Is your dog's unusual barking a secret code for something mysterious?

[HENthusiastic]

Hi everybody.

I have recently got a new 12 litre drinker from Flyte-so-fancy. Its wonderful, I now only need to fill one drinker up each day instead of about 6 or 7 little ones!

 

The only trouble though, is that I cant really get inside it to clean it and its looking a bit merky in there. Its also getting bits of that red mould type stuff that you sometimes see in bird baths.

 

Does anybody know of anything I could simply add to the water on a regular basis to keep it clean and fresh?

 

I was thinking along the lines of water purifying tablets that I think sports people use???

 

thanks in advance for any thoughts

[Redwing]

I use a tiny amount of milton in my 'field' chooks water it seems to do the trick

 

Space Chick has a similar drinker to teh one you describe and she has a brush on a stick to get it clean

[HENthusiastic]

Milton eh. Ive never heard of it, but Ive just done a google search and chatted to a colleague; apparently they sell it in the chemists next to where I work, so I'll be getting some tonight.

Thanks very much.

 

Do you know anything about the red mouldy stuff? is it anything to worry about or should the milton sort it out?

[Redwing]

I've heard that the red stuff is the nasty stuff - a bit of green stuff seems ok

 

I'd try and clean it thoroughly then use the Milton to maintain it from there on in

[meezers]

I've used Milton on mine, Boots and Mothercare sell it as it's used for sterilising baby stuff. I've also tried a handful of gravel and a bit of water shaken around inside to dislodge the green slimy stuff, it works, but it's a pain trying to get all the gravel out again! I really need a bottlebrush with a long handle, but haven't found one yet.

[Lewis]

Can you use a jetwash at the field?

I just jetwash my feeders + drinkers every couple of weeks + it works fine

 

If not, maybe just jetwash it once + then use milton once its clean

[HENthusiastic]

Thanks guys. I've got some milton. Good idea about a jet wash. I can leave the chooks a bucket of water to drink from while I take it to a local garage to give it a blast. Gravel is a great tip too. I'd never have thought of that. What a mine of great ideas omlet folk are

I'm worried about the red stuff. I'm going to see if I can find anything out about it.

[HENthusiastic]

Thank you everybody. The water is looking much better and I feel better just being able to do something to help.

[quickcluck]

I have a normal kitchen pots and pans brush tied to a garden cane, works a treat!!!!!

 

Do you just wash with the milton or leave a bit in there?

[beach chick]

tesco 'my baby' sterilising fluid is half the price of Milton, and twice the size! only found out because it was recommended for my fountain, but will try it in the drinkers too.

[HENthusiastic]

I just pop the milton tablet in the water after I've filled it up and leave it there.

 

Thanks, I'll have a look for the tesco's cheaper one