My birds are just like Judy's. I have a kiddie pool for the ducks in the run. I clean and fill the regular waterers, then tip the pool on edge to spray it out. Water trails across the entire run to the ditch on the other side. I've got a conga line of chickens drinking from that overflow. They're not scratching bugs, they're simply drinking the water. Ick to me, but it must have something they like cause the broody mommas get all excited and teach the chicklets to drink it. We call it mineral water.
Due to mosquitoes we try to keep standing water to a minimum, but I do use black rubber tubs to water from. I've never noticed any rubber taste from those so I wouldn't think one would from a tire, either.
