Water Question

[Pater est Pullis]

I'm installing a gravity watering system, for my coop and run. The water from my well is very hard and high in iron, should my supply line come straight from the well, or from the house (which has water softener and iron removing system)? Before water hits the reservoir, it will pass through an RV water filter. Any input would be appreciated.

 

[azygous]

Here's an old thread discussing well water high in iron. https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/hi-iron-in-water.570525/ It appears the chickens are unaffected by the well water, so I'd say, go for it!

 

[PingoBags]

Mine is very hard and high in iron also. I opted to give them water straight from the well instead of going through a softener first. Softener salt is probably not good for chickens.

 

[Pater est Pullis]

Here's an old thread discussing well water high in iron. https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/hi-iron-in-water.570525/ It appears the chickens are unaffected by the well water, so I'd say, go for it!

Here's an old thread discussing well water high in iron. https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/hi-iron-in-water.570525/ It appears the chickens are unaffected by the well water, so I'd say, go for it!

Thanks for the link. My concern using unsoftened water, with the gravity system I'm about to install, is the mineral and iron deposits, will it clog up poppets on the cups/automatic waterers and float valves?

 

[getaclue]

Just went through this myself. We installed the line for the chickens, after the iron removal, before the softener.

 

[azygous]

Just went through this myself. We installed the line for the chickens, after the iron removal, before the softener.

I didn't know that it was possible to remove a mineral before the softener. How is that accomplished and does it remove the calcium that clogs up fittings along with the iron before the softener? Isn't that the whole purpose of the softener to remove all the minerals?

I've drunk softened water and it's unpalatable, being very salty. I would be concerned about letting my chickens drink it.

 

[getaclue]

I have very high iron, so I have an Air Injection Iron Removal system, then the clean water goes into the softener. If your water is salty, something is wrong. There should be no salt taste.

 

[azygous]

I thank you for the explanation. Interesting how technology has improved over my lifetime. Mountain peak snow melt is my water source, so no hard water problems, but decades ago I had to cope with desert well water which was so hard it hurt your eyes if you got any water in them. The water softening system was primitive compared to yours, I'm certain.

 

[PingoBags]

Thanks for the link. My concern using unsoftened water, with the gravity system I'm about to install, is the mineral and iron deposits, will it clog up poppets on the cups/automatic waterers and float valves?

I've used the same nipples for over a year without an issue with iron messing them up.
My two hydro setups also use float valves and neither has stopped working from iron.

Last spring I installed a filter like this..

I have it inline with my hose, no softener. A 1 micron filter works great and removes a lot of the iron. But it clogs up with iron and slows the flow so the filter needs cleaning every two weeks. I paid about $32 Ca plus about $6 for the 1 micron filter.

 

[HenOnAJuneBug]

I have very high iron, so I have an Air Injection Iron Removal system, then the clean water goes into the softener. If your water is salty, something is wrong. There should be no salt taste.

I suppose the injected air oxidizes the Fe so that it precipitates/settles, and can then be filtered?