On our chicken tractor we have a watering system that involves a bucket with a small hole toward the bottom which has a tube attached. The tube goes into a float apparatus on a tray that hangs on the inside of the tractor; it refills the tray as the float drops due to lower water levels.
It works well except that it's prone to developing algae, which ends up clogging it. This morning I went out to find the tray bone dry and the float apparatus and tube clogged again.
We are planning on being away for a couple of weeks in the fall and I'd like to set things up so that the person taking care of our place doesn't have to figure out how to blow the tube and float apparatus clear and set it all back up again. Any ideas how I can deal with the algae?
Discouraging Algae in Poultry Waterers?
I think I remember people saying that adding unfiltered ('cause it is healthier) Apple Cider Vinegar (aka ACV) to the waterer helped limit algae growth. ACV is suppose to be very good for the chickens and the lessening of algae was a side benefit.
I think the ratio was 1 Tbsp ACV to a gallon of water....but you can start at a lower rate till the chickens are used to it.
Catsy, thanks! I thought I remembered reading something like that. I wonder how it would interact with plastic. But I guess it's worth a try since algae probably isn't good for them either.
Vinegar often comes in plastic bottles so it should be ok. Another thought would be to clean the waterer thoroughly with bleach then use only boiled water to refill it.
Porkpal, it's a six-gallon container, so boiling water every time I refilled it would be a real chore.
Actually my vinegar is organic and comes in glass, but I still worry about what kind of plastic my containers are made of, with all the news about BPA and offgassing!
If I wash the container and tube and tray out thoroughly and refill with fresh well water I seem to be good for a while, and then in the fall it will be cooler, which might help. But I will try the cider vinegar, too.
Also keep it out of the sun! I have all my waterers shaded.. or at least try to. Especially afternoon sun.
Didn't someone say diatamaceous earth in the water killed algae?
http://wolfcreekranch1.tripod.com/defaq.html For parasites this article tells how much DE to use for each animal and for how long. Haven't noticed anything yet about algae, but became convinced again of the benfits of DE.
Let's not forget, people get parasites too. We are not immune.
ZZsBabiez, it's hard to keep the waterers out of the sun because the chicken yard is fairly open. There are trees around the perimeter, but although the chicken tractor is in the shadiest place in the yard it still gets more sun than I'd like it to.