what 'detergent/cleaner' do you use to clean waterers, feeders, & bottom of brooder?

[HootnHoller8]

Hello All,

I'm new to all this. Just received our 12 chicks this past Thursday. (One died that evening...I think from stress probably.)
I am wondering what you use to clean your waterers etc. I had seen on something to use a 1 part bleach to 9 part water solution, but after dear husband mentioned how bleach seems to 'stay' -- or at least the taste -- in plastic, I decided maybe there was something more gentle/ less toxic to use. (I did rinse it well, but....)
In a couple days I think I will also take all the shavings out and wipe the non-skid shelf liner with something.
One book recommended a mild all natural detergent, though it didn't mention any specific one.
Any suggestions?

Thanks in advance!

 

[ChickensAreSweet]

Bleach.

I do the 1:10 solution and use it on my galvanized metal waterers and I would not use anything else, even if I had plastic. I tried to use dishwashing liquid only, and ended up with a horrible algae recurrence all summer until I went back to bleach. Algae is toxic and must be eliminated from my understanding.

Cleaning with bleach should keep the waterers free from harmful bacteria and fungi, algae, and germs that wild birds may introduce if they get in there (canker etc.) in my opinion.

Make sure you rinse well. I do a triple rinse and then I rinse one more time just to make sure.

 

[HootnHoller8]

Thank you for information; I thought I had heard 10 water:1bleach.
Right now we are using the smaller plastic circular watering trays w/quart glass bottles because they are in the brooder (probably about a week old today). We clean & refill twice a day and I started using a mild soap on...washing & rinsing well w/hot but not boiling water. It seems okay for now. We are hoping to use nipples on buckets or 2L or liter bottles when they move to coop...may even see if I can safely suspend one in brooder & see if they can catch on.
It looks like you have some Bl. Austrolorps. That is one of the breeds I was really looking forward to, but when I got the call from the farm store, those were the one breed -- of 6 different breeds I ordered -- that didn't hatch . I was very disappointed. Guess I'll have to try those another time after we get used to raising chickens more.

Thanks again for your help!

 

[saltandpepper2]

I use vinegar for basically any cleaning I do for the livestock supplies. It's non toxic, washes easily, and works well for algae and mold. Also, if there's any residue in the container, it won't hurt the birds. I do about 5 parts water to 1 part vinegar. I've always read never to use bleach for poultry supplies because of how toxic it is, and how readily it reacts to ammonia.