Obsessing over clean water/feeder containers?

Our chickens have a five gallon waterer, set on an upside down rubber horse feeder. It stays pretty clean, ecxept for what comes off their beaks from pecking around the ground. It gets cleaned every week and refilled.
 
I have my waterer up on a concrete block and change it twice a day just because I am super picky about it. I bleach them once a week again it's an OCD thing for me. Their feeders we made out of a 5 gallon bucket, you can hang them but the base is a large galvenized steel feed pan that is pretty deep thus keeping out all the debris.
 
I have avian water misers that I got advertised here on this site - At first I was not really impressed with my purchase until I used it and I love it! I ordered more. They do keep the water clean and are easy to fill, I have inverted waterers too but they are always dirty and the chickens can care less.

As for feeders, There are many things you can use

my husband made this for our birds and so far it is working really well - the blue thingy is to prevent rain from getting into the feeder - It was made from a big bin we had laying around.
34919_falcon_feb2010_053.jpg



The feeder is made from 4" pvc pipe.
Caroline
 
Last edited:
I have read the 10 commandments and i think they are great but slightly over the top in certain areas. No i would not drink the water my chickens drink but then neither do i eat worms, beetles, slugs, snails, flowers or dig through soil to dust myself off. I agree, no green water for them and if i see poop in the waterer i empty it!

Whatever happens to wild chickens? they drink whatever they find when they are thirsty, chickens are very tough, much tougher than i think most of us give them credit for. I wouldn't drink from a puddle but i reguarly this winter have witnessed my chickens drinking from my water logged grass!

As for the metal feeder getting tipped over, i drilled 2 holes in the bottom and attached it to a 1x2 ft piece of wood, then i got fed up of them kicking anything and everything into it and pooping in it i made my own feeder out of a 5 gl bucket and some old 4 inch piping i had. I am now going to steal the idea of the guttering that i saw above, that is a brilliant idea!
 
Quote:
Let me refer you to Speckledhen's Ten Commandments of Good Flock Management.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=129278&p=1

3) Provide fresh water, daily. Would you take a sip out of the waterer? If not, clean it.


Pretty sage advice, and I have a copy of her rules printed out and hanging on my bulletin board in my office.

wink.png


yes, good advice but I am cleaning everything everyday and felt as if that wasn't enough. Thanks everyone, I feel that I can relax more and enjoy the flock!
Naomi
 

New posts New threads Active threads

Back
Top Bottom