Spring fed Well Water...good or bad?

[Tlco]

Hello all. We have well water from an underground aquifer. The water to our home runs through a filtration system but all the water outside does not run through that system. I have noticed what looks like rust build up in the chicken water. I wash them out weekly to remove the build up from the waters.Will this water hurt them? I have noticed a slack in egg laying only 2 a day verses the 5 a day we had been getting. I have 5 six month olds that had been laying and 2 five month old that haven't started laying yet. 2 nd question is when does molting start? I am seeing a lot of feathers in the run and house. TIA for your help.

 

[Hobbits Mommie]

I'm in central Florida, and also have an aquifer fed well, and yes, I experience the same build up as you do. I don't think it's harmful, but I do wash the waterers weekly with soap, and bleach. If your chickens are molting (and as far as I can tell, there's no particular season for it), their egg production will reduce, or even stop.