My Flock of Pet Chickens — Dead. Can Self-Waterers Poison Water?

[vermontgal]

You could call your local extension service to see if there is something up with that waterer. They might be able to test it? If it was something in the manufacturing, that should be figured out so others don't have the same problem. I would also report the problem to the feed store you bought it from and see if they have any other customers with the same problem. If so, perhaps there should be a recall on that lot.

When you get a new waterer, scrub it well and periodically disinfect it.

A large waterer should be OK for a couple days at a time, but I would have someone check on chickens at least every other day.

Also note that if you've indeed had botulism, it looks like it may exist on your property for sometime - so keep that in mind for any future chickens. I didn't research extensively, but this looks like it could be a concern.

 

[htollvr]

Please tell me more about the local extension service. Where do you locate one? I actually live near Penn State, which is an agricultural college, so I have lots of resources available to me. I just don't know where to start.

 

[jtotherow]

I'm so sorry this happened to you!!

I have the 5 gallon too but Mine had to washed every 5 days because of red and green algea that produce a rotten smell. I was told that the red algea could kill them and that it was that dangerous.

When washed I always use beach and dishwashing liquid. Would put it in the coop as a back up. I work shift work and Have to depend on my husband who is not the best at remembering to water them.

I know that I couldn't leave that water in that 5 gallon for more than 5 days. I gave it up and went back to 1 gallon waterers and just recent when to an automatic watering system.

My only problem is that They don't drink enough to stop the green algea from growing and we are still washing them every week.

 

[dlhunicorn]

What is your water source (well water/tap >is it the same water you and your family drink)
Great idea on calling the ag university (might have to dig around a bit to find the right dept) or extension service... I would also check with the consumer organization to see if there have been any other reports such as yours registered with them for this or similar product (thinking of all the problems with chinese manufacturers and plastic products)

 

[Akane]

Chicken waterers stink! Chicken poo in water is one of the worst smells ever. Even when I change the chick waterer in the brooder multiple times daily and alternate waterers with one soaking with vinegar in between times I can hardly stand the smell of the shavings and poo I clean out of the waterer. Even a small amount of poop or some slightly poo covered shavings can make an exceedingly stinky waterer. If your chickens can get anything in the water you'll want to clean it much more often. Most prefer to just empty waterers and refill daily. Sometimes I'll leave mine a few days especially if I'm on vacation but then it's best to let it soak and dry before refilling.

I would leave the waterer sit dry for a day. Then I would fill it with vinegar which since it's a large waterer you can dilute but I wouldn't go less than 1/4th vinegar in the mix. Vinegar is cheap and nontoxic to animals or humans. Leave it sit for a day or 2. Dump. Rinse. Fill with fresh water. There should be nothing left in the waterer at this point and all algae and bacteria killed. See if it smells the next day. If it does I would throw it or return it to the feed store and tell them the trouble because there's definitely something wrong. If it doesn't leave it for a few more days and see. If it takes more than a few days to develop a smell I'd bet it's more something getting in the water or something already in the water rather than the waterer itself. You can repeat the test with another container of water to see if that also goes bad.

 

[Renee']

My waterer (same style as yours) is 7 months old and recently it started stinking to high heaven. I change the water every day and go so far to bring it in the house every night and scrub it with a bottle brush and dish soap. If that was the only water offered to me I would die. Fortunatley I have two other waterers so they drink till it stinks (it's their favorite) and then they move to the other two waterers.

Like you, I can't figure out the source of the stench and I am certain that it is not poison.

There is a reason that everyone on here suggests changing the water daily!

 

[Sillystunt]

that is soo sad! I am so sorry

Maybe penn state ag could research on your chickens to see cause of death

I have one of those and have never had a problem. I would hate to think someone poisoned your chickens! Did you use any chemicals latley on the yard? Do your neighbors dislike your chickens? Any rat traps?

Gosh, i m so

for you and your family

 

[G Wiz Ranch]

+1 on getting the water itself checked. I have 5 waterers like you described and I use ACV to help prevent the algae. I also clean them with bleach (I use the pool kind and water) every so often as needed (at least once a month). I don't know your situation, but I would have the water checked from the hose or spigot that you used for the chickens. It is possible that you have some kind of contamination in the water itself. I had a neighbor that always left the end of his garden hose in his duck pond, the water has a way of getting back into the source and it contaminated his drinking water in the house. He did not have a "check" valve installed anywhere on his property. We have check valves at ALL of our spigots.

Another thing I would do is fill the waterer with a lot of bleach and water and let it set for a day or two, scrub it really good and rinse it with a lot of water, then fill it with water again and put it in the shade and in a place that nothing can get to it. Check it daily for smell, and see what happens. I would also fill some other container, maybe just a clean soda bottle, with the same water source. This will tell you if it is the container or the water.

If it is not the water, it could me the feed. If you had a lot of rain, is it possible the food got mouldy?

Good Luck

 

[DianeB]

I am so sorry about your chickens.

It could be your water supply and not your waterer. We had some fish that died years back from some bad tap water. The water was changed the same day that a whole bunch of chemicals were put into our water supply to 'clean it'.

Call up your water board and ask for a water report. (They have to give this to you bi-annually by law.) Also, see if they had treated the water that day. Talk to your neighbors and see if they have had similar problems.

DB

P.S. Don't feel like a bad pet owner. Somethings happen that are beyond control.

 

[Akane]

I wouldn't think treating the city water supply would affect chickens. It affects fish because ammonia can be released or the level of chlorine can go up. Also when the city changes it's water source from one to another the fish can die even if the water is just fine. Fish do not handle changes. They aren't drinking the water... They are living in it. Any changes in ph or hardness impacts their entire body and they need time to adjust to it. Most nonaquatic critters won't even notice and if they do it will simply be a change in taste so they'll avoid the water for a day or 2 before drinking it again but suffer no real harm aside from risk of dehydration.