Rain water for chickens?

[DimondaleBergs]

Rainwater is far cleaner than our well water! My rain barrel has window mesh on the top opening to keep out "skeeters" and debris.

My husband and I are looking to put rain barrels up this summer too...how big are the holes on the mesh that you use? Is it like screen for windows? Thanks

 

[DimondaleBergs]

we use rain water for all of our animals. we have a large rain barrel that the rabbits and dogs are watered out of and a trough for the chickens, one for the sheep, and one for the horse. to keep mosquito larvae out of them we use goldfish. just go to the nearest pet store and buy the cheap feeder fish. you can get a dozen for like 2 dollars around here. put a few in each and they will take care of the mosquitos. and if they die they are cheap to replace.

What a great idea! Kind of like aquaponics

We live in Michigan so might have to find a way to house any leftover fish over the winter...

 

[nitsua]

we use rain water for all of our animals. we have a large rain barrel that the rabbits and dogs are watered out of and a trough for the chickens, one for the sheep, and one for the horse. to keep mosquito larvae out of them we use goldfish. just go to the nearest pet store and buy the cheap feeder fish. you can get a dozen for like 2 dollars around here. put a few in each and they will take care of the mosquitos. and if they die they are cheap to replace.

how long have you done this gold fish thing?

 

[bloonskiller911]

Quote:
YEARS!! LOL it really does help and I don't think it is expensive, just to by the little feeder fish. Yes some die but most live and they love eating mosquito larvea.

 

[txnative]

Goldfish work well here, too, until a heron spots them. But they are cheap, so easy to replace.