Rusty waterer okay?

[willheveland]

Maybe the plastic waterer you have can be used on a heated base.I use plastic on mine and works great.Don't waste big $$$ on metal waterers.Anything made of metal other than stainless will rust or corrode over time.And if you use ACV it will really go quick. Will

 

[crtrlovr]

Zinc can be lethal to aviary / exotic / house birds, and I assume it is the same with chickens. There have been documented cases of parrots having a HEAVY zinc load from the quick links used to hang toys in cages, or from connectors. A well-known bird trainer and rehabilitator almost lost his cockatoo to heavy metal poisoning from performing tricks with pennies (zinc leach and copper poisoning).

 

[panner123]

Quote:
Galvanize is not suppose to rust, but like you said, "you put vinegar on it." Yes, vinegar will take the galvanize finish off. We take the finish off to weld it. If you don't the fumes from the galvinize are deadly. Your next galvinize water should be wash with mild soap and water and rinsed till all the soap is off. Over time the wear of the water in the old popes takes the galvinize off, the reason they should be replaced.

 

[LynneP]

Oh gosh- never use a plastic waterer on a metal heating base. BIG fire hazard!

There are plastic waterers with electric cord, but they're a special kind of plastic...

 

[DeeTee]

I think at this point I am most likely to buy a new metal waterer and a heated base since this seems to be the safest and surest choice.

As for the old one rusting out, it was very old. I mean it was left in the stable by the previous owner, so it could be ancient.

Quote:
Yeah my mom has a million of 'em. She's 82 and feisty as ever. She's is also very quick at off-the-cuff humor. I jokingly said once that when my wife hit 40 I was going to trade her in for two twenties.

Without missing a beat my mom put her hand on my shoulder and said "honey -- you're not wired for 220!"

 

[willheveland]

Quote:
If they make some with a cord,wouldn't they make some without cords,Strombergs has them.They print in the description can be used with their fount heater. I have used this for 7 years now.Great Product. Will

Electric Heater Base

Keep water available for your birds during freezing temperatures. Good heater for plastic founts.

ELECTRIC HEATER BASE
Order #EHB
@ $56.50





Plastic Platform

A great solution to the problem of litter getting into your feed or water. Ideal for use with three gallon fount. 20.5" diameter, 2.7" high.

PLASTIC PLATFORM
Order #PPS
@ $26.75





Adding Grill (see right) makes this a great water solution for baby quail, pheasant and bantams!

Shown above is 3 gallon water fount PF3 with fount heater EHB and plastic platform PPS.



Order all three together

Winter Water Kit - Heater with platform
Order #WWKIT2
@ $96.00
3 Gallon Plastic Fount

a revolutionary new fount with a twist type lock and sure-grip handle made of a very durable extremely strong material which allows the fount to be moved with ease. Easy to clean and won't develop strong smelly taste like galvanized waterers do. No seams to leak, heat resistant plastic may be used with fount heater EHB. For use with baby chicks up to adult poultry.

PLASTIC 3 gal. FOUNT
Order #PF3
@ $25.00

Grill for 3 Gallon Fount

This enables you to use the 3 gal. fount for baby Quail, Pheasant and Bantams. grill easily removed for use with older birds.

 

[moenmitz]

What about just suspending a heat lamp a safe distance above your plastic waterer? Right now, that is how we are keeping our galvanized waterers from freezing, and it works fine. (Maybe not when it gets to -30, but we shall see) Anyway, if you really cant afford a new one right now, would be worth a shot. Just maek sure it isnt so close that it would melt the plastic or anything. Sine you only need to keep the water above freezing-shouldnt take too much to raise the air temperature immeidately around it to 35 degrees or so I would not think...

 

[DeeTee]

Quote:
That's a good thought. As you say, the water only has to be above freezing. In the winter it does get close to -30 here, but that won't be until January or February.

 

[LynneP]

Yeah if the plastic is marked that it can be used with heat, but mine certainly can't. I'm glad to see there is a suitable product out there, though- thanks.

 

[patandchickens]

Quote:
OK, on further reading I stand slightly corrected in that it seems the cadmium in galvanized coatings is more problematic than the zinc.

My main point stands, however. Both move from galvanized coatings into water when the pH is low, e.g. if you have naturally very acidic water or (as being discussed) if you use something real acidic in a galvanized waterer. Cadmium concentrations in water (also zinc, etcetera) can reach toxic concentrations this way (people have been poisoned, albeit nonfatally, by lemonade stored overnight in a galvanized container. Hence the perpetual warnings in animal science literature not to use acid additives (ACV, copper sulfate, etc) in combination with galvanized waterers.

I don't think anyone said rust was harmful in a nutritional sense -- however serious rusty areas can be sharp enough to cut.

Pat