Washingtonians

[chickenjane82]

It's mostly because when you have many birds drinking from the same fount, they are dipping their beaks in and immediately contaminating the water; disease spreads rapidly if there isn't something strong to kill off the germies. It also gets in the birds and can act as a medicine or preventative of sorts for long term care. I got all this info from ChickieLady. If you PM me your e-mail address I'm happy to send you the issue she sent me of a poultry mag with some tips for maintaining a flock by Dr. Everett here in WA; his solution is MUCH stronger than the one she uses and told me to use and I've been doing something in between; I think his solution is a full Tbsp of bleach per gallon of drinking water if they're well birds, and 2Tbsp or an ounce per gallon if they're sick, to manage the illness. At first I thought it was crazy talk but the more I realize how it is helping my birds from getting sicker or spreading things around, I have kept it up. The doc who wrote about the bleach solution is also here on BYC by the username 'Saladin'

Ive only been raising chickens for about 4 years, (more serious in the last 2) which is probably nothing in comparison to some on here, but Ive only had a very few problems (lucky maybe?). I just thought it sounded excessive and was curious the reasoning behind it since Ive seen it brought up a few times.
Not saying that anyone else shouldNT do it. Id just rather not.

 

[lovinchickypoos]

Nursing a very bad migraine. All day. Ugh! Finally eased off enough to peek on here. Don't know how long that will last though.

Hope you feel better now. I was plagued with those suckers for years and NOTHING worked to relieve them. I finally stopped taking birth control pills and they lessened with that. Haven't had a real migraine since I had a hysterectomy almost 2yrs ago!!! I still have headaches but not like that!! I really hope you have or soon find a way to relieve yours!

 

[Chubby Chicken]

Ive only been raising chickens for about 4 years, (more serious in the last 2) which is probably nothing in comparison to some on here, but Ive only had a very few problems (lucky maybe?). I just thought it sounded excessive and was curious the reasoning behind it since Ive seen it brought up a few times.
Not saying that anyone else shouldNT do it. Id just rather not.

Um, chlorine causes cancer. I choose to wash the water bucket.

 

[Totalcolour]

Um, chlorine causes cancer. I choose to wash the water bucket.

Every time I turn around they are adding more things that cause cancer to the list. Even the air some of us breathe. So, eventually, EVERYTHING will cause cancer.

 

[Flaming Chicken]

One of my cream legbar roosters is turning out to be rather aggressive. I have him listed on craigslist now for $1.00. If anyone wants him, please PM me.

 

[BerrytangleFarm]

Yes! Easy, peasy! LOVE it! Makes our life SO much easier. My husband rigged a bucket with a washing machine hose that connects to a PVC pipe. The nipple are attached to the pipe about the bird's head height. They're funny. They have 2, but they all stand around to use 1.

I have 3 more that came with the package we bought. I plan to add 1 nipple to the chicken tractor and 2 to the Silkie coop.

We have the nipple system in the two coops, and plan to add it to the tractors we're building. They'll be A-frames with a run underneath, probably 8x10. How do you plan to put them in the tractors?

 

[BerrytangleFarm]

It's attached to a food-grade bucket that is sitting high on a shelf. I repurposed an old cake decorating icing bucket from Albertsons. So, I do have to fill it, and clean the bucket out from dust that falls on top, but I'm not dealing with poopy water any more!

I thought it was rather ironic that we chose to use an old kitty litter bucket

 

[Chicken Rustler]

Quote: Everything can be shown to "cause cancer" IF it is researched far enough ! ! ! It's just that some are much worse than others. Also unless you are on your own private water system there is chlorine in your water too.

 

[Chubby Chicken]

Everything can be shown to "cause cancer" IF it is researched far enough ! ! ! It's just that some are much worse than others.

I agree, orange oil could also be said to cause cancer, but I would consider bleach toxic, since if you take a swig, you're going to the ER. If you take a swig of ACV, nothing much will happen to you.

 

[SweetSilver]

Ive only been raising chickens for about 4 years, (more serious in the last 2) which is probably nothing in comparison to some on here, but Ive only had a very few problems (lucky maybe?). I just thought it sounded excessive and was curious the reasoning behind it since Ive seen it brought up a few times.
Not saying that anyone else shouldNT do it. Id just rather not.

Yeah, changing the water buckets lets me imagine I'm Laura Ingalls and Ma has told me that above all else, be sure the water is clean. So, I imagine myself wandering down to the well and filling the buckets with water that is always "cool and fresh".

I exaggerate. But no, I change the water by hand. I like that I can wash the entire "system" easily. Of course, our flock is pretty small.