parmaviolet Posted November 19, 2004 Share Posted November 19, 2004 Just thought I'd mention that Citricidal contains glycerine, so a couple of drops can be used to keep the water inside the peanut from freezing and will help to ward off any ailments at this time of year. Personally I don't keep the peanuts in the run over night (as rats have been seen in next doors garden recently & I figure they must go through my garden too), so I've not had any frozen water yet, but I'll probably put some Citricidal into their water when we get a really cold day down here. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
motherhen Posted November 19, 2004 Share Posted November 19, 2004 That's a great idea for keeping water from freezing - I'll order some. I'm sure it will help ward off cold viruses over the winter as well. We didn't have any snow yesterday - much to daughter's disgust, she was hoping for school to be closed - but it is very cold now and my poor girl's water froze overnight. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nicola H Posted November 20, 2004 Share Posted November 20, 2004 Hi, you can buy citricidal from health food stores it is also very good for us as well to ward off colds I've been using it in the winter for years it does work you can also use it diluted to clean and disinfect the Eglu. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sammi J Posted November 24, 2004 Share Posted November 24, 2004 Hi all. Okay so it stops the water freezing and it's good for keeping the chickens healthy but when do you use it? Can you put a little of the Citricidal in their water everyday or is it something you only do occasionally? All I seem to do is ask questions, sorry. Sammi-x- Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mrs Frugal Posted November 24, 2004 Share Posted November 24, 2004 Hi Sammi, Ask questions !! That's what the forum is really for - not all the gossiping some of us can't help doing ! I e-mailed Johannes for advice on how/when to use Citricidal and he told me to use 2 drops per litre in their drinking water on a regular basis (I do it every day at the moment as winter is fast approaching) and you can also use 20 drops per litre for cleaning out the Eglu. It's also suitable for humans to take when they've got colds but I tried some the other day and it's DISGUSTING ! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sammi J Posted November 24, 2004 Share Posted November 24, 2004 Thanks Kate. All I can do at the moment is asks questions, still waiting!!! I have some other questions about feeding but I'll start a new topic for them. I should really be doing the housework but I don't have any get up and go today, think i'm still in weekend away mode!! Thanks again. Sammi-x- Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
motherhen Posted November 24, 2004 Share Posted November 24, 2004 Sammi - you just keep on asking questions. How do you think we all learnt Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sammi J Posted November 24, 2004 Share Posted November 24, 2004 Hee Hee Glad you said that see "What to feed the chickens?" More questions!!! Sammi-x- Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lesley Posted November 24, 2004 Share Posted November 24, 2004 We use Citricidal every day too (sounds like you might need to take some yourself Sammi!) Our two new hens were sneezing a bit so we routinely add it. Lesley Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sammi J Posted November 24, 2004 Share Posted November 24, 2004 Might have been tempted to give it a go Lesley as still not none much around the house but kate said it was DISGUSTING so think I might pass!! Really must go and do some work now Sammi-x- Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mrs Frugal Posted December 3, 2004 Share Posted December 3, 2004 Just thought I'd mention that Citricidal contains glycerine, so a couple of drops can be used to keep the water inside the peanut from freezing and will help to ward off any ailments at this time of year. It must have been really cold here last night because my water feeder was frozen this morning despite having Citricidal in it . I think when the forecast is for frost, I'll bring it into the house just to be on the safe side. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chickengeorge Posted December 26, 2004 Share Posted December 26, 2004 my water feeder hasnt frozen as yet, although heavy snow, ice and frost over night. i have bought a little bottle of glycerine from the supermarket (cake section) this seems to be working fine so far. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Berkshire hens Posted November 17, 2005 Share Posted November 17, 2005 Morning All! Wow - it must have been cold last night as our water was frozen despite having Citricidal in it. I'm not too worried if I have to bring the water in overnight, but am concerned if we go away for a day/night and the chooks have to fend for themselves. How much citricidal and/or glycerine do we need to add to stop the water from freezing? Many Thanks, Jim Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nicola H Posted November 17, 2005 Share Posted November 17, 2005 Well Jim Parmaviolet who first started this topic says a couple of drops to the peanut should stop it freezing............But the water in my chooks drinker froze overnight and I had added 2 drops, so think I might try adding 3 drops. Not sure if it is safe to add more maybe somebody else will know. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted November 17, 2005 Share Posted November 17, 2005 I think I read somewhere that a teaspoon of glycerine is the right amount. Obviously NOT the same amount of Citricidal though. I've been taking 4 drops of Citricidal in strong tasting fruit juice for the last couple of months, and seem to have missed all but one of the colds going around. I usually get all of them as I am permanently knackered Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mrs Frugal Posted November 17, 2005 Share Posted November 17, 2005 I bring my drinker in overnight. The hens don't like drinking cold water so this works a treat for all of us. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fleata Posted November 17, 2005 Share Posted November 17, 2005 i had ciricidal in the water my chooks have and it really frooze last night. i have made a mental note to bring it in each night now as the ice was about 2cm think and i had to beak it up for the girls. couldnt change it this morning as i didnt have much time. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ruth Posted November 17, 2005 Share Posted November 17, 2005 Just a note of caution about adding glycerine to the water, the RSPB doesn't recommend it for birds' drinking water: http://www.rspb.org.uk/birds/advice/birdsandwater/keeping_water_ice-free.asp Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted November 18, 2005 Share Posted November 18, 2005 Ooo, that's a worry, because I'd heard from a couple of sources to use glycerine. Thanks for that Ruth. I brought the girls water in last night, and added glycerine to that and the bunnies water. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted November 18, 2005 Share Posted November 18, 2005 You can stop a pond freezing over by floating a football on it - as it moves around in the breeze it stops the ice forming... I wonder of a smaller ball would work in the water peanut - probably not, because it is enclosed, but it might work in a bowl - I'll give it a try and report back... Phil Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ruth Posted November 21, 2005 Share Posted November 21, 2005 (edited) I think it is best to bring the water container in overnight to prevent freezing. I don't think adding glycerine is the answer. One would have to add a LOT of glycerine (or citricidal, which contains glycerine) to the water to make much difference to the freezing point (trust me, I'm a chemist... ). I calculate that you'd need a 10% solution of glycerine to protect the water from freezing down to about -2 C (any colder and it would still freeze anyway). This is over 3 tablespoons in a peanut full of water , ie MUCH more than would be good for the chooks. Here's a table that confirms my calculation (reassuring!) http://www.dow.com/glycerine/resources/table8.htm Edited November 23, 2005 by Guest Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mrs Frugal Posted November 21, 2005 Share Posted November 21, 2005 That's what I do. The hens don't like drinking very cold water either so it's much better for them to have room temperature water first thing in the mornings anyway. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Berkshire hens Posted November 21, 2005 Share Posted November 21, 2005 Ruth - thanks for the Chemistry advice! I have been upping the dose of citricidal by two drops per day without stopping the water from freezing, so would have had a long way to go before I got to 10%! I was looking at the 'solar sipper' as I thought that would be a great solution (a bird drinker using 'solar power' to keep water from freezing) but this only keeps the water from freezing during the day and is only really an insulated drinker. Jim Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted November 21, 2005 Share Posted November 21, 2005 I saw that too Jim, and didn't think that it would do the job either. I bring the water peanut in over night, it must get really cold during the day, though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted November 21, 2005 Share Posted November 21, 2005 You can stop a pond freezing over by floating a football on it - as it moves around in the breeze it stops the ice forming... That's assuming there is a breeze though! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
