Waterer Preservative

[BellesoftheBowl]

I made a 30-gallon, gravity fed nipple waterer for three hens. After 10-days, they have gone through about a tenth of the water. The waterer is completely sealed and vented with a 0.01um filter. Although, I fear that the interior of the 30-gallon barrel, the 12"L x 1 1/2" PVC that has the three nipples, and the 5/8" OD connecting tubing will start to foul (no pun intended). Any ideas on how to preserve the water?

 

[Irishhenman]

A little bit of apple cider vinegar in the water is good for keeping algae out of it. around 5mls to every liter would work well (about 500-600 mls in your case) everytime you fill it up again. Some people also put chlorine tablets in the water but I find them unnecessary

 

[chickensfinally]

I made a 30-gallon, gravity fed nipple waterer for three hens.  After 10-days, they have gone through about a tenth of the water.  The waterer is completely sealed and vented with a 0.01um filter.  Although, I fear that the interior of the 30-gallon barrel, the 12"L x 1 1/2" PVC that has the three nipples, and the 5/8" OD connecting tubing will start to foul (no pun intended).  Any ideas on how to preserve the water?   

Could you just fill up the 30 gal barrel less full or do you need it that full for pressure? Also, ACV, they say, does not mix well with metal...or maybe it's just galvanized metal, it leaches something bad out of the metal. Most of your set up is plastic it sounds so probably ok. Fill it a third full and you are still only watering once a month.

 

[RonP]

ACV will acidify your water PH.

I too would follow Irishhenman's recommendation.