Rain Barrel Watering System

[Aban]

We have been looking for different watering methods since my beloved started building our new coop. We are planting an herb garden under parts for our lil chickens to munch on as they want. We are tring to make the new coop as self sufficiant as possible. Does anyone know if they can be watered from our rain barrel. They normally are not considered potable water due to mosquitos around here. I am concerned if people can not drink it without chemicals added will that be the same for the chickens? I have had suggestion on another thread for the horizontal nipples for watering. I have also heard the self watering cups were good. Still looking for input before purchase, I would love it if it could be used with our rain barrel too!!

 

[Nocila]

I don't know about the rain barrel, but if you want to use the nipple watering system, then you should train the chickens to use it when they are little. I tried to switch over to the nipple watering system once when my birds were full grown, and my chickens ended up drinking, at most, half the water they usually drank, so I quickly switched back to avoid dehydrating my birds. I've heard that you can get them to use the nipple watering system when they are little, but once they are older, it can be quite difficult...

 

[4 the Birds]

I don't know about the rain barrel, but if you want to use the nipple watering system, then you should train the chickens to use it when they are little. I tried to switch over to the nipple watering system once when my birds were full grown, and my chickens ended up drinking, at most, half the water they usually drank, so I quickly switched back to avoid dehydrating my birds. I've heard that you can get them to use the nipple watering system when they are little, but once they are older, it can be quite difficult...

Rain Barrels are great!! Easy and free access to water near the coop. Water that stands is the barrel too long can become stagnant and smelly I have found. I will occasionally add a very small amount of bleach to the barrel and flush it out. I also use a cover over the mesh top (not shown in the picture) to keep sunlight out and this keeps algae from forming in the barrel.

A nipple feed system would work well but not so much for me since the barrel water turns to ice in the winter (I use heated dispensers in the Winter)

 

[Aban]

do you use your rain barrel as an automatic waterer or do you fill watering cans with it? I have been looking at watering cups and watering nipples as a cleaner watering system and was tring to see which is better and if either could be used with a rain barrel. ( http://naturalchickenkeeping.blogspot.com/2013/01/comparison-of-poultry-cup-drinkers.html )

 

[Aban]

Nocila- I see how that could be difficult, have you ever tried the watering cups or heard anything about them? (http://naturalchickenkeeping.blogspot.com/2013/01/comparison-of-poultry-cup-drinkers.html ) I have read alot of different things on both, but you are the first to make the point about training them with the nipples...thank goodness too, cause it is always hot in Florida and I do not want to risk them not drinking enough and them getting dehydrated.

 

[tweber]

How do you control algae?

 

[Aban]

Tweber- 4 the birds said they add bleach to thiers. I have friends that do that to their rain barrels, but they dont use it for chickens. I have one that is dark dark black and we have never had algae in it. I am allergic to bleach. but I know they have all kinds of different things that can be added to rain barrels to make it potable. I was just worried about it not being natural or hurting the chickens. I suppose that 4 the birds hasnt had any problems with doing it that way though.

 

[Nocila]

I haven't used the watering cups, but they look like they should work. I've had a lot of success with the plastic water towers, so when the nipples didn't work, I just went back to the tower, not wanting to take any more risks with my hens.

 

[Aban]

I haven't used the watering cups, but they look like they should work. I've had a lot of success with the plastic water towers, so when the nipples didn't work, I just went back to the tower, not wanting to take any more risks with my hens.

right on thank you for sharing