rain vs tap water

[1983Dan]

I am wanting to give my chickens the most natural healthy life as possible. The one thing I am wondering is my water supply. I have been giving them tap water. The area I live in is a hard water, would this over time be a problem to my flock.

So I ask the question rain water over tap water and why..

 

[Lauren Kim]

I would feed your chickens tap water because if you want the cleanest and healthiest water possible, you don't want to give them rain water because rain is dirtied by air pollution. If you have a filter, that is even better.

 

[1983Dan]

that's what I thought. Was thinking about DE chlorinating water before hand would ths make a difference?

 

[Birdinhand]

I give chlorinated water even though I have rain cisterns. I may switch to rain water in the future but not before I add a UV sterilizer. the bird droppings and leaves and algae etc that grows on my roof would be hazardous to their health without some sort of treatment.

 

[lazy gardener]

I'm in agreement. You also need to look at the source of that rainwater. Asphalt shingles? That could be an issue. Then, there is the bacterial contamination. If I used rain water, I would first pass it through a particle and biological filter. These can be made from readily available PVC fittings, a 5 gal bucket, and some sand, hay, and charcoal. You would have to do a google search for the how to. My son took supplies on a mission trip to South America to make filtration systems for families. These systems were used to provide clean water instead of the families relying on contaminated water from rivers and streams.

Bottom line: if you use your well water for your own drinking and cooking, then your animals can drink it. My water is not the best. High Manganese and Iron. Also a bit on the hard side. For the most part, we buy our drinking water, but the animals drink it, as do I on occasion.

 

[RonP]

My flock waterer has filtered well water.
My birds prefer muddy rain puddles whenever available.
I try not to worry about it...

 

[Birdinhand]

agreed, our roof is metal, with screened gutters. it's all been put together with the idea of collecting the water and we are just a few short steps away from having potable water. a bio-sand filter is what you are talking about and I agree it's a good idea, something I've been considering and definitely would if I had asphalt shingles. it's good for folks to remember that runoff from your roof is not the same as rainwater, likely even more contaminated than a puddle because of the large surface area that it travels and the time it sits and grows stuff. well water on the other hand has gone through the earths giant bio-sand filter and tends to be very good in comparison.

I'm in agreement. You also need to look at the source of that rainwater. Asphalt shingles? That could be an issue. Then, there is the bacterial contamination. If I used rain water, I would first pass it through a particle and biological filter. These can be made from readily available PVC fittings, a 5 gal bucket, and some sand, hay, and charcoal. You would have to do a google search for the how to. My son took supplies on a mission trip to South America to make filtration systems for families. These systems were used to provide clean water instead of the families relying on contaminated water from rivers and streams.

Bottom line: if you use your well water for your own drinking and cooking, then your animals can drink it. My water is not the best. High Manganese and Iron. Also a bit on the hard side. For the most part, we buy our drinking water, but the animals drink it, as do I on occasion.

 

[FlyWheel]

I give mine rain water runoff from the tarp covering their pen because it is at least three hundred feet from the nearest spigot. As I'm on a well, what comes out of the pipes is pretty much what falls on the ground anyway. As far as the bacteria that's in the rain water, it's the same bacteria that ferment's their feed.

 

[RodNTN]

I give my chickens tap (as we drink). But as @RonP said, my chickens also prefer to drink out of mud puddles But they have been fine so as Ron said I try not to worry about it.

I love my chickens to death but they're just animals.

 

[lazy gardener]

I give mine rain water runoff from the tarp covering their pen because it is at least three hundred feet from the nearest spigot. As I'm on a well, what comes out of the pipes is pretty much what falls on the ground anyway. As far as the bacteria that's in the rain water, it's the same bacteria that ferment's their feed.

Not so. Well or treated town water is pathogen free. Well water is in a closed system, and is collected from deep underground aquifers that have been filtered through many feet of soil/sand/shale/stone. And town water is treated to kill all pathogens.

My FF is not populated with Cocci, Marek's dx., and any other pathogen that might be shed by birds flying by and pooping or even perching on my roof for a spell. While rain water is populated by some of the airborne bacteria and fungi that populate the FF, it is an erroneous assumption that the pathogens that might be found in run off from a roof rain water collection system would be in the FF.