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...
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this is EXACTLY what i do in the winter and here in illinois it freezes good for a good while
when it drops really itto the teens and below the tips of the nips will freeze however so as a back up i have a heated dog bowl in there as well
works fine and they dont cost as much as a...
i have a water nipple set up in 5 gal buckets and use a bucket deicer and it works good but i still put in a heated dog dish just in case the nips freeze
i take a 2 gallon jug of water out w me to fill with as my hose is put up for winter
http://www.ebay.com/itm/10-Chicken-Duck-Screw-Poultry-Water-Nipple-Drinker-/170692182174?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item27be0c009e
these are the ones i use and are happy w them. i drill three holes in the bucket and screw them in but i space them out so that my round deicer will fit inside...
i would think that any and all moisture from the feed and air would pool in the bottom of it and rot feed. i would change the bottom to a tee with about a foot on each side capped off either make them a trough or cut 2 inch holes in it so they cant bill out food