Fresh water

[Matejka]

Ok
Got an issue/question
I provide fresh water daily. It is well water no additives conditioners salts-just water straight out if the well.
My girls come out of run, eat and then head for the dirtiest mud puddle to drink. We have had alot of flooding rain-theres water everywhere.
Any ideas why the girls ignore fresh water for a standing mud puddle?

 

[Hannahnic14]

I'm not really sure why they do that but my dogs do the same thing! They have a beautiful bowl of fresh water and go straight for the dirtiest mud hole in the yard

 

[3KillerBs]

I don't know why they do it, but it's normal chicken behavior.

Mine also always have fresh, clean water but if they can get water from a random puddle or the hollow places in the overturned plastic lawn chairs I keep in the run they will do that first.

 

[Aapomp831]

Normal - drives me insane. My chickens love dirty crap water over their fresh clean water.

 

[AntiqueB]

We have a small fish pond, and every creature likes to drink from it, domestic and wild. My husband says they like the fish flavor.

My guess would be that, like butterflies getting salt, the water in these places has some sort of mineral or salt that comes from the earth itself, and they crave it.

 

[GC-Raptor]

I've had 3 flocks of 3 different breeds/types of chickens outside over 5 years and all of them prefer puddles over clean water.
My guess is puddle water has more flavor.
Myself I enjoy ice tea during the summer over ice water. GC