Green Algae

[john in la]

Besides manual labor and a scrub brush is there anyway to prevent Green Algae in livestock waterers.
I'm mostly interested in poultry waterers and the lines running to the waterer so any chemical would have to be chicken safe.

 

[Janicholson]

If the water supply comes from a shallow well and is not house potable water (or if it is more importantly) have it checked for contamination. Algae spores are air born and will continue to build up in exposed water. The link provides one of several options for reducing open water type systems. Periodic cleaning with bleach will also work (with emphasis on work) Jim
example

 

[john in la]

The water source is the same water I have used in my house for years.
It comes from a 2 inch +/- pipe 220 feet in the ground.
The water is hard but the only problem I have ever noticed is periotic iron stains in the toilet.

 

[jws1962]

had neighbor used to put a few goldfish in each cattle waterer seemed to help till the raccoons found them

 

[1939farmall]

We had problems with algae as well. We use an 8 gallon waterer for our chickens. Moved ours out of direct sunlight into a shaded area in the coop and that solved the problem. Its been in its current location for almost a year now and no algae growth.

 

[shaun wallace]

Used to throw hand full of Copper Sulfate in above ground stock tanks couple times a summer to control it.

 

[Janicholson]

No problem there. Jim

 

[sourgum]

Insert a section or two of copper wire into the water trough . With no insulation on it. Or clean copper tubing. Or a piece of old copper plumbing pipe. Might need to a clean algae off water trough before this works.

 

[jacksun65]

I use copper pipe in my chicken waterers keeps the algae out of them

 

[DoubleO7]

You will find an equal amount of internet sites both pro and con to treating the water with copper sulfate.

Passing the flow of water over some clean scrap copper will work as it corrodes and releases copper oxide at a very slow rate.

 

[wolfman]

A couple fish.

 

[Jerry/MT]

I little bit of bleach.

 

[tractorguy2]

My grandpa had goldfish in his cattle tanks. Even had one albino goldfish.

 

[farmerjohn]

We had an old bathtub used to water the cows, dumped in a cup of Clorox every few days, kept it nice with no effort.