Natural Stream Watering?

[HH.Wench]

Im expanding my chicken yard out so it will now contain a natural stream. The stream is maybe 100 feet out from the coop.

Ive always used waterers, but im hoping to be able to use the stream only for their natural water source, and get rid of having to hand water.

Is this viable? Im assuming chickens will drink from shallow running water? Are pullets known for drowning easily? Anything im not thinking of?

Sorry for the naive questions. I've never seen anyone talk about chickens drinking from natural sources, so I have no idea if im missing something.

Edit to add image:

 

[nchls school]

Im expanding my chicken yard out so it will now contain a natural stream. The stream is maybe 100 feet out from the coop.

Ive always used waterers, but im hoping to be able to use the stream only for their natural water source, and get rid of having to hand water.

Is this viable? Im assuming chickens will drink from shallow running water? Are pullets known for drowning easily? Anything im not thinking of?

Sorry for the naive questions. I've never seen anyone talk about chickens drinking from natural sources, so I have no idea if im missing something.

As long as the stream is clean and unpolluted I believe it would be alright for any bird to drink from.

 

[EggSighted4Life]

I would just say beware of predators as many things visit streams.

Also maybe important to know what's going on upstream.. any neighbors using pesticides or herbicide type stuff?

Not sure.. but I have heard of someone's chickens (allegedly) having to be treated for giardia...

Seems like a good idea... curious about the reality.

 

[PirateGirl]

I don't know how fast/slow the water is moving in that area... perhaps digging out a small eddy on one side for them would help

 

[rosemarythyme]

I would just say beware of predators as many things visit streams.

This is a valid concern. I have everything from rats to bears that use the creek system as a wildlife highway.

I've never had a chicken fall into our creek but I also don't let them use it for water. We don't have a natural bank on our portion and the water moves deceptively fast in spots due to the shape of the riverbed and tree debris that has formed eddies so if they were to fall in it's possibly too steep for them to easily to get back out.

I am at least pretty confident our water is clean enough for them to safely drink (I wash my garden produce in it and also have irrigation rights), but the mental image of a chicken swirling away downstream means they won't ever get to try it.

 

[ShannonR]

I've lost chicks who tried drinking from the creek but not adult birds

 

[imnukensc]

I'd be real worried about making a highway straight to the chicken coop for raccoons. Raccoons love water. A neighbor about 200 yards or so away has a small creek running near his coop/run. He is in a constant battle with raccoons and no longer lets his flock out to free range.

 

[centrarchid]

I have done it many times. The streams can be highways for bad guys, but most of them come through at night. Does the stream support fish / crayfish?

 

[FlyWheel]

As long as the stream is clean and unpolluted I believe it would be alright for any bird to drink from.

Yeah, y'all are worried about whether the water is clean enough for the chickens to drink from, pollution and stuff that might be upstream, but have any of you given a thought about what is going to be downstream once that water has passed through the chicken pen?

Yes, chicken poop is biodegradable and great for the soil once it has been properly "processed", however that takes time and running the stream right through it fresh from your pen's floor is not going to be very healthy for that stream.

Just sayin.....

 

[ShannonR]

Yeah, y'all are worried about pollution and stuff that might be upstream, but none of you have given a thought about what is going to be downstream once that water has passed through the chicken pen, have you?

Yes, chicken poop is biodegradable and great for the soil once it has been properly "processed", however that takes time and running the stream right through it fresh from your pen's floor is not going to be very healthy for that stream.

Just sayin.....

Excellent post, thank you for mentioning that! It's something I worry about as well... the chickens do free range, but I have set the livestock pens several feet away from my own creek. I am sure there is still runoff to a point, but I don't let the cows mire about in the creek and poop in it or anything. It sure would be easier to let the animals water themselves, though!