Stinky waterers?

[spookyevilone]

Hiya.
I'm using the plastic quart jar with red plastic screw-on bottom for waterers. They've been fine until now, but when I went to clean them last night, oooooh my goodness, it REEKED!

It was enough to gag a maggot and even rinsing with hot water and scrubbing with soap didn't seem to help. I gave the birds regular bowl waterers for the evening and chucked all the quart jar bits into a tote of bleach water.

Is there anything I can add to keep it from doing this, or should I pitch the plastic tops and get actual Mason jars? Would that help? I want to get hanging pop bottle waterers but wanted to wait until I know how many I'm going to need after the babies fledge out. I see things about adding ACV to water but I thought that was just for health - anyone know if it helps with the smell?

I assume that the bacteria hadn't grown enough in the last few months to go stanky, and I clean the water dishes twice a week. I spray out the bottom red part every day but I think some sort of ick must have gotten up into the jar? I didn't see anything, but I wasn't really paying attention when I dumped the water out, until the smell hit and made me gag. Ugh.

-Spooky

 

[SundownWaterfowl]

Clean the waterer every 2-4 days with a bleach solution. You can add some apple cider viniger to the water to keep bacteria down.

 

[spookyevilone]

Quote:
Ok, I'll try that. I've been washing them with good old fashioned soap twice a week and throwing them all in the dishwasher on Sundays for super heat sterilization. Stupid bacteria! Gah!
-Spooky

 

[SundownWaterfowl]

Yeah, bleach works good. Just pour the solution in, let it set 5 min, and rinse.

 

[Country Guy John]

I agree, a bleach solution works really well.
Quote:

 

[crzychicken]

I use Bleach to wash every week I also have another waterer ready to go . I use Raw/organic Apple Cider Vinegar but the one with mother in it, That gives them alot of Vitamins and a boost and some say it keeps worms down if they have them, it's an organic way. I use the ACV 2x a month in their water 1 Tbs per qallon of water to keep the waterer fresh I would use less.
Here's somthing I found on it.
Apple Cider Vinegar.
There are many many reasons why it's beneficial.
For starters, it can provide the bird(s) with enzymes and important minerals, such as potassium, calcium, magnesium, sulfur, chlorine, phosphorus, iron, silicon and other trace minerals. Apple cider vinegar also contains bioflavonoids (vitamin P), beta-carotene (vitamin A), vitamin C,E,B1, B2 and B6. It also contains tannins, malic acid, tartaric acid, propionic acid, acetic acid and pectin.
It is a helpful aid for digestion, breaking down minerals, fat and proteins. And it acts as a tonic, inhibiting the growth of unfriendly bacteria in the digestive tract.

In addition, it will help prevent the growth of bacteria or fungal growth on fresh foods. So you can mist fresh fruits and vegetables with a water/apple cider vinegar mix. I also clean my cages with water and apple cider vinegar to prevent fungal growth and as a disinfectant.

Just know - it's a VERY minute amount you use. To the tune of about 1 *drop* of apple cider vinegar per quart (4 cups) of fresh drinking water.

 

[Splash_Guard]

I wash, sterilize w/bleach and CHANGE the water on a daily basis. That is, really, the only safe way. Provide fresh water daily. Mine get fresh vitamin water. Daily. It isn't too hard to do once you get into the habit.

crzy, what is the "mother" of which you speak that is in the ACV? I'm unfamiliar with that term. Does it mean "natural"?

 

[crzychicken]

the cloudy stuff that's on the bottom of organic ACV.
I agree, change the water as often as you can, every day is great and the safest. I don't always change it every day but ever 2 days for sure but I dump whats in the tray and wipe it out with paper towel and I always have the other one bleach and ready to be filled, so when I go out to collect eggs I bring the water out too.

 

[davidb]

Once a week add one tablespoon of Clorox to a gallon of water and put the solution in the waterer for the chickens it will keep it clean and it wont hurt the chickens