Algae and the PINK STUFF in my ducks water dish.

[416bigbore]

Being a Newbie to Ducks that I is, but no stranger to having many different animals and caring for them. I have always been very adamant about them having fresh clean drinking water daily. The importance of animals having clean drinking water was instilled in me at a very young age because it was a big part of any animals care to help them stay healthy.

I thought I had a good routine in place for changing our ducks water in their drinking dish and swimming pool. I dump their large plastic water tubs twice a day, morning and night and spray them out good with the hose before refilling them and their swimming pool water is changed every other day. Then once a week I will take their plastic containers and scrub them good with soap and bleach to make sure they are good and clean.

Knowing that Algae likes warm weather and sunlight to grow, I try to keep their water dishes in the shade to help prevent this. So far I have been pretty lucky and can say I don't have any major Algae issues. I have noticed that in about a weeks time of just rinsing and refilling their water dishes, it is time to give them a good cleaning.

I have a little table set up to help with my weekly water dish cleaning duties that works out pretty well if I don't let things pile up. I had just filled one of their plastic water tubs with just water and was called off in another direction, so I didn't get back to it for a few days. This is what I found after it had been sitting out in the sun for two days, Nasty is an understatement !

Now for the crazy stuff I didn't know about, The Pink Stuff as it is referred to because I am guessing many of us can't pronouns Serratia Marcescens unlike Algae. From the research I have done, this Pink Stuff is bad news, no different then Algae if it gets out of control. I also found out that plastic container used for water dishes don't help the problem either because of the course plastic surface makes it easy for the Bacteria to stick to and grow. Looks like new SS water dishes for our babies.


https://barkpost.com/discover/clean-dog-bowl/

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Serratia_marcescens

 

[Isaac 0]

You're probably one of the most diligent people I've seen regarding the cleanliness of their livestock water, great work!

I know some people will add ACV to their water, which supposedly decreases algae growth. I can't personally speak of its effectiveness with algae, but if you do choose to offer it, make sure to increase the ratio slowly or they may turn a blind eye towards it if it's too potent.

 

[HalfWayUpAMountain]

Being a Newbie to Ducks that I is, but no stranger to having many different animals and caring for them. I have always been very adamant about them having fresh clean drinking water daily. The importance of animals having clean drinking water was instilled in me at a very young age because it was a big part of any animals care to help them stay healthy.

I thought I had a good routine in place for changing our ducks water in their drinking dish and swimming pool. I dump their large plastic water tubs twice a day, morning and night and spray them out good with the hose before refilling them and their swimming pool water is changed every other day. Then once a week I will take their plastic containers and scrub them good with soap and bleach to make sure they are good and clean.

Knowing that Algae likes warm weather and sunlight to grow, I try to keep their water dishes in the shade to help prevent this. So far I have been pretty lucky and can say I don't have any major Algae issues. I have noticed that in about a weeks time of just rinsing and refilling their water dishes, it is time to give them a good cleaning.

I have a little table set up to help with my weekly water dish cleaning duties that works out pretty well if I don't let things pile up. I had just filled one of their plastic water tubs with just water and was called off in another direction, so I didn't get back to it for a few days. This is what I found after it had been sitting out in the sun for two days, Nasty is an understatement !

Now for the crazy stuff I didn't know about, The Pink Stuff as it is referred to because I am guessing many of us can't pronouns Serratia Marcescens unlike Algae. From the research I have done, this Pink Stuff is bad news, no different then Algae if it gets out of control. I also found out that plastic container used for water dishes don't help the problem either because of the course plastic surface makes it easy for the Bacteria to stick to and grow. Looks like new SS water dishes for our babies.


https://barkpost.com/discover/clean-dog-bowl/

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Serratia_marcescens

I am impressed by your commitment to clean drinking water !!

The pink stuff has just rocked up in one of our waterers - I would also love any tips re managing it. We do add acv (the older ducks love it) and its definitely reduces all the slimy stuff but it hasnt prevented it (so far !).

 

[416bigbore]

Thank you Dr. 0

Being from the Midwest I have never experienced the heat and humidity like in NC. I have seen how easy it is for Algae to grow in the standing water in a mud puddle will all the extra rain we have been receiving. I wouldn't want to have to drink from that nasty water anymore then I would want our ducks.

Yes I have seen that about ACV also, I just think I will stick to clean well water for now seems to do the trick.

 

[416bigbore]

I am impressed by your commitment to clean drinking water !!

The pink stuff has just rocked up in one of our waterers - I would also love any tips re managing it. We do add acv (the older ducks love it) and its definitely reduces all the slimy stuff but it hasnt prevented it (so far !).

Thank you! Well I am no expert and this Pink Stuff was surprising news for me also. The one thing I am going to do is start changing out all the Plastic water containers with Stainless steel to help reduce the problem, not solve it. Then a routine of a good cleaning with dish soap and bleach in cold water. I am open to suggestion and trying new things also.

 

[writerskramp]

Never had the pink stuff in my waterer.. just the bird baths, If in my waterer, I think that would call for a freak out session.. OMG!!! The bird baths in the garden... Can't get rid of it.. comes right back like an in law, can't be good.. and it's for the birds.

 

[416bigbore]

Never had the pink stuff in my waterer.. just the bird baths, If in my waterer, I think that would call for a freak out session.. OMG!!! The bird baths in the garden... Can't get rid of it.. comes right back like an in law, can't be good.. and it's for the birds.

Hello, Yes the pink stuff is bad news and any plastic container that a person uses for a water dish also doesn't help because it has a porous surface and makes it much easier for algae to stick to and grow, over using glass or stainless.

Just curious, do you use well water or a municipal source? Here is a link below that you might find of interest and be helpful.

https://www.survivalsullivan.com/how-much-bleach-to-purify-water/

 

[writerskramp]

Hello, Yes the pink stuff is bad news and any plastic container that a person uses for a water dish also doesn't help because it has a porous surface and makes it much easier for algae to stick to and grow, over using glass or stainless.

Just curious, do you use well water or a municipal source? Here is a link below that you might find of interest and be helpful.

https://www.survivalsullivan.com/how-much-bleach-to-purify-water/

Well water which is well..

 

[416bigbore]

Well water which is well..

Do you have it tested often to make sure it is stays save to drink? Do you ever shock your well with Bleach ?

 

[writerskramp]

Do you have it tested often to make sure it is stays save to drink? Do you ever shock your well with Bleach ?

Once the well guy did when restoring it.. said it was fine.. I distill drinking water anyway, but surely it would be a good idea.. It's a deep well, shallow as they go around here, but the vertical pump must need be pulled along with the pipe to gain access.. so not in ten years.