is it possible to keep water cups from getting slimy?

[mollygrace]

I made an automatic waterer with a 5 gallon bucket, short hose, pvc pipe, and a series of those red auto-replenishing cups stuck into the pipe. I'm pretty happy with it overall. However, the cups keep getting slimy along the inside. I'm in south central TX so it's quite hot for a lot of the year, which doesn't help with stuff growing in water cups of course. But it feels like I need to wipe them out every day or every other day, which IMO kinda defeats the point of having an automatic waterer. I don't want to have to mess with it every day.

I know I could switch to nipples, but I have a crossbeak pullet that is doing well overall, but I don't think she would be successful with a nipple waterer. I know a lot of people use these cups, so I'm curious what others do to keep them clean.

 

[talkinboutchickens]

Hi,
I use the gravity-waterers with my chicks and they do get slimy, I haven't found a way to keep them clean besides washing/rinsing them every time I replenish the water. You could try a wire brush, I haven't tried it with the plastic waterers but they work really well for scrubbing algae off the metal waterers

 

[HowIsItDone]

I made an automatic waterer with a 5 gallon bucket, short hose, pvc pipe, and a series of those red auto-replenishing cups stuck into the pipe. I'm pretty happy with it overall. However, the cups keep getting slimy along the inside. I'm in south central TX so it's quite hot for a lot of the year, which doesn't help with stuff growing in water cups of course. But it feels like I need to wipe them out every day or every other day, which IMO kinda defeats the point of having an automatic waterer. I don't want to have to mess with it every day.

I know I could switch to nipples, but I have a crossbeak pullet that is doing well overall, but I don't think she would be successful with a nipple waterer. I know a lot of people use these cups, so I'm curious what others do to keep them clean.

Could some apple cider vinegar in the water help with that?

 

[Sally PB]

ACV will probably help. I used kombucha in one of my waterers, and it made a big difference. Like ACV, it's acidic and keeps "stuff" from growing in the water.

Amount to add: Start out with a tablespoon or two per gallon.

 

[KimbosKluckers]

Same here. I use my fingers to wipe it daily lol and a turkey baster to get particles out. I only deep clean it once a week or so. I might try the acv, I’m always scared to try something new.

 

[CliftonR]

Could some apple cider vinegar in the water help with that?

It might help them in not wanting to drink. Chlorine is better at stopping slime(algae) than low a Ph.

 

[littlecoopnextdoor]

Mine also got slimy. I ended up trying out using a small trough made from a metal planter, and that has worked so far this summer.

 

[Eggs_Over_EZ]

I have been pushing out the water with my fingers and then use a sponge with a scrub pad to whip any slim or debris out. I have been looking for a baster to draw out the water but it is not a good time of year to try to find one. We will be adding ACV/Garlic mixture in the containers to hopefully slow down the grime. Living in Florida it will not eliminate it. We do like the cups though and so does our chickens.

 

[User635240]

I made an automatic waterer with a 5 gallon bucket, short hose, pvc pipe, and a series of those red auto-replenishing cups stuck into the pipe. I'm pretty happy with it overall. However, the cups keep getting slimy along the inside. I'm in south central TX so it's quite hot for a lot of the year, which doesn't help with stuff growing in water cups of course. But it feels like I need to wipe them out every day or every other day, which IMO kinda defeats the point of having an automatic waterer. I don't want to have to mess with it every day.

I know I could switch to nipples, but I have a crossbeak pullet that is doing well overall, but I don't think she would be successful with a nipple waterer. I know a lot of people use these cups, so I'm curious what others do to keep them clean.

A friend of mine with ducks recommended apple cider vinegar mixed into the water. Also keep the water container out of the sun.

 

[Eggs_Over_EZ]

Update - We ended up purchasing two turkey basters online. Works well as far as getting out water and dirt chickens cause from beaks and feet… yeah they think they can stand on them. LOL. I am going to purchase a round toilet brush as I believe it will do well at cleaning the cups of any slime. Our cups are in the covered run and out of sun. I believe in extremely hot areas it does not make a difference. I will be interested in seeing if it is not as bad in the winter here…what is that, 2 weeks here maybe.