Rain Barrel waterer

[Ghosty]

Fresh rain water is fine, but I don't like them drinking it from the gutters on the house. I wouldn't use long term barreled water for drinking, but that's my preference. I don't agree that rainwater is always pure, however. Look at the state of our environment.

 

[Chickenaddition]

You do not need to filter the water, but it's good to dump it if it gets nasty. Animals don't have the problems humans do with drinking water. Most chickens will choose that nasty looking puddle water over fresh. Perhaps it tastes better.

Animals do a lot of things we don't / won't do. Many of those reasons are because we know the risks involved. My thoughts on being a steward of an animal is that I think about the risks more than they do. Again just my thoughts.

 

[msmeg26]

Absolutely nothing wrong with using rain water. It is essentially distilled water---the same you would buy in the grocery store. To answer the OP, I would probably filter it before it goes in the catchment. Collecting in darkened vessels with covers will help alleviate any algae growth. Lots of videos out there on catchment systems and filters. Here's a pretty good one showing a prefilter system.

Thanks for this. I am considering filtering before hand provided the filter could keep up with the influx of water. We get some major downpours in the summer so I wouldnt want to loose potential water because it cannot get thru the filter fast enough... all things to consider!!

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

Animals do a lot of things we don't / won't do. Many of those reasons are because we know the risks involved. My thoughts on being a steward of an animal is that I think about the risks more than they do. Again just my thoughts.

And I believe in keeping animals in as natural of a way as possible. OP wanted to know people's experiences with rain water. I've been using rain water for 20 plus years now. My well water requires lots of filtration, and also goes through a softener. People would say I can't use that too but I have and I don't have any problems.

The good thing about chickens is everyone can do things differently and it's okay.

 

[Chickenaddition]

And I believe in keeping animals in as natural of a way as possible. OP wanted to know people's experiences with rain water. I've been using rain water for 20 plus years now. My well water requires lots of filtration, and also goes through a softener. People would say I can't use that too but I have and I don't have any problems.

The good thing about chickens is everyone can do things differently and it's okay.

I agree on that point. I don't knock what people think or do. I just give what I think and do as either support or counterpoint. I take no offense to how anyone decides to go about life, unless it's to hurt others... that I do take offense and change how I handle.

if I was coming down as totalitarian I apologize.

 

[Ghosty]

I agree on that point. I don't knock what people think or do. I just give what I think and do as either support or counterpoint. I take no offense to how anyone decides to go about life, unless it's to hurt others... that I do take offense and change how I handle.

if I was coming down as totalitarian I apologize.

Same. I'm sure there are some great, clean systems out there and I respect your animal husbandry. Just voicing our opinions, same as anyone. I prefer to not use water runoff as we have a lot of wild birds around, several other bird flocks, oaks shedding fungus, cedar needles, etc. I discourage them drinking the runoff from the house, and I am running the gutters out to the woods soon. I don't doubt others do what they think best for their birds and are right. We are a limestone thick area and it acts as a natural filter, and that's where I prefer my water from.

 

[MissChick@dee]

We use rain water all summer for my bantams and turkeys. We originally used a wooden rain barrel which we dumped occasionally. We bought a covered plastic rain barrel a few years ago with a screen top so bugs can't get in it and it's much better.

You do not need to filter the water, but it's good to dump it if it gets nasty. Animals don't have the problems humans do with drinking water. Most chickens will choose that nasty looking puddle water over fresh. Perhaps it tastes better.

Isn’t that the truth...I dump my waterers onto the ground the chicken’s act like its something special!

 

[Shadowfire]

i suppose if a person neglects there system anything is possible. I very much doubt that a person who is concerned about stagnancy, algae growth, and filtration will let there rain barrel get to that state.. I live in a tiny house in the ozarks, i regularly uses rain water for everything and we are all thriving.

There is much less potential harm from pollution in the Ozarks.

 

[Melky]

Would it be necessary to have the rain barrel water filtering or constantly moving to avoid being stagnant and algae growth??

Just need a small debris filter to block debris from getting in the barrel. Usually pre-made barrels come with it. If you make your own, you need one. Mine has it already installed with spigots. Have to wait till freezing weather over to use though. I was not planning on chlorination or mixing ACV in the water and trying without anything first.

 

[Ghosty]

I am in the Missouri side of the Ozarks. Nothing is like it was even 20 years ago. The native plants and flowers have disappeared. The rivers have filled up with gravel. I could go on and on but really it just depresses me.