water butt water

[tlck9]

Hi All,

I wondered if it was safe to use for your chickens? I've filled mine up now from my home water butt but have been taking bottles of fresh tap water for my chucks

Any thoughts on using the water from your water butt for them?

[Capsid]

The rainwater may contain pollutants especially if you live in an industrial city with chimneys. Although EU regulations have cleaned this up. Don't birds crap on the roof of whatever is collecting the water? Bird crap contains influenza viruses. I don't think I'd take the risk.

[matthew2riches]

It's really not a good idea

Could cause some real sickness and/or death among your flock!

[Nicos]

Don't birds crap on the roof of whatever is collecting the water? Bird crap contains influenza viruses. I don't think I'd take the risk.

Good point

[frias]

If your chickens are free ranging aren't they going to come in contact with wild bird poo anyway?

[Capsid]

If your chickens are free ranging aren't they going to come in contact with wild bird poo anyway?

I was really raising the point about whether it's safe for humans to drink, but water from a water butt might increase the risk of contamination for chickens too. The chickens are at risk if they are exposed to wild bird poo, so that depends on how they are housed. So yes, free range would be at more risk.

[MaureenHall]

I have a feeling (and I might be wrong) that Snadger's birds have water-butt water and his seem to be thriving ok.

[di]

i THOUGHT THAT RAIN WATER WAS PREFERABLE DUE TO NOT BEING TREATED?

[Nicos]

Hmmm....so what do other peeps use??

I'm treated tap water ( and I'm sure it's travelled miles and miles in ancient lead pipes)

[TEB]

I always use water from the water butts for mine unless its frozen, the dog has been drinking from them for years, in fact he prefers it to tap water (muddy puddles is his favourite though).

[di]

Sorry...didn't realise my caps were on before...the joys have having a poorly child at home

We currently use half and half.When it's been freezing we've been taking up water from home but the rest of the time we have a couple of trugs outside each run collecting rain water.
Andi has just rigged up a proper water butt by one of the coops so please don't anyone now prove it's bad for them...it took him ages

[di]

I always use water from the water butts for mine unless its frozen, the dog has been drinking from them for years, in fact he prefers it to tap water (muddy puddles is his favourite though).

You can guarantee that at least a couple of our chooks will watch me refresh their water bowl with some nice clear fresh water and they'll wander off and find some grimy disgusting puddle to slurp from

[tlck9]

good points all round

We live on the coast, well 6 miles inland, so no heavy industrial areas, so would think its more salty than fumes.

My dog regularly drinks the rain water, but he doesnt have access to the water butt, otherwise he would drinkout of that as he hates the local tap water

agreed on one thing they do tend to drink out of muddy puddles, but I would prefer to be on the safe side

[frias]

My stupid lot love the gunky water in the various holes around the lawn for the rotary line.

[jackie j]

Not chicken I know but when one of our cats was ill the vet asked if he was drinking and although freash water is always put down for them they very rarely drink it prefering to drink dirty water outside, we told the vet this and he said thats the answer I wanted. So it must be ok for all animals isnt it.