Galvanised water buckets?

[Carolrich]

Hello! I have been using galvanised water buckets for my 10 chicken flock for a year. It has been so easy really, to fill the scattered buckets in the run and fenced yard with the hose. I freshen them up in the afternoon if it is hot. During the freezing months, I put them on an automatic heater plate to prevent ice forming.
I recently saw that galvanised buckets can be harmful to the livestock if the coating is damaged. AND I saw that if you add apple cider vinegar to them, they can deteriorate and cause harmful chemicals in the water.
I have switched to plastic now, but wondered if anyone has any feedback on this issue.

 

[ChickNanny13]

I switched to plastic everything since I do/have used ACV with the Mother in their water, and I fermented feed. Yes, I did read about not using any metal with ACV and while fermenting due to the chemical reaction between them; toxic & corrosive. Rather be safe than sorry ...

 

[lazy gardener]

I just bought my first galvanized waterer. There are pluses and minuses with either type. Galvanized can leach zinc. And you shouldn't be putting any additives in the water. Plastic can also break down with age. Ever taste bottled water that's sat in the sun? Then, there's the rubber feed bowls. Stinks to high heavens when it's new. I also wonder how healthy water is when it comes from a garden hose. All that being said, I still use galvanized, plastic, rubber and garden hoses. Glass would be the safest, but in my climate, and with my clutziness, that's not gonna happen.

 

[ChickenRelatedUserName]

Galvanized steel is steel coated in zinc. The zinc acts as a protective layer to the steel. Essentially, the zinc is water soluble and sacrifices itself to protect the steel from rusting. There is enough zinc present that it will take approximately 20 years of exposure to the elements before the sacrificial zinc layer runs out and the steel starts to rust. Galvanized steel can be dangerous to weld because it releases toxic fumes. Ranchers have been using galvanized stock tanks for probably 100 years now. Use your own judgement, but it's probably fine, depending on how you feel about "chemicals." Personally, I doubt there is anything worse in a galvanized bowl than the chemicals in plastic or rubber bowls.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Galvanization

 

[ChickenCanoe]

The acidity of ACV will definitely cause corrosion in galvanized water founts. It really only takes about 2 months. This is from the voice of experience.
You can use stainless steel, glass or several types of plastics with ACV. If you aren't using vinegar, you are probably getting worse chemicals from a regular garden hose than from the undamaged galvanized water fount.
I have my hoses under constant pressure. I realized the hoses weren't drinking water safe and that water sitting in the hoses around the clock was a problem. I have since switched out all hoses with potable water hoses.

 

[Roxi D]

Hello! I have been using galvanised water buckets for my 10 chicken flock for a year. It has been so easy really, to fill the scattered buckets in the run and fenced yard with the hose. I freshen them up in the afternoon if it is hot. During the freezing months, I put them on an automatic heater plate to prevent ice forming.
I recently saw that galvanised buckets can be harmful to the livestock if the coating is damaged. AND I saw that if you add apple cider vinegar to them, they can deteriorate and cause harmful chemicals in the water.
I have switched to plastic now, but wondered if anyone has any feedback on this issue.

 

[EddieSalita]

My drinker is stainless steel. Most of the ones I've seen for sale here are stainless steel.

 

[Red Mangrove]

I would never use galvanized steel for an animal. It's literally poisonous. Why humans willingly consume poison is beyond my comprehension

Galvanized steel. Lead soldering. Glysophate. BPA, fluoride, plastic, etc. All poison as conclusively proven by countless independent studies