Took me 6 months to stop using plastic waterers after my flock got sick

I thought plastic was fine until I noticed mold growing inside the threads of the cap that I could never fully clean. After 3 of my hens got respiratory infections last February, I switched to metal waterers and haven't had a single issue since. Anyone else ditch plastic for something different?

2 comments

2 Comments

eric_murphy366h agoTop Commenter

Heard a podcast with a poultry vet who said EXACTLY what @david_stone is talking about - she mentioned plastic waterers get that slimy biofilm even after a good scrub if you miss the threads. She recommended checking the inside of the cap with a flashlight every time. I switched to glass actually, just heavy gallon jugs with a metal base, and its been way easier to spot any gunk. The mold in the threads is nasty stuff, my birds got sick too before I figured it out.

david_stone4d ago

Hang on a sec, I gotta push back a little here. I've used plastic waterers for years and never had that problem, but I also take mine apart and scrub them with a bottle brush after every fill. The key is to get the ones with a smooth, wide mouth and no hidden threads or crevices. Mold can grow in metal too if you don't clean it, especially around the lid rims. Not trying to say your experience didn't happen, just that plastic can be fine if you're super thorough with the cleaning routine.