Do you use a galvanized chicken waterer?

[CathyA]

I've used 5 gallon Little Giant galvanized waterers for my chickens over the years. They seem to rust out after about 3.5 years. I went to buy another one at Tractor Supply, and saw that they changed to the "Harris" brand. I bought one and came home and looked up some reviews, and they don't look very good. Its made in China.......but what isn't?? Not sure where Little Giant is made. Surely SOMETHING is made in the U.S.?
The Rural King in this area I think still carries Little Giant, so I might return this one and go back to Little Giant.
What has your experience been with galvanized waterers?
Thanks!

[Blackdog Lin]

Sorry Cathy, can't help you with galvanized. But how in the world do you use galvanized in the winter anyway?! We have to switch to rubber bowls for freezing weather (actually just bought a larger one which we're hoping will remain unfrozen for a longer time this year). Without an electric water system.....I can't see that anything other than rubber would work. Tell me how your watering system works.....

[Selah]

I used a plastic one and it worked fine, although the desert heat (at the time) did fade it out after awhile.

[CathyA]

I have it sitting on an electric warmer. It keeps it from freezing. I'm lucky to have electricity to the coop......especially for the fans in the summer.

[Blackdog Lin]

Aahhh, of course. We also have electricity out there, (like you, for a big fan for them in the summer heat), but we've yet to do anything about frozen winter water. I need to talk to DH about this.....

[CathyA]

Blackdog Lin......I just realized you asked how my system works. Its a galvanized metal 2-part thing. You fill the bottom full of water, then you put the top over it. It somehow fills the tray with water, without over-filling. It stops when its a certain depth. (Its magic......haha).
I have it set on a pan that has a pad on it with an electric coil on it. It doesn't get real hot......but keeps the water from freezing in winter.

Here's a picture of something like what I have:

The waterer:

http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f129/Catherine50/galvanizedchickenwaterer_zps6d57782b.jpg

And the heater:

http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f129/Catherine50/galvanizedwaterheater_zpsc74b6af1.jpg

[The Storyteller]

I have 8 or 9 of them, but stopped using them over a year ago. Too many technical problems. We use all plastic waterers or rubber tubs using various systems, including automatic waterers depending on the size of the flock I am dealing with. For instance, we are currently down to just 6 turkeys left and they get the rubber pan. Easy to fill, easy to break ice, etc, but can get dirty and only appropriate for a few birds. We have three autowaterers that get feeds from up to 3 five gallon buckets, several 7 gallon plastic waterers, and two autowaterers fed by 55 gallon drums for large flocks of layers.

I hope to have this system in my fields by next spring, here illustrated by a good friend of mine...


http://youtu.be/BfmVwVU5-lI

But to answer your question again, no, we don't use (or like) galvanized waterers.