Should baby chicks drink well water?

[Pgw]

This may seem silly but curious to see responses about giving day old chicks well water. I know they don't recommend for human babies for first year. I know I have good water but there are microbes that may affect them at young age.
Thanks!

 

[Jener8or]

Have you gotten your well water tested? I've raised baby chicks on well water and they've done fine.

 

[wrathsfarm]

I have no expert opinion, just saying I do and haven't seen any I'll effects. I do offer electrolytes on the side along with regular water for the first week and then also for illnesses or during their molt for an extra boost.

Just an added footnote..I don't use well water in my incubator.

 

[AGeese]

Just depends on what you got in that well water really. I'd like to say sure, but I would have no idea what's in yours.

 

[Ridgerunner]

I assume you have had your well water tested and it is considered "safe" for you. That test may have also listed certain minerals in it. That's why it would be recommended to not use well water in an incubator. As the "hard" water evaporates it leaves those minerals behind. Depending on what mineral are there and in how strong a concentration you could certainly get a residue that could cause issues in an incubator. You can get the same issues with bottled water or tap water from a city system. It just depends on how hard your water is.

I certainly agree with @AGeese. I have no idea what is in yours.

I'll admit that I'm not as worried about this type of thing as some other people. If the water is good enough for me it is good enough for my chickens, dogs, and other animals.

Growing up on a farm I saw broody hens hatch eggs and take their chicks to drink from a farm pond that dogs, horses, and cattle also drank from. It had fish, frogs, and turtles living in it. That was the water source for all of the farm animals. There was no way I'd drink it but they all did and thrived.

Now my dogs and chickens get tap water. I dump the water every day to keep it fresh and to keep mosquitoes from breeding and growing in it. When it rains they may find a mud puddle to drink from, both the dog and the chickens seem to prefer the mud puddles.

Personally if it is safe for you I would not worry about it. They may even benefit slightly from any trace minerals in the water. But if you are the least bit concerned, use a different water source that you are happy with. It is your concerns and desires that should be important to you, not mine.

 

[Penpal]

Call up your county to get the results of your well water. When the well was dug the driller would have sent a sample to the county and the county would then accept the well.

 

[BigBlueHen53]

I raise mine on well water, and they do ... well!