water pan gets so dirty!!!!

[Mosaicgal]

Hi there. I live in Tucson AZ so keeping my girls cool in the summer is always on my mind. We have a 5 gallon bucket with the little "rentacoop" bowl watering devices attached to it and these work fine and they drink from them all the time. I also have 2 metal pans that I fill with water for them to stand in. They love them and by the end of the day they turn into a mud bath ! When I first put them out I noticed that they will drink from them too. Do they know better to stop once the water is so dirty? Everything I read says to make sure you sanitize everything very well so they don't get sick. SHould I be concerned? Do I have to keep cleaning these throughout the day? Any suggestions? Thank you!

 

[kiwi-chick]

They eat food off the ground where they poop..... don't worry too much!

 

[Parront]

Hi there. I live in Tucson AZ so keeping my girls cool in the summer is always on my mind. We have a 5 gallon bucket with the little "rentacoop" bowl watering devices attached to it and these work fine and they drink from them all the time. I also have 2 metal pans that I fill with water for them to stand in. They love them and by the end of the day they turn into a mud bath ! When I first put them out I noticed that they will drink from them too. Do they know better to stop once the water is so dirty? Everything I read says to make sure you sanitize everything very well so they don't get sick. SHould I be concerned? Do I have to keep cleaning these throughout the day? Any suggestions? Thank you!

Chickens are far from sanitary! Just dump those ground water-holes ane rinse them and refill and maybe even add an ice block depending on the temp! They are fine with some dirt and mud!

 

[rosemarythyme]

Chickens love dirty water. Don't worry about trying to sanitize everything (or anything really)... humans clean for the sake of making themselves feel better. The chickens don't really need it. Personally I think a little dirt and grunge makes for a better immune system.

 

[Parront]

Chickens love dirty water. Don't worry about trying to sanitize everything (or anything really)... humans clean for the sake of making themselves feel better. The chickens don't really need it. Personally I think a little dirt and grunge makes for a better immune system.

Xs 2 on that ! I give the chicks dirt and grass clippings the second day after the post office delivers them! They need exposure to the real chicken world. Your muddy water dishes are fine with them!

 

[Mosaicgal]

Great to hear! This mother guilt is over!

 

[Parront]

Great to hear! This mother guilt is over!

Here are some 3 day olds learning about dirt.

 

[mandymcg05]

Here are some 3 day olds learning about dirt.

That is genius.

 

[Parront]

That is genius.

The dirt on the roots is their favorite part. Don't spend money on pro-biotics, give them a chunk of grass from the garden, roots, dirt and all. They demolish it, and it makes them like to eat your weeds.

 

[mandymcg05]

Well I’ll be a monkeys uncle! Lol that’s so neat!