How to prevent water from turning yellow

[diamondie]

How do I prevent water from growing algae? We have a water cooler as we cannot hook up fresh water. We live in a warm climate and the cooler turns yellow very quickly. I read some posts where it said to add apple cider vinegar so I added a few splashes which seems to help but doesn't get rid of the problem. Any tips?

 

[Weeg]

Are you throughly cleaning the waterer between each filling? I would scrub every bit of algae off (I find a pressure washer works wonders for those gallon waterers that you can get your hand inside easily) then fill with water and Apple Cider Vinegar. Place it in a shady area away from sun.

 

[diamondie]

Are you throughly cleaning the waterer between each filling? I would scrub every bit of algae off (I find a pressure washer works wonders for those gallon waterers that you can get your hand inside easily) then fill with water and Apple Cider Vinegar. Place it in a shady area away from sun.

How much vinegar would you use for a 5 gallon container?

 

[Weeg]

How much vinegar would you use for a 5 gallon container?

In the past I've done about 1 tbsp per gallon.

 

[3KillerBs]

I can't prevent it so I scrub it out regularly.

Putting the water in the shade helps.

I don't like the idea of using vinegar. Water that's acid enough to deter algae doesn't sound very palatable to me.

 

[Acre4Me]

Clean it out. Anytime you offer water with additives (including vinegar or ACV) you need to offer plain water. In my experience, my birds have drank less water when it was acidified lightly. We bought extra waters so we could switch them out, clean and allow to fully dry the others. If you are in a hit climate, freeze blocks if water, put them into trays to melt. Chickens will walk through the cold water to help cool down and drink the water too. Always put in shade or behind something that will shade it. We often put an old piece of OSB board leaned up against the wall so that it fully shades the waterer. We also grow fast growing/big leaf gourds (birdhouse gourds sold by Burpee in the regular stores work well) on the south fence of the run- excellent shade.

 

[raingarden]

I've always wondered if algae growing in the water container could do anything harmful. Sometimes algae are used to help purify water. If nothing else, it produces oxygen so there are no anaerobic processes going on. If you could somehow collect and concentrate the stuff the chickens would like to eat it.

But, I draw the line at anything that looks pinkish in the water or attached to the sides because that indicates the presence of Pseudomonas.

 

[Alagirl]

I've always wondered if algae growing in the water container could do anything harmful. Sometimes algae are used to help purify water. If nothing else, it produces oxygen so there are no anaerobic processes going on. If you could somehow collect and concentrate the stuff the chickens would like to eat it.

But, I draw the line at anything that looks pinkish in the water or attached to the sides because that indicates the presence of Pseudomonas.

not all algae are created equal though.

 

[NorthwoodsChick]

I don’t have issues with slime but I am on a well with High iron content. Water left sitting exposed to oxygen will oxidize and turn yellow to orange-ish.
My DH made a 2 stage filtration system (10 micron sediment filter then 1micron filter) and installed directly after the pressure tank for whole system filtration. Problem solved for high iron, and 1 micron filter gets possible bacteria without affecting flow rate. We test our well annually, too. We change filter #1 every 3-4 months depending on use and the second filter every 6-8 months. There is still dissolved iron which is, IMO, beneficial from health perspective, but not enough to rapidly develop iron oxide discoloration. I do have to go around guest bathrooms and flush the toilet twice a month bc not used but that’s just me. If my adult kids came home more often that would help .

 

[U_Stormcrow]

Adding ACV merely selects for algae that prefer more acidic environments. Best bets are to prevent UV exposure (shaded, darkly colored water containers, or thick white paint) and a disinfectant - i.e small dose chlorine bleach). Be aware that will select for algea which can tolerate small amounts of chlorine, which will then remain in imperfections in the waterer and from there, colonize fresh water supplies - so clean very thoroughly.

and sanitation is an exercise in persistance. There is no permanent fix.

Fortunately, as unsightl as it is to you, its almost certainly not harmful to your birds.