Should I clean out the water and feeder everyday?

[brooky]

I'm very new to this.

We have three chickens right now on growers that are just a few weeks from laying. I've bought a book which says that I should be emptying and cleaning out the water daily and emptying the feeder too.

The problem is that the birds are not eating all the food I give them and as a result like today for example I haven't given them any more as there is lots left over?

What do you do?

Do you empty the feeder every night and put the same stuff back in the next day or throw it away? Is there any harm leaving the food out at night (hung up under the coop) away from the rain?

 

[Rooster Cogburn]

The food and water are just fine just as long as there isn't poop or a lot of dirt kicked up in it. Too many people spazz out about such things. Just use common sense and relax so you can enjoy your chickens.

 

[woodmort]

I don't know what book you're reading but I have had an average of two dozen chickens for over 25 years in that time I have never cleaned the feeders and only rinse out the waterers whenever I refill them--which often is every other day. Don't make things harder on yourself than they need to be--a little carry-over "dirt" helps the birds build and maintain immunity. The only thing I ever clean are the chick feeders/waterers which are rinsed out and stored between brooder batches from one year to the next.

 

[brooky]

Quote:
Thanks thats just what I thought really. They certainly seem happy and I think I've figured out which one is dominant. Interesting the other two seem to bicker a bit (nothing heavy) so maybe they are fighting for second in command.

We've only had them a few days but want two more eventually. I expect we should probably wait until around April until we introduce more.

I'll have a good read of the book tonight with a pinch of salt. Thanks again.

 

[Rooster Cogburn]

Books can be a great resource but sometimes the writers go overboard. They can try to create a perfect world scenario that would just exhaust the owners. This site can give you good real world help.

 

[Chickenaddict]

I refill the waterers everyday but only clean the feed dish when it needs refilling which is about once a week unless the feed has poop in it or somehow got wet then I just leave it be but the waterers I can't stand to go without changing once a day at least, 2-3 times a day if its really hot outside.

 

[woodmort]

Quote:
How often you change water depends on the number of birds, the size of the waterer, weather and if it gets dirty. I've got chickens that prefer to drink out of the grey water outflow if they get a chance so I don't think water quality is a biggie for them. I have 13 gallons available for my 45 birds--an 8 and a 5--which usually last 3 days in really hot dry weather before they need refilling. I have them up high enough so they don't kick shaving into the troughs and hang a lid off a cat litter pail over each one to keep them from roosting on and pooping in to them so the water stays relatively dirt free.

 

[Chickenaddict]

I have over 50 bantams here and 2 coops/runs Each run has 2 gallons and just 1 gallon in each coop. I also have 3 gallon pans around the yard all in which get debris of some sort in them. I have no choice but to change them everyday, If I could get by without and they stayed as clean as yours do then I would go every other day. The pans are out in the yard for when they are free ranging during the day and for stomping around in when its hot. I didn't say they should be changed everyday and I agree it all depends on the conditions, and amount of birds. For me this is what has to be done.

 

[Ridgerunner]

I let mine run out of food at least once a week, more often if the weather is damp. I want them to clean it all up. Food loses its nutrient/vitamin value after time plus I don't want it to get moldy in the feeders.

I rinse my waterers out whenever I refill them and wash them in a mild bleach solution when they start to turn green.

 

[brooky]

Quote:
Great advice thanks. They don't seem to be eating much at the moment but I think this is because there is grass and bugs and things in their run.