Well water and chickens

[mrbstephens]

So, my chicken coop is about 20 feet from our well head turns out. Didn't realize it till AFTER the coop was built. . I have 9 chickens, the ground is extremely sandy and drains very quickly. All of this and my house is on top of a steep hill. Drainage is very very good here. The well pumps water from the aquifer that runs below. I do not know how deep the well is. Think we're OK?

 

[fried green eggs]

I would guess your well would be more than 25 feet down so, my guess is your fine.

 

[Joe.G]

Your well most likely is over 100 ft under ground, you will have no problems with your chickens being near it. I would not worry one bit, if you are in about 6 months take a water sample to be tested, if you are going to do that I would take a sample now so you can compare it, you can prob get it done at your local Hosp.

 

[mrbstephens]

A hospital would test the water? I've never heard that before!

 

[mrbstephens]

I just read the wells in my area are 100 to 200 feet deep.

 

[fried green eggs]

Our county allows 50'+ deep wells. Some really old homes still have shallow wells in use. Hospital will test water? We take water in to be tested to our county health department.

 

[mrbstephens]

Our house was built in 1987. Original well.

 

[fried green eggs]

I would think your country building and health dept. (where building permits are obtained) would still have records for your well and how deep it is. If you are really worried about it?

 

[The Lazy L]

I would think your country building and health dept. (where building permits are obtained) would still have records for your well and how deep it is. If you are really worried about it?

Turn off the power to your well.

Take the cap off the top of the well.

Use a string with a weight securely ties on one end.

Lower the string down the well casing until it stops.

Tie a knot in the string at the top of the well casing.

Pull the string out. Measure form the end of the string to the know. This is the depth of you well.

Put the cap back on.

The next morning when you try and fill the chickens waterers and you discover you don't have any water...turn the power back on to the well.

 

[fiddlebanshee]

First of all, you need to research what the building codes are where you are in terms of animal housing and distance to a well. I wouldn't probably go to the county and tell them what you told us, for fear that they may condemn the well just because it is too close regardless of whether there is a problem, or they make you move your chicken coop.

If you find you are in violation of the code, you can take a sample of your water and send it to an independent lab (not the county) - any water treatment company can help you with that. If your water is fine, no problem. If there is a problem, I'd move the chicken coop or set up a treatment in the house, such as an UV lamp.