water cooler waterers

[marktoo]

I've had chickens for for about 18 months now & used this system for as long as the girls have been outside. I change the water every 7-10 days & put ACV in the water. Last year being new to chickens, I began to putting ice bottles the cooler almost immediately in an effort to help the pullets through the hot California summers, a practice I discontinued as the weather cooled. I noticed as the weather warmed this spring the cooler was getting a little funky, mold growing on the sides at the waterline & the lid even though there's ACV in the water. I was rather displeased! The temps here are moving from warm to hot so I am again putting the ice bottles in the cooler, the water is no longer trying to evaporate in the cooler & condense on the sides & lid. Mold problem solved! Just thought I'd pass this along to those using this type of system, probably already know, but hey, maybe it will help someone.

 

[gander007]

I've had chickens for for about 18 months now & used this system for as long as the girls have been outside. I change the water every 7-10 days & put ACV in the water. Last year being new to chickens, I began to putting ice bottles the cooler almost immediately in an effort to help the pullets through the hot California summers, a practice I discontinued as the weather cooled. I noticed as the weather warmed this spring the cooler was getting a little funky, mold growing on the sides at the waterline & the lid even though there's ACV in the water. I was rather displeased! The temps here are moving from warm to hot so I am again putting the ice bottles in the cooler, the water is no longer trying to evaporate in the cooler & condense on the sides & lid. Mold problem solved! Just thought I'd pass this along to those using this type of system, probably already know, but hey, maybe it will help someone.

I have been up here in the Death Valley area for about 12 years now and been put ice in the water from the very start or frozen blocks in that can go back in the freezer to be re-frozen but in the real hot weeks the large blocks only last an hour or so but the poultry really enjoy it ....



Just some of the flock

 

[marktoo]

gander007....Nice looking birds!

I only have 4 girls, so 3 gallons lasts a long time. I generally put a couple of frozen water bottles in the cooler about 3/4 of a gals worth. When first changing the water I have to change out the bottles 2xs a day but once the water temp gets down, I can get away with once a day. Unfortunately, the water in the plumbing to the cups still gets pretty warm, even though the pvc pipe is insulated. When the temps get up over 100 I mist the run for a bit, they did OK last year and of course the run is shaded.

 

[gander007]

gander007....Nice looking birds!

I only have 4 girls, so 3 gallons lasts a long time. I generally put a couple of frozen water bottles in the cooler about 3/4 of a gals worth. When first changing the water I have to change out the bottles 2xs a day but once the water temp gets down, I can get away with once a day. Unfortunately, the water in the plumbing to the cups still gets pretty warm, even though the pvc pipe is insulated. When the temps get up over 100 I mist the run for a bit, they did OK last year and of course the run is shaded.

Yes I understand the getting the ground damp as I have to do the same thing several times a day and the ducks and geese stand for it the chickens will run but come back to take a dust bath in the damp sand right a way ....

It is funny to watch them birds and thank you I put a lot of time into my birds ......