Water

[Deckgirls]

I know this sounds strange but......could i use a rain barrel to water my chickens? like as their only source of water? i really hate that i'm giving them our city water which is full of chlorine and any other kinds of crap. i notice they like drinking from puddles etc and at least my rain water isn't muddy. would this be a not so good idea or do you think it wouldn't matter?

 

[Deckgirls]

i use it water my garden and my garden FLOURISHES!!!!

 

[bobbi-j]

I don't know why not. I know that my chickens prefer to drink out of puddles than their waterers, no matter how fresh the water in them. I do not have city water, though. I have well water.

 

[aart]

I know this sounds strange but......could i use a rain barrel to water my chickens? like as their only source of water? i really hate that i'm giving them our city water which is full of chlorine and any other kinds of crap. i notice they like drinking from puddles etc and at least my rain water isn't muddy. would this be a not so good idea or do you think it wouldn't matter?

Depends on what kind of roofing you have....some shingles are impregnated with fungicides.
Some municipalities use chlorine, which actually gasses off pretty quick......some use chloramines, which is another story.

Glad to have well water...well I do until the power goes out

 

[Deckgirls]

Depends on what kind of roofing you have....some shingles are impregnated with fungicides.
Some municipalities use chlorine, which actually gasses off pretty quick......some use chloramines, which is another story.

Glad to have well water...well I do until the power goes out

i'm planning on letting the rain runoff my chicken coop roof which is a metal roof

 

[bobbi-j]

Depends on what kind of roofing you have....some shingles are impregnated with fungicides.
Some municipalities use chlorine, which actually gasses off pretty quick......some use chloramines, which is another story.

Glad to have well water...well I do until the power goes out

I hadn't thought about that...

 

[RonP]

I know this sounds strange but......could i use a rain barrel to water my chickens? like as their only source of water? i really hate that i'm giving them our city water which is full of chlorine and any other kinds of crap. i notice they like drinking from puddles etc and at least my rain water isn't muddy. would this be a not so good idea or do you think it wouldn't matter?

Regardless of what might be in the city water supply, it is regularly tested.

My well water is not...

That said, I do water my birds with my well water, that I personally avoid, even though it tests fine.

You shouldn't have issues with your rain water, unless of course something unexpected lands on your roof...

 

[Kikiriki]

 
I know this sounds strange but......could i use a rain barrel to water my chickens? like as their only source of water? i really hate that i'm giving them our city water which is full of chlorine and any other kinds of crap. i notice they like drinking from puddles etc and at least my rain water isn't muddy. would this be a not so good idea or do you think it wouldn't matter?

Regardless of what might be in the city water supply, it is regularly tested.

My well water is not...

That said, I do water my birds with my well water, that I personally avoid, even though it tests fine.

You shouldn't have issues with your rain water, unless of course something unexpected lands on your roof...

That is actually a very good point: avian flu survives longer in water than out of it, so whatever poops on that roof is going to be sharing its bacterial and parasite population with your birds. And if it is not treated with chlorine, those populations can flourish. Also, if it gets light, it will grow algae that can be toxic, and deplete oxygen.

A couple of things to consider:
Block all light! Yet, UV kills stuff, so perhaps flow through clear tubing, always circulating.
Can you get a solar powered pump (or wired if you have electric run) to help aerate the water?
Will you remember to add something to the water to inhibit growth of unwanted stuff?