Fish in My Chickens' Water Bucket?

[beefy]

suckerfish will die. get a goldfish

 

[Tweeza]

I have some roos that will perch and stretch their neck far to get the green algae water from the duck pool. They have two other watering spots to choose from. I think atleast one fell in once. I thought it strange that there would be roo feathers in the pool. Then I saw them perched and drinking and figured that's what happened. The water doesn't seem to have effected them in anyway.

 

[Sunny the Hippie Chick]

Quote:
Guppies give birth to live fully swimming babies...

 

[WalkingWolf]

Simple solution would be to have more than one 5 gallon bucket. Keep one with sanitizer solution with the lid on. The solution will kill any bacteria after a day and can be brushed and rinsed out. I change my water buckets daily, I have 5 spread throughout the yard. I also have one in each pen. I use 2 gallon instead of five gallon though, easier to carry when changing. I keep one filled with water with 1/4 cup bleach covered. Each day this bucket is switched out with the dirtiest bucket.

You have to remember any bacteria that a chicken picks up while scratching will be transferred to the bucket to grow when the chicken drinks. And also wild birds will drink from the buckets too. They should have clean water daily.

BTW you can usually get the 2 gallon frosting buckets from your local grocery store deli for free. Same with the 5 gallon buckets.

 

[ILOVEFRIZZLES]

I bought the the black rubber maid bucket form TS it helps with the algae.

 

[cybercat]

I that much sun is hitting it then it would be too hot I think to have fish live in the water. If it is in the shade and you are still getting the non green algea then go for it. But do check temps through the day to make sure water does not go about 90 degrees if it does they fish will die.

BTW this might also turn into new game for the chickens.. Bobbing for fish.

 

[shelleyd2008]

Quote:
The chickens would eat the goldfish. Goldfish get their oxygen from the surface of the water, so would most times be at the top of the bucket. Use the ACV, or get a smaller waterer. That's a lot of water waste if you change a 5 gal. bucket everyday.

 

[write2caroline]

My Grandpa always had goldfish in the cow waterer troughs. Pleco's need constant temp of about 78 degrees they are amazon fish. Gold fish are more hardy as far as temp - but gold fish are best in colder water. They even survive when the pond freezes over -not that I have my pond freezing now that I live in FL.

Let us know how it turns out
Cal
Jax FL

 

[Anny]

Fish would eat the algea, but they would also poop in the water. Dirtying it up. Fish normally also need a bubbler or something in their water, although some can live with out it, they don't thrive.

Also wouldn't the fish make emptying and changing the water just that much harder.

Perhaps you could try moving the waterer into a shady side of the run and see if that helps.

 

[Grammahen]

I wouldn't think that dead fish floating around in bucket on a hot summer day sounds very healthy to me. I wash mine out by the hose every few days and I have never had a problem. Fresh clean water... Happy chickens.