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Mr Rhode Island Red

Rainwater bad for hens?

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I haven't been to this board for a while but I do have a question.

 

I have read in a few publications that rainwater collected in a barrel connected to a drainpipe is bad for chickens, no explanation as to why, it is just bad.

 

Does this hold any truth or is it rubbish, I would imagine rainwater and tap water are much the same...

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Mine prefer rain water to tap water and the muddier the better! They have fresh water at least twice a day in this weather and would choose a puddle over tap water every time...I am sure there are little bugs in rain water they enjoy as well.They have come to no harm after 3 years .

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Hi, I imagine it may be because they can cultivate bacteria sometimes when the waterbutt gets hot, sometimes one of mine definitely has a smell to it! Mine definitely prefer rainwater too but I fill a watering can from the hose and let it sit for 24 hours that way the chlorine evaporates I think the chloramines are still present ours (also has a high nitrate content) but they seem to prefer this to fresh straight tap water. When they drink rainwater it is usually fresh and not sitting around so hopefully doesn't have time to get any nasties in if it was not good I expect they would avoid it.

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