rain vs tap water

[PirateGirl]

You said tap water but didn't say if you had city water or we'll water.

I'd think well water would be best because it is rain water with many contaminants naturally filtered out.

 

[Birdinhand]

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.

I'm not trying to be judgy about it, it's shades of gray and we all have to make the choices that makes sense for our individual situation. a small tarp is probably better than a big asphalt shingle covered roof. as for the fermentation process, those are bacteria, unless you are using the rain water to start the ferment then there is likely a big difference. on our roof here, there are a lot of birds that leave their droppings, so all the eggs from parasites from the wild population would potentially go straight to the chickens if I gave the water to them without some treatment. as for your well water, unless it's fed by a stream, it is filtered through the ground.

all that said, chickens (and humans for that matter) are quite robust usually and depending on an individuals tolerance, a certain background rate of bacterial or parasitic infection may be something they can adjust to and that a given keeper finds acceptable. For me I have studied about all those worst case scenarios so I'm more apt to stay on the side of caution when it's reasonably convenient... like adding a 15W UV bulb in line with my watering system, I have electricity to the coop so its an easy and a relatively cheap thing to do. if it were inconvenient and I wasn't having any issues, I'd be more apt to skip it.

 

[ChristineMac]

Hello
Where I live, we have super hard water. The only trouble I've ever had with it was with my sheep, rams in particular and it caused bladder stones, or crystals when they had tap water. Relatively easy to fix in the grand scheme of things but devastating when it happened. I don't know if chickens have the same problem with stones. I would suggest getting your water tested to know for sure. Perhaps a water softener is a possible solution or collecting your rainwater off the roof of your coop.

 

[Fairview01]

My flock doesn't seem to really be happy with water quality until a few have pooed in it. I dont think chickens like clean water. I've seen my flock when I turn them out for free range rush and jostle each other just to drink out of hot shrinking stagnant 3 day old puddle of water in drive than drink the clean fresh water I just gave them.

Sometimes I think a few of them would try to drink the used motor oil from my F250 if they had the opportunity. Chickens have very low standards.

 

[centrarchid]

I currently use two water sources that vary in importance with season and weather. During spring and fall when water needs low use water from cistern collecting water from roof of barn. The cistern water supports fish and Gray Tree Frog reproduction so has critters in it. When rainfall limiting or temperatures are low I use chlorinated municipal water (from the grid). Additionally, my free-range birds have access to a couple small pond and a stream.

In the past we extensively used well-water. The municipal and well water supplies are very similar with respect to hardness and alkalinity.

Some of the cistern water is very soft while that in another containers is hardened and sweetened by contact with limestone.

I have not seen any health issues I would attribute to water supply.

 

[ChristineMac]

Are you using tap water? maybe they don't like the smell because of chlorine or whatever your water supplier puts in it?

 

[ChristineMac]

I would try maybe if you don't have the facilities to let the water sit for 24 hours to de-chlorinate, why not try adding a bit of garlic to your water so they get the health benefits from that and it masks the smell of the water.

 

[1983Dan]

The response has been brilliant. The way you all look out for your birds, is truly wonderful. I thank rack and everyone of you for your views.

 

[SuburbGrower]

A couple of months ago I started giving my chooks tap water because their drinker developed algae in the rainwater. Shortly afterwards they went off lay. After a couple of months I switched back to rainwater and two weeks later they are laying again. Coincidence? Perhaps. I'll have to put them back on tap water to see what happens.