Yikes! My galvanized waterer is rusting!

[Al Gerhart]

I love it when people search instead of asking new questions. So much knowledge is buried here on BYC but a simple search brings it to the surface and a new comment lik this from NewtonZ gives it more exposure. But the answer is still the same, a bit of rust on galvanized steel just makes some micro nutrients/minerals more available. Far less danger from a bit of zinc or iron in the water than the chemicals leaching out of plastic. The only reason to paint the rust spots is just to make the waterer last longer. A good red primer will have lots of iron oxide, a zinc chromate primer is a bit less safe as chromate is a strong oxidizer, dangerous to the lungs as a powder, somewhat an irritant and not great for ingesting. But, the chromate part of zinc chromate is an etching substance, as it etches the iron to prepare the iron/steel surface for bonding with the primer it kind of bonds/dissolves with the iron and becomes less bio available and more safe. Plus the zinc will cover up what little remaining chromate is left in a bio available state. Just research the ingredients in the coating you want to patch the rust spots with and your chickens will be fine. And just remember the scientific solution for pollution is dilution, even with radiation and heavy metals, mixing it with water makes it far more safe than a bird eating the stuff. Good luck, stay away from the plastic please!

 

[mirapu]

I love it when people search instead of asking new questions. So much knowledge is buried here on BYC but a simple search brings it to the surface and a new comment lik this from NewtonZ gives it more exposure. But the answer is still the same, a bit of rust on galvanized steel just makes some micro nutrients/minerals more available. Far less danger from a bit of zinc or iron in the water than the chemicals leaching out of plastic. The only reason to paint the rust spots is just to make the waterer last longer. A good red primer will have lots of iron oxide, a zinc chromate primer is a bit less safe as chromate is a strong oxidizer, dangerous to the lungs as a powder, somewhat an irritant and not great for ingesting. But, the chromate part of zinc chromate is an etching substance, as it etches the iron to prepare the iron/steel surface for bonding with the primer it kind of bonds/dissolves with the iron and becomes less bio available and more safe. Plus the zinc will cover up what little remaining chromate is left in a bio available state. Just research the ingredients in the coating you want to patch the rust spots with and your chickens will be fine. And just remember the scientific solution for pollution is dilution, even with radiation and heavy metals, mixing it with water makes it far more safe than a bird eating the stuff. Good luck, stay away from the plastic please!

I know this is an old post...but how much rust is too much? I have a 2 year old galvanized waterer and although I never used ACV in it, I did use some Rooster Booster (or similar) additive in it (I'm guessing the salt content helped to break down the galvanized metal).
And the rust is all over-the water turns red. I am thinking it is too much HOWEVER I am a newbie still (only have had my little chickens for just under two years AND I LOVE THEM) and do not know about these things.
My secondary question is if you want to give your chickens some ACV in their water, if you don't use a plastic waterer for that purpose, what do you use? I have two galvanized 5 gallons and then I have a small 1 gallon waterer that I have used the ACV in from time to time. I do not like plastic for multiple reasons, but I could not think of an alternative for the ACV treated water so I bought that.
Thank you all so much for all the information!

 

[Zenmonkey]

I'm partly redneck, so....

If the container is leaking out of the rust holes, then it is too much rust. Or maybe not enough rust, as a bit more rust would plug the hole.

 

[Al Gerhart]

If the water has too much iron it will smell bad and likely taste bad. The hens might drink less than they want but enough that they need. I'd buy a new waterer if it was me.

My advice, stay away from the silly stuff like ACV or rooster booster or anything other than maybe some anti biotics for chicks at certain times in their lives. I've never seen a scientific study on ACV, most of the time it is anecdotal stories promoting it by well meaning but likely unaware people. But I look at things from a science background, if you can't measure it, it isn't real.

People are always looking for the silver bullet instead of practicing the fundamentals. Clean commercial ration, clean water, proper sanitation/bio security measures, and clean strong coops are all that is needed.