Patridge bantam chicken poorly foot?

[tweetiepie]

I've got a problem with my hens sitting on the top of my glugs and dropping dirt and grass from their feet into them (I've got 2 as sometimes it makes the metal bits stick and leak all the water out...).

 

I end up having to empty, wash and refill them every day - and one is getting very slimy!

 

Does everyone have this problem or is there something I'm missing?

[moomin]

Mine just get funny bits in the bottom of the water where I think they drop food into it from their beaks!!

 

If it's any consulation the way to keep your chickens healthy (so I've read in various chicken books and Practical Poultry mag) is to give them clean fresh water every day, in a clean glug. If you let it get slimey and algae-fied (is that a word??!!), it can cause them health problems

 

I've just re-read this post and it makes me seem like a right swat

[jill the potter]

I would agree with you that it's not nice for them to drink out of mucky glugs... but belive me - mine have had fresh drinking water everday since I got them and they still prefer some really disgusting very green water from some old plant pot!!!

[Egluntyne]

I agree with Moomin, I wash them in hot soapy water once a week (more if needed) and fill them with clean water every day.

[tweetiepie]

Thanks for these. I'll keep going with my daily cleaning then. At least its probably easier than building roofs for the glugs, which I thought might be the answer!

[Paola]

If you let it get slimey and algae-fied (is that a word??!!), it can cause them health problems

 

I've just re-read this post and it makes me seem like a right swat

 

Not at all Moomin Now I never knew that

[helenmb]

To get mine super clean I also pop them into the dishwasher every so often (when I have space!) and they come out squeeky clean, I wash them by hand otherwise every few days. I always have a clean one spare so I can rotate with a dirty one, that way their water is always in tip top condition.

[Paola]

I always have a clean one spare so I can rotate with a dirty one, that way their water is always in tip top condition.

 

I was thinking that I might do the same