How do you clean the feeders and waterers?

[Hensii]

I just clean with plain water every day or so and rub it with a paper towel. Is that enough or should I use some dish soap to prevent bacteria from forming?

 

[Weeg]

I just clean with plain water every day or so and rub it with a paper towel. Is that enough or should I use some dish soap to prevent bacteria from forming?

I think thats good. I would use Apple cider vinegar if I wanted to clean them. Its a good cleaner, immune booster, and the acidity can keep bacteria down.

 

[Hensii]

I think thats good. I would use Apple cider vinegar if I wanted to clean them. Its a good cleaner, immune booster, and the acidity can keep bacteria down.

I use metal bowls though. Vinegar might react

 

[Chick_Crazy]

I just use water, and give it a good rinse. If it’s really scummy and gross, I will use soap and a rag.

 

[3KillerBs]

I can't think when I cleaned a regular feeder used by the adults. It's dry pellets or dry crumble -- nothing in there that can spoil unless it gets wet.

I clean the chicks' feeders before I start a new batch since it's possible that a rodent got into them while they were in storage. Hot water and dish soap.

Waterers get rinsed out and brushed every time they're refilled. They get hot water, dish soap, and *maybe* a spritz with bleach cleaner if they get scummy or grow algae in hot weather.

I LOATHE open waterers and use horizontal nipple waterers specifically to help keep the water clean.

 

[Weeg]

I LOATHE open waterers and use horizontal nipple waterers specifically to help keep the water clean.

Off topic, but how do you keep them from freezing in the winter? I'm just about done with my open waterer setup. They spill it instantly, and if they don't, shavings are soaking up all the water by the next day.

 

[Poultrybonkers]

Mine are these feeders so no need to clean

 

[3KillerBs]

Off topic, but how do you keep them from freezing in the winter? I'm just about done with my open waterer setup. They spill it instantly, and if they don't, shavings are soaking up all the water by the next day.

Um, mainly by living in a climate where it rarely remains below freezing in the daytime.

Premier 1 makes a heated horizontal nipple waterer and they're supposed to work well with DIY heater setups.

 

[Weeg]

Um, mainly by living in a climate where it rarely remains below freezing in the daytime.

Premier 1 makes a heated horizontal nipple waterer and they're supposed to work well with DIY heater setups.

Lol! Guess I should have looked at your location.

I'll check that out, thanks!

 

[3KillerBs]

Lol! Guess I should have looked at your location.

I'll check that out, thanks!

I admit that on the rare times when it does freeze in the daytime it's a royal pain to be swapping the waterers out.