How to Keep Chickens' Water From Getting Slimy

The home gardening and farming movements have opened the door to keeping chickens. It doesn't take a lot of room or a big expense to keep these engaging birds, but being a chicken guardian takes new husbandry skills for many people used to dogs and cats. Chicken keeping isn't difficult, once the basics are learned, and you finally get to go to the local grain store to purchase the farm products. Chickens need fresh clean water every day, sometimes several times a day, and hens in lay need more water than birds on maintenance. In all cases a slimy bucket is a sign of a dirty bucket that is not suitable for delivering potable water.

Things You'll Need

  • Rubber feed bucket, 2 quart size or slightly larger
  • Oxine (optional)
  • Powdered garden limestone (optional)
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Instructions

    • 1

      Empty the buckets daily or several times a day in hot weather (provide a constant supply of water for chickens).

    • 2

      Clean the bucket if there is manure, excessive dirt or any slime film in the bucket. Never leave a dirty bucket as birds may not drink. Note that chickens will not drink from a bucket with droppings in it. Clean the bucket daily by scrubbing with mild soap and rinsing any soap residue. Wipe the bucket dry and then refill with fresh drinking water. Allow the bucket to dry in the sun for occasional disinfecting (every three days). Clean the bucket without soap by sprinkling clean garden limestone in it. Add some water to loosen the limestone powder. Scrub the bucket thoroughly with the abrasive limestone. Rinse the limestone out (limestone will not hurt chickens). Leave the cleaned bucket out in the sun to dry on occasion.

    • 3

      Use Oxine to keep the water fresh between cleanings (bleach is messier to use and is toxic). Use Oxine according to the manufacturer's dilution directions. Use this product in order to sanitize the water during any outbreak of illness in the flock.