How much grit and cleaning the waterer...

[kemclaughlin]

How much grit should these chicks be eating? It seems like they are eating a lot.

Their waterer has a part near the threads of the mouth that has brown slimy stuff in it. Can I bleach this? What is the best way to keep it clean?

 

[caspernc]

I must be OCD about my cleaning but it REALLY only takes 15 minutes to wash my 3 gallon water. I wash it at least every 2 days and sometimes daily. Iread on here that if you don't want to drink out of it...wash it.
A chick will eat as much grit as they need.

 

[kemclaughlin]

I rinse it, but I am afraid to use dish soap. Is it safe? I really want to wash it if it is. I change their water as often as I see a bunch of the bedding in it. Sometimes three or four times a day. Sometimes I just rinse out the bowl part of it if it's still pretty full.

 

[Bear Foot Farm]

Can I bleach this? What is the best way to keep it clean?

Yes you can use bleach

Keeping it out of the Sun will help some.

So will adding Vinegar to the water​

 

[Sassafras]

You can use dish soap, just rinse well. I sometimes scrub with baking soda and rinse well.

 

[white01]

i use dawn and rinse well and i clean mine every day.. hope this helps

 

[Arielle]

Cider Vinegar really does help; since adding it to all my waterers, the clear slime is gone and I can let the birds drain the waterer down and not waste much water. Saves time too!! I use 1 tablespoon per gal or 1 teaspoon per quart. So some just need the bowl part poured off with the crud kicked in and a quick rinse; or the nipple waterers just need to be checked for refill. GL

 

[dragonlair]

I use baking soda and vinegar for cleaning all my chicken (and livestock) stuff. I do sterilize with bleach water, 1/4 cup per gallon, once a week or so. I use ACV in the water during the summer to cut down on algae. I live in an area that is riverbed clay, so algae grows like crazy in any water!

 

[BWKatz]

I have well water in a clay area that is high in rust and lime. I clean with bleach, rinse well, and then add 1 tbsp to about 3gal.I also keep the top sealed. Even in the heat of summer I can get by with cleaning weekly when I refill water. Keeping the lid on seem to really help keep down the algae by keeping the water clean and also cutting down on sunlight.