get just by being on that ground.

I personally do not treat my chickens for anything unless I see symptoms. Drugs often have side effects. You often cannot eat the eggs (or meat) if they are being treated for something. Treating them without a reason is a way to help create superbugs that do not respond to treatment. I just don't see any reason to do that unless I see something that needs treating.

 

[PioneerChicks]

I personally do not treat my chickens for anything unless I see symptoms. Drugs often have side effects. You often cannot eat the eggs (or meat) if they are being treated for something. Treating them without a reason is a way to help create superbugs that do not respond to treatment. I just don't see any reason to do that unless I see something that needs treating.

Agreed!

 

[LynnMarieFLA]

Thanks so much for the replies! Make a lot of sense about the puddle water not being any more dangerous than the dirt they are always digging in. Not going to do anything until I see a problem

 

[KerriChick]

We have a patch of grass that is irrigated out here in CA and it has a low spot that collects water in the morning after the sprinklers run at night. They will drink from that little muddy spot *before* they drink filtered water from the luxury cat fountain five feet away. (Fountain is for the cats but the chickens have claimed it as well and it saves me from putting water bowls in the yard that they spill anyway!) I too was worried about parasites/icky stuff as we have skunks in the yard at night, but I guess just monitoring the situation is ok ...

 

[rosemarythyme]

They're going to drink from filthy mud puddles (or lick it off the fence, which mine love) whether you want them to or not, so I wouldn't worry about it.

I wouldn't worm unless you know you have worms (and the type) so you can treat it properly.

 

[CatsandCrops]

Mine prefer dirty puddle water over their nice clean 5 gallon waterer that's usually within sight of them - they will be fine