rusty watering fount

[emmak]

Hi! My double walled metal watering container is getting rusty along the trough area where the hens drink. Is this a danger to my girls? This type of waterer is expensive to replace, but it works much better than plastic here in the Texas heat. Thanks for any insights.

 

[Den in Penn]

A little rust won't hurt them. Sand blasting and painting may help. I really wish they would galvanize things like they did years ago.