how often to change chickens' drinking water

[NewFlockOnTheBlock]

We have two double-wall vacuum-based metal waterers for our flock, sitting on top of milk crates in two different spots in the yard. (In the winter the waterers will move onto heated bases inside the coop as temps will be below freezing for several months.) How often should I change the water? In the summer I tried to do it daily but I don't know if it's still necessary now that the weather has cooled down and there is less potential for bacterial growth. Water changes are a bit more of a pain now that our irrigation has been shut off and there is no water outside, which means bringing the waterers inside to clean and refill. Also, I'm now adding oregano tincture and/or Vet Rx to their water and these things are pretty expensive so I don't want to waste them by dumping out the water every day. I suppose I could fill the waterers only part way so they would drink most of the water in one day?

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Are your chickens sick?

Personally, I give fresh plain water everyday. Sometimes more often, depending on weather. Water is carried outside in gallon milk jugs and water containers are washed outside, even in winter - I just carry more jugs.

With large water founts, you may be able to get by with changing it every other day, but with the "additives" I wouldn't let them go longer than that.

 

[Cynthia12]

Here too..My chickens also get fresh water every day. In the winter I have to use the heated bowls, so I give them fresh water during the winter too. Definitely change the water if medicating. Hey wyorp..I actually do the milk jugs too. I just have a back yard flock.

 

[rosemarythyme]

I change it weekly or so as I don't have any issue with algae or other build up, though if I'm medicating or supplementing the water for any reason I do daily changes so that the mixture stays fresh and the ratios balanced.

I also use gallon milk/water jugs all year round. Easier to carry a gallon with a handle than lugging a larger waterer around.

 

[Cynthia12]

Rose. Love your avvy, those hens are beautiful.

 

[PouleChick]

When it is hot I change it every day (or even twice when really really hot) but in the winter I don't so much, they have 5 litre bell ones that are up on blocks so stay pretty clean, I do empty any mess out when I walk past so it stays clean though. They empty them every few days I guess.

 

[NewFlockOnTheBlock]

Are your chickens sick?

I don't think they're sick, but now that it's gotten colder I do hear an occasional sneeze and don't want it to turn into something more serious. Our rooster went through a bad respiratory infection last winter that almost killed him and since then we often hear him breathe with a light wheezing sound, so it must have either turned chronic or permanently damaged his breathing somehow.

So the oregano tincture and the VetRx (sometimes I use both, sometimes only one of these) are just preventatives. I also usually slip a garlic clove sliced in half into their water.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

I don't think they're sick, but now that it's gotten colder I do hear an occasional sneeze and don't want it to turn into something more serious. Our rooster went through a bad respiratory infection last winter that almost killed him and since then we often hear him breathe with a light wheezing sound, so it must have either turned chronic or permanently damaged his breathing somehow.

So the oregano tincture and the VetRx (sometimes I use both, sometimes only one of these) are just preventatives. I also usually slip a garlic clove sliced in half into their water.

I see. Sounds like he may have Mycoplasma or some other chronic respiratory disease.
Hopefully the tincture and VetRx will help.

 

[NewFlockOnTheBlock]

Water is carried outside in gallon milk jugs and water containers are washed outside, even in winter - I just carry more jugs.

I admire you for lugging all that weight and washing the waterers outside even in winter! I'm actually a pretty small person and not very physically strong so even one filled gallon jug is a significant amount of weight for me to carry. Two is the most I can carry at one time and I try to avoid doing this because it really strains my back. So I'd be shuttling back and forth 4-6 times each time I wanted to change the water.

On top of that, typical temperatures around here in the winter are 10-20 degrees during the day, lower at night; not the kind of weather when I want to be doing much work outside, especially dealing with water!

I think I'll stick to washing and filling our waterers indoors in our utility sink; that way I can also use hot water on them and scrub them well. And, I'll just add a half gallon or so of water at a time and do daily changes.

 

[trudyg]

When it's pretty cold out, I carry water out to the drinker, dump out yesterday's water and pour in the fresh water. I do a thorough cleaning, in the house, once a week. Mine are 3 or 5 gallon buckets with horizontal nipples, up on milk crates. As long as they don't knock off the lid, the water stays clean. If the lid comes off then you can get bugs, etc, but still a daily change takes care of that. If it gets poop in it (rarely happens) then I wash right away to sanitize.