same thing happens to mine so i took a scrap piece of plywood and cut a 11"(i think ) hole in it and then screwed 3 legs to it so that the 5 gal bucket sits down into it
the ridges around the bucket old the weight , not the handles
i use the ones that can come apart so i can clean them once in a while
http://www.ebay.com/itm/10-Chicken-Duck-Screw-In-Poultry-Water-Nipple-Drinker-/181031797252?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item2a26560204
gatorade bottles 3/4 full and frozen in the water bucket work good shade the waterers as much as u can
i use 5 gal buckets with nipple waterers in the bottom and just switch out the bottles
acv and galvanized steel are a no no but the parts in nipples are most generally stainless steel so no probs i use the nipples off of ebay that can screw apart and once in a while i take them apart to clean
i currently use a sheppards hook but as the weight of the water deforms the bucket and pulls out the handles i am making a hanger out of plywood that the bucket will hang from the reenforcing rim (picture a 14x14 square with a 11.5 diameter hole in it for the bucket to sit in)
you either...
i use these exact ones and like them as you can take them apart to clean them (just dont drop the parts) i unscrew them over a bucket so the parts fall into it
i have 3 in the bottom of 5 gal buckets and use a tank deicer in winter to keep it thawed out
i hung mune from the handle and about 3 or 4 mo later its pulling out of the sides and needs replaced so i cut a piece of plywood at 11.5 diameter so i can support the bucket by the rib on the side instead
i used a piece of 3/4 treated plywood i had laying around and cut it 14x14 inches then cut a 11.5" circle out of it
then used a couple 2x2s for legs and dropped the bucket in it the rim of the bucket holds more weight than it will have in it and wont deform set lid on it and there you go...