ladyjulian Posted April 26, 2010 Share Posted April 26, 2010 I use the suspended drinkers for the chickens, and it hangs at convenient drinking height. As the chickens get as much free ranging time as I can supervise, and prefer to spend that time with their beaks in the soil or pecking at the ground, when they go to drink it leaves muck in the drinker. When I refill it, the base is covered with slimy ick - it's just what's come off their beaks but it doesn't look terribly hygienic. At the moment, I'm just rinsing it off with a blast of water as I don't know if detergent would harm them - should I use detergent, and if so, is washing up liquid okay or do I need a specialist one? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Falkor Posted April 26, 2010 Share Posted April 26, 2010 I blast mine with the hose too and brush with washing up brush when they get filled each day but they get washed and scrubbed in hot water with a squirt of Ecover washing up liquid, then a good rinse with clean water. You can buy specialist disinfectants too - I tend too use the Netex one about once a month on my drinkers and feeders. ACV in the water can help keep the drinkers algee (sp?) free Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted April 26, 2010 Share Posted April 26, 2010 I use ecover washing up liquid or poultry shield. I have been known to put the drinkers in the dishwasher before now. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Falkor Posted April 26, 2010 Share Posted April 26, 2010 I use ecover washing up liquid or poultry shield. I have been known to put the drinkers in the dishwasher before now. I use the green mushroom drinkers and was tempted to do this too but wasn`t too sure if they would survive the temperatures Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ladyjulian Posted April 26, 2010 Author Share Posted April 26, 2010 I don't have a dishwasher so that temptation's not there! I might try some Ecover washing up liquid in that case. Thanks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gelbel Posted April 26, 2010 Share Posted April 26, 2010 I wash all my feeders and drinkers when they need it/when the are empty or once a week which ever is most appropriate (ie at least once a week but more likely 2-3 times) in bog standard washing up water. The girls' containers get run under the water while it is heating up to get rid of any obvious muck. Then they get washed last after our stuff - I don't wash them in dirty pot water - just after the collection of the cups and plates of the day before I start our tea. Never done them (or us for that matter any harm). They get cleaned in an eco brand if it's a dedicated feeder and drinker wash. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chickyhazel Posted April 26, 2010 Share Posted April 26, 2010 Normally we just rinse them out but occasionally we wash them with washing up liquid when we are washing the eglu and cube Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
