I don't like to use bleach water but that's what I've been using. Isn't bleach environmentally harmful? Does anyone have a better idea? I use vinegar inside the house but is that strong enough for sterilizing pooped up chicken feeders, etc?

thanks.

-- Cat (catcrazy@somewhere.com), February 20, 2002

Answers

I think it would be, we just wash ours in running water and leave them to air dry in the sun.

-- Melissa in SE Ohio (me@home.net), February 20, 2002.

No household bleach is not harmful to the environment. What is hazardus is chlorine; however, household bleach has no more chlorine than regular kitchen salt. You can go to Environmental Hazard page for more info.

I have always used bleach because the feeders and waters do need disinfecting once in a while. I do mine about every third filling. Chickens are not the most, shall we say, cleanest of animal. Bateria is all over the place and the bleach not only cleans well but disenfects and kills the bateria lurking (expecially in the seams).

I put vinegar in the thier waterer about once a month. It acts as a natural antibiotic for the birds. Clean equipment is the key to keeping your birds healthy. It only takes one bird to get sick to wipe out your whole flock. Once they get sick they go FAST!

-- Karen (mountains_mama@hotmail.com), February 20, 2002.

we use hanging feeders and waterers so we do not have the problem of chickens soiling the equipment..it always looks clean..once every month or so, I will rinse out the hangers with vinegar and water and sun-dry them....the straw floor gets changed every three months with the nitrogen-rich used straw dragged down for the garden. I have had my hens for a year this March and have had no problems with illness...I realize that is not a long time, but suffice it to say, I have found the hanging equipment to be very practical.

-- lesley (martchas@bellsouth.net), February 20, 2002.

Our chickens don't seem to make a mess of their feeders either. We just re-fillthe watering pan each day. We add vinegar daily to the water, and clean the pen once a week (lots of kid-power!!) They are out all day so it is not much of a job to keep it clean.

-- Melissa in SE Ohio (me@home.net), February 20, 2002.

How much vinegar do you put in the water? I have never heard of that. I think I will try it.

-- Nicol (Nicolwhip@aol.com), February 20, 2002.

It is not an exact thing!!! We have a waterer that holds bout a gallon, I just leave the jug in the feed bin and pour a little in it. Probably 1/4 of a cup, maybe less. They drink it up. We also put a few capfuls on the feed.

-- Melissa in SE Ohio (me@home.net), February 21, 2002.

This 96 year old lady my wife and take care of told us to do the following for chicken health. Once poke weed (poke salad) has berries come on it, pull it up, break the roots off and wash them, then break them up put them in your chickens water replacing every couple of weeks. She said to do this as long as you have poke through the summer and you will not have any sickness in your birds. I'll be trying this this year. Gary

-- Gary in AL (rgmattox@yahoo.com), February 21, 2002.

Gary: I have also heard this but the reason was that it is a natural wormer for chickens. You do it once a year after the berries turn purple. I'd heard you hang the stalk upside down (I think that was for interest and fun).Going to try it this year--but I'll avoid eating the eggs for a couple of days.

-- Ann Markson (tngreenacres@hotmail.com), February 21, 2002.