Question about fresh water

[lalyswishytail]

I have a three gallon waterer for six chickens. It's the kind that works on a vaccuum seal. Should I fill it to the top and wait for it to get low before I change out the water, or should I fill it at a lower level and refill it daily? I clean out the poop and the pine shavings everyday.

 

[enola]

Their water needs to be changed and the waterer washed out at least once a day, especially when it is really hot outside.

 

[lalyswishytail]

When you say "washed," do you mean washing like you do your dishes, or do you mean swirl around whatever water is left, dump it out and refil with new water? Could you also explain why? I was thinking about birds and the water they drink from puddles or dirty bird baths--definately not filtered tap water like my chickens get. Thanks.

 

[HennysMom]

Quote:
Rule of thumb I use for all of my pets: If its dirty - I clean it out. I dont let my chickens (or cat or dog when he was alive) drink out of anything that I wouldnt want to drink out of myself.

No nasty poopy/dirty water

 

[willheveland]

I clean and refill mine everyday in the summer to every other in colder times.I keep a spray bottle with bleach handy and give it a few squirts and wipe the waterer out with those sponges with the scrubber on the back of it.I refill with fresh water and 1 tbls of ACV per gallon of water.(only plastic waterers with ACV, metal will rot away) Will

 

[rooster0209]

I rinse mine out and refill when they get low. If the tray is nasty and the tank is full, I rinse out the tray.

In the summer, this probably happens every other day. I also have a trough by the hydrant where the cats drink. It gets refilled almost daily cause the chickens use it too.

 

[Glenda L Heywood]

I would only fill it to 1/2 full daily and add 2 tbsp of apple cider vinegar to help them digest their calcium and vit D
but also to keep the scum off the water
and do this daily by rinsing the whole waterer with fresh water and then put in amount you will need for the day

 

[azelgin]

I got dog and cat that drink out of the toilet. The chickens run from their pen, leaving their fresh, clean waterers in favor of the mud puddles around the fruit trees.