Rain water for chickens

[Dragonsaye]

I was wondering if anyone uses rainwater to hydrate their flock. When I was young my grandparents used a cistern which is collected rainwater and pumped to the coop and cattle trough. Has anyone had bad results recently? I am retired and trying to eliminate chemically enhanced food and have started square foot gardening and rabbits as well as a few chicks for eggs. My only concern is the air pollution since I live so close to a large city.(12 miles away) Of course the alternative is city water which has chemicals as well-- dang why does it have to be so complicated??))
I remember the taste of a fresh chicken egg and a fryer poppin on the skillet things don't taste the same now days.
Dragon

 

[Yorkshire Coop]

Hi

Glad you could join the flock! I'm afraid I don't use rain water for my flock so can't be of much help to you. My concern with using the rain water be how it would be stored. Would it go stagnent? How would you keep the water fresh and safe for your birds to drink? That's just some points that would come to mind for me with the storing aspect of it. You might like to drop by the feeding and watering your flock section of the forum for more help and possibly other members who do you use rain water. Here is the link ~ https://www.backyardchickens.com/f/12/feeding-amp-watering-your-flock

Wishing you the very best of luck. Enjoy BYC and all the chicken chat

 

[drumstick diva]

I to wonder. Are you collecting rain from the roof/gutters etc? That could have particles from roofing material?

 

[Kelsie2290]

Hello and Welcome To BYC! If you do a search there are quite a few threads for collecting rain water one way or another, ie https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/563342/video-of-my-rain-collecting-automatic-watering-system/0_20 and https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/281795/collecting-water-in-rain-barrels-ok-for-chickens/0_20 and

 

[BantamFan4Life]

Welcome to BYC! I'm glad you joined us!

 

[Dragonsaye]

didn't think about the particles but it is collected in a 50 gallon drum so the material should ink . I would have to bail it out and could filter it at that time through a mesh with aquarium filter floss. Thanks for all that are responding! I have been on some forums for other things and this is by far the nicest group of people. Huggs

 

[Dragonsaye]

I use most of the water to hydrate my gardens so it would be only sparingly at best, Just wondered if anyone else had tried it before? Thanks for the post!

 

[Dragonsaye]

Thanks for the links I am certain they are valuable. It is hard to remember so long ago, but I am up for the challenge.
Thanks for the post!

 

[Dragonsaye]

What a super idea thanks for the tip. Dragon