Chicken Waterers

[M Brennen]

I use plastic chicken waterers in the summer and metal one with separate heated bases in the winter. My problem is that the water trough on the metal waterers rusts after a year or two and I end up replacing them at quite an expense. Does anyone have any suggestions how to keep them from rusting? Is there any food grade paint I can use to prevent rusting? I would love to keep the same metal waterers for more than a year or two.

 

[NestingMillenial]

Is it a galvanized one? If yes, do you add vinegar (or anything acidic for that matter) to your water?

 

[M Brennen]

Is it a galvanized one? If yes, do you add vinegar (or anything acidic for that matter) to your water?

It is galvanized. I don’t remember ever putting anything acidic in it.

 

[NestingMillenial]

Ok, wait for others to chime in, but in the absence of better solution and if you don't want to use plastic -> I know that polyurethane coating is used safely in aquariums, so you could try that (you might need to quickly sand a bit the galvanized surface to rough it up and help adhesion)

Edit: well, polyurethane is technically a plastic, but I meant if you don't want to use an all plastic container instead of the galvanized steel one!

 

[Ominojacu]

Ok, wait for others to chime in, but in the absence of better solution and if you don't want to use plastic -> I know that polyurethane coating is used safely in aquariums, so you could try that (you might need to quickly sand a bit the galvanized surface to rough it up and help adhesion)

Edit: well, polyurethane is technically a plastic, but I meant if you don't want to use an all plastic container instead of the galvanized steel one!

I am pretty certain anything you can coat it with will be as bad as plastic. Which I think is better then drinking rusty water, just sayin.

 

[3KillerBs]

It is galvanized. I don’t remember ever putting anything acidic in it.

I switched to plastic waterers only because my water is sufficiently acidic to ruin the metal ones in short order.

I don't need to heat my waterers, but IIRC there *are* heater bases labeled as safe for plastic waterers.

 

[NestingMillenial]

There definitely are: my local Tractor Supply has a bunch of those and even more are available online (plastic grade ones, that is)!

 

[WIchickMama]

There definitely are: my local Tractor Supply has a bunch of those and even more are available online (plastic grade ones, that is)!

This is the way that I go as well. I did have metal for awhile but like others my water seems to rust out the bottom of the waterer--as well as adding anything besides vinegar to the water (e.g. Corrid). Metal is nice but plastic is a little better in my mind.