Using OLD rusty galvanized equiptment?

[painter chick]

Well, the chicks are in the big coop now and they are emptying there small waterers ( I check 3X a day) I pulled out our old chicken waterers and they have rust in the trough area.

Is this bad? I plan on sterilizing every thing but I wonder if I should invest in a newer waterer, or if there is a way to remove the rust?

Any advice would be greatly appreciated,

Sue

 

[Poison Ivy]

I had the same thing happen to my metal ones. I cleaned and sanded mine and then repainted the trough area. I let it dry for a day and they are as good as new. My husband had a can of silver/aluminum colored paint for metal that I used. If I can find the can I will let you know what brand it was. But it works great and looks like new.

 

[LynneP]

If the rust has broken through in even one spot, I would discard them, and remember never to use anything acidic, like apple cider vinegar in galvanized waterers, the zinc leaches out and poisons the birds. . If it were me, I'd replace them.

 

[patandchickens]

You can thoroughly sand out the rust, then paint with a GALVANIZED METAL primer and then rustoleum or suchlike; or paint with epoxy paint if you can get it in small enough quantities (it is good 'n' inert, and lasts longer than primer plus rustoleum, IME).

However the rust will be back, probably sooner rather than later, and I really doubt it is worth it in most cases.

Probably time to get some new.

Good luck,

Pat

 

[painter chick]

Thank you all for the advice. I will try to sand out the trough area and see how they look, if there too bad, dear SO won't notice a new waterer till it's too late. (It takes him 6 months to realize the living rooms been painted)

 

[spook]

huh, interesting question and answers. I was just thinking of using a old purina feeder- gosh, it has to be well over 40 yrs old. It is rusty on and in the feed part, was going to sand it down and go from there. Can you sodder (spelling) in a feed/waterer without harming the birds?

 

[injunjoe]

You can solder it but be sure to use lead free solder.

Joe

 

[pacanis]

Thanks for the post. I was going to ask this same thing. Two galv feeders that are a year old and both troughs are rusted. That stinks. Mustn't be a very good galvanizing.

 

[TreyClark281]

i work with my uncle in the nuts and bolts buissness and they use the thing called colgal which is a spray paint to regalvinize things it is can be used for small areas. i have no idea where you can find it we buy it in bulk from the manufacture