This is a galvanized waterer with some mild corosion in the tray. It is always full of rust colored, slimy-feeling stuff. I rinse the tray daily when I top off the waterer and completely dump and refill every 2-3 days. I have started putting a cap full of bleach in the water (we have well water) to try to slow down algae and the red stuff.
I just bleached and scrubbed the waterer today. Filled it up, marvelled at the pretty, sparkly, clean-looking water filling the tray. I left for a few hours to run errands. I went to put the chickens up probably 3-4 hours post waterer cleaning because it looked like it was going to rain and noticed that the tray is rusty looking again. I swiped it with my finger and it is an easily removed, slimy residue.
What and why? I can see where it would form over time if it were some sort of algae or bacterial growth ... but 3-4 hours with bleach in the water? What gives and how do I stop it? Do I just need to toss this waterer and start using my other one?
I just bleached and scrubbed the waterer today. Filled it up, marvelled at the pretty, sparkly, clean-looking water filling the tray. I left for a few hours to run errands. I went to put the chickens up probably 3-4 hours post waterer cleaning because it looked like it was going to rain and noticed that the tray is rusty looking again. I swiped it with my finger and it is an easily removed, slimy residue.
What and why? I can see where it would form over time if it were some sort of algae or bacterial growth ... but 3-4 hours with bleach in the water? What gives and how do I stop it? Do I just need to toss this waterer and start using my other one?
