Water source

[SaltLakeChickenMama]

I live in a place with very hard water, so we soften our whole house. Outside, the spigot is untreated water. Our dog hates softened water, honestly, I hate the taste too, but it’s just so hard on our pipes and stuff. Softened water is here to stay, so with that said, does anyone have an opinion as to water quality for our chickens? Should I give them the hard city water or softened water??

 

[Brooks_]

I can't say what's best. I can say that my house is on a softener and the birds get water straight from the well. They've not complained.

 

[samanthaoverton]

My theory is this..when an animal will peck corn out of poo or lick it's own butt it doesn't matter as long as it's clean We have well water with a lot of lime in it. The hose outside isn't food grade water and comes directly from the well. My girls get hose water unless the hose is frozen..then I have to haul it from the house.

 

[Ilovemychicks08]

We have very hard water. And our water has high iron to. I give it to our chickens and they do fine. Although the water i drink is triple filtered.

 

[Huntmaster]

Should I give them the hard city water or softened water??

Only thing about the softened water I would worry about is all the sodium that is in it, salt is not good for poultry. I think I would use the hard water. Especially for chicks and young growing birds.

 

[U_Stormcrow]

Mine get rain water. Or water from the well. If hard water was horrible for chickens, they likely would not have survived medieval Europe, where the hardness of various waters are key to certain beers.

A Munich Helles? Hard Water.
Burton on Trent, home of Bass and Marstons? Hard Water
Newcastle on Tyne? Hard Water.

Now, a Czech Pils? Soft water. But who wants to drink one of those?

 

[3KillerBs]

I give the chickens whatever water is most convenient.