Help, clean waterer

[Shawn's_momma]

Hi,

I'm new to chickens. I've had mine for 2 months and their waterer is DISGUSTING. I change it regularly, but it's slimy and green. Anything that I can add to the water to prevent this? Are different types of waterers better? I only have 4 hens, so I currently have a 1 gallon up on a cinderblock. I attached a pic of the one I have.

Lauren

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

A waterer you can see through will grow algae pretty fast. A metal one will stay cleaner but will corrode over time. Keeping the waterer out of sunlight can help some, but having to give them a quick scrub now and again is pretty normal. I personally don't want nothing added to their drinking water in case it cuts down on the consumption of it which can cause all kinds of problems.

 

[rosemarythyme]

I use a PVC waterer with vertical nipple and haven't had any issues with algae. If you search around these forums you'll see many examples of similar types of homemade waterers, from buckets to modified coolers to PVC pipe.

 

[Suzi18]

I add ACV to my water and that really helps cut down on the slime. I still wash it out with hot soapy water once a week though.

 

[catinthecoop]

I've got 2 gal buckets with horizontal nipples and really like them so far. I use 2 of the 2 gals for 5 hens and they're half full still when I dump them. I do dump the buckets 2x a week but everything seems clean when I do. Opaque buckets keep the algae from growing in my experience.

 

[Farmgal101]

Hi,

I'm new to chickens. I've had mine for 2 months and their waterer is DISGUSTING. I change it regularly, but it's slimy and green. Anything that I can add to the water to prevent this? Are different types of waterers better? I only have 4 hens, so I currently have a 1 gallon up on a cinderblock. I attached a pic of the one I have.

Lauren

Put a small capfull of bleach in the water should keep it clean and it wont hurt your chickens.Ive done it with mine for a couple of years

 

[mymilliefleur]

I like to use two gallon buckets with nipples. I also add ACV to the water. Keeping the water in the shade is important. Not only to keep the algae down but also to keep the water cool. If the water is in the sun it can heat up very fast, to the point the chickens can no longer drink it. I also like to scrub my waterers out at least once a week.