CatsCube Posted November 30, 2007 Share Posted November 30, 2007 im a bit concerned about my girls choice of drinking water. they are never really interested in teh water in their glug unless I leave it a few days, which I dont know if thats okay as I read they should be given a fresh supply of water daily. Also when they are free ranging they love to drink from my water feature which is far from plesent. as its a tierd waterfall thing with lot of pools, and as you can imagine the water left to sit in this is all murky and various insects fall in die and are left floating around. Is this water likely to make them ill? I dont really know how to stop them drinking it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mrs Frugal Posted November 30, 2007 Share Posted November 30, 2007 Mine will drink from the scummiest puddle if they can. They really have very poor taste . They've been doing it for years and have survived . Obviously they should always have clean drinking water in the run but we can't stop them from drinking dirty water from plant saucers or ponds or puddles, the silly wee things. I change the water in my drinkers every couple of days. Longer than that and it smells and looks stale. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CatsCube Posted November 30, 2007 Author Share Posted November 30, 2007 Yeah see my girsl ignor their water intil it does beciome stale, so Im tending to leave it now, as Im a bit concerned that they arnt drinking enough when its fresh, where as after about 3 days they love it and drink lots. Iknow from when I used to keep marine fish, you actaully had to leeave the water to sit for a couple of days before adding it to the tank at a water change so that the chlorine and other chemicals in tap water had worn off. Perhaps the chooks dont like it either. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Laura & CTB Posted November 30, 2007 Share Posted November 30, 2007 Iknow from when I used to keep marine fish, you actaully had to leeave the water to sit for a couple of days before adding it to the tank at a water change so that the chlorine and other chemicals in tap water had worn off. Perhaps the chooks dont like it either. I actually did the experiment of giving my chooks water from the brita filter for a while - they like it so I think it might be the chlorine they dont like. At the moment they just drink water from the grooves in the decking and ignore the glug completely. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted November 30, 2007 Share Posted November 30, 2007 Mine prefer to drink from a muddy puddle. I fill their glugs up from a watering can which has been standing full for a day or to, the seem to prefer it so I reckon the chlorine theory is spot on. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted November 30, 2007 Share Posted November 30, 2007 mine guzzle up fresh clean water but then I suppose that's what they're used to- one would hope anyway! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted November 30, 2007 Share Posted November 30, 2007 My girls are happier drinking scummy stuff too, they don't like it fresh at all, but do prefer drinking from the bunny bottle in their run, as opposed to the glug. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CatsCube Posted November 30, 2007 Author Share Posted November 30, 2007 Do any of your also like to drink the drips of rain water off the run mesh too? Mine rather do this when they are shut in than drink the glug water. Perhaps its also down to the area you live in as to wether they like your water, some waterboards also put fluride and stuff in their water, plus Im in a very hard water area. They also like to drink the drips of rain from off the patio doors after its been raining. I will be sitting in the lounge listening to the tap tap tap on the glass from their beaks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Carol U Posted November 30, 2007 Share Posted November 30, 2007 Mine always drink the drops from the outside of the eglu, the greenhouse, the fence, backdoor etc. etc. They also love really muddy puddles - preferably with poo in! Visitors always comment on how healthy they look and they are still laying an egg a day each, so it can't be doing them any harm. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Goosey Lucy Posted November 30, 2007 Share Posted November 30, 2007 Mine have rainwater from the water butt. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Richard Posted December 1, 2007 Share Posted December 1, 2007 yep, mine drink water from anywhere they can find it - the muckier the better. They love taking the drops off the Eglu run. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snowy Posted December 1, 2007 Share Posted December 1, 2007 So do mine, green water from the water feature, dirty water thats collected in the sandpit, bathwater Oh, you're talking about your chickens? Not children? My chickens drink from the glug Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Richard Posted December 2, 2007 Share Posted December 2, 2007 Oh, you're talking about your chickens? Not children? My chickens drink from the glug whats with all the avatar changing - identity crises or what? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bouncy Posted December 2, 2007 Share Posted December 2, 2007 My Dog Molly also prefers to drink dirty water n ot sure what the Banties will drink as we have to get some>>>>>>..but CAN'T wait Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snowy Posted December 2, 2007 Share Posted December 2, 2007 Oh, you're talking about your chickens? Not children? My chickens drink from the glug whats with all the avatar changing - identity crises or what? Bah Humbug Richard - we are getting with the Christmas theme! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Madchook Posted December 2, 2007 Share Posted December 2, 2007 Animals eh? My chickens drink from anything, my cat will only drink from scummy places, so much so I don't even bother having an indoor water bowl as she will not use it (she has a catflap!)- so last night in the gale and rain what did she do? Well there were tell-tale pawprints in the toilet bowl this morning......nice! Oh and my 2 yr old daughter, well she drinks out of the sandpit and any wet cloth she can get her hands on.....once that was my vileda mop soaked in flash Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daywalker Posted December 3, 2007 Share Posted December 3, 2007 I have a pond, could the water from that be used to fill the Glug instead of tap water? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted December 3, 2007 Share Posted December 3, 2007 I don't see why not.....as long as it doesn't have algae. The murkier the better for my hens! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daywalker Posted December 3, 2007 Share Posted December 3, 2007 Due to the pump & filter but mostly plants, it's crystal clear all year round. I test the water quality now and again and have never had any problems with it. Everything in there breeds so it can't be that bad. The other thing is, it isn't standing stagnant water. It has to be better than chlorinated stuff! I'll have to see if they drink it straight away or, like tap water, leave it for a day or two. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted December 3, 2007 Share Posted December 3, 2007 Worth a try. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
iChicken Posted December 4, 2007 Share Posted December 4, 2007 How about rain water from the water butt? I'm noticing my new chickens will drink from anywhere except their Glug untill the water is a day old. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Richard Posted December 4, 2007 Share Posted December 4, 2007 How about rain water from the water butt? I'm noticing my new chickens will drink from anywhere except their Glug untill the water is a day old. I don't think that would be a problem - I suppose it depends on how long its been there and if you've got nasties in your water butt! I actually fill up the bowls with tap water that has stood in a watering can for a few days. But they are just as happy drinking rainwater. My concern about a water butt is that you never know what has crawled in there and drowned - and is decaying away at the bottom of the butt! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
iChicken Posted December 4, 2007 Share Posted December 4, 2007 I might try your idea with a watering can. Filling up the Glug from the watering can then the can from the tap each morning. It's strange how they will lick the water off the outside of the Glug but won't drink the water inside, still it keeps them entertained! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tomalexi Posted December 6, 2007 Share Posted December 6, 2007 My girls drink from an antique chamber pot which fills with rainwater from the guttering of their run. I think I spoil them! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jules. Posted December 6, 2007 Share Posted December 6, 2007 Mine love the drips from the run too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
