rain barrell &goldfish

[ams3651]

when I looked up making a rain barrel in the past it was mentioned to put fine screening on top to keep out mosquitoes, does this not work or havent you tried it.

 

[GwenFarms]

The screen doesn't keep mosquitoes out. It keeps trash and debris out.

I wouldn't buy one built from craigslist, or whoe foods. They start at around $50 and go up to about $150. It's very easy to build one. You buy a barrel. You can buy one from $5 - $15. If you look around you'll find one. A faucet can be bought from Lowe's for $5 and a 0.50 pvc nipple. You cut the top off of your barrel, drill a hole at the bottom for the faucet, put some silicone around the whole, screw the nipple into the faucet through the hole. Let the silicone dry for 24 hours and your all done. Just set it under a gutter, we installed a big piece of found curved metal along the side of our coop. You'll want to cover the top with window screening to keep out leaves. It's not a hard project at all and anyone can do it.

ED: If you can't find rain barrels in your classifieds, or for sale by the road, like you can around here. You can buy them from soft drink plants. I'm sure there are other plants that sell them used, you just have to call around.

 

[southernsibe]

I am very interested in putting fish in the horses' water trough. I just wonder if they will spook the fish. I know that sounds strange but I was wondering if anyone has had any experiance with this?
thanks
Rachel

 

[SimplyAbundantFarm]

I've done this for years with sheep and goats and have had great success. I usually get a goldfish and also an algae eating type of fish (I don't know their names but the ugly ones that hang on the sides with their sticky mouths). They do a great job of keeping the tank clean. They grow huge, too...so you'll want to make sure you have a plan for when the weather turns cold, depending on where you are located.

 

[GwenFarms]

Quote:
If you have a particularly skittish horse it would probably do that stop and snort thing, but I don't think one would spook through the fence, or anything.

 

[silkiechicken]

I haven't had horses with fish, but I find once the fish learn that certain large animals are not there to eat them, they don't mind. My fish and turtles can recognize me and don't go diving from rocks or hiding under them when I show up, but if someone else does, they often go hide.

 

[Meesh]

I wouldn't use it for chicken water, only for the garden.

This is odd to me & shows how we have removed ourselves from nature. Healthy live water sources often contain a whole host of aquatic life.

I love the idea of fish in the rainbarrel because it will benefit the garden, and I won't be afraid if my dogs or chickens drink it.

Cheers,
Michelle​

 

[GwenFarms]

Quote:
This is odd to me & shows how we have removed ourselves from nature. Healthy live water sources often contain a whole host of aquatic life.

I love the idea of fish in the rainbarrel because it will benefit the garden, and I won't be afraid if my dogs or chickens drink it.

Cheers,
Michelle

I think PC meant not to feed it to chickens only if I added chlorine bleach to it as he was suggesting. I think he would agree it's okay to feed it to the chickens without that.

I love having the fish in there too.

 

[KingsCalls]

We've had a rain barrel / gold fish barrel for 3 years and have never had to feed the fish or worry about the heat(it's shaded after about 1 pm). In the winter we knock a hole in the ice and that's all we have ever had to do to ours. They sure do wipe out the larvee.

 

[Wolf-Kim]

Quote:
I do it with my horse trough. The horses spook the fish enough for the fish to get out of the way. LOL The horses don't mind the fish in their water.

I have had great success with mine. I use minnows so it can also make them harder to see. I figured minnows were more apt to eat the mosquito larvae than goldfish.

-Kim