Storms and chickens

[Luvachicken]

My plastic drinkers seem to leak around the bottom and when I changed their water today, the water heater was soaked.

It is waterproof but I don't want to risk it, although it wasn't actually in use today.

They used to have a galvanised water drinker which never leaked but I read somewhere that putting tonic in it caused some reaction with the metal.

I've been looking today to see what else there is for them and found stainless steel drinkers.

Can you put the tonic in a stainless steel drinker instead?

And, when we eventually get back to summer, would it get hotter in the sun than a galvanised one? 

[mullethunter]

It may have been me that said not to put tonic in galvanised drinkers - it definitely reacted with mine.

I would think you would be fine in stainless steel - although I don’t actually know.

[Luvachicken]

On 12/21/2021 at 10:01 PM, mullethunter said:

It may have been me that said not to put tonic in galvanised drinkers - it definitely reacted with mine.

I would think you would be fine in stainless steel - although I don’t actually know.

It could have been you  - it does ring a bell.

I thought stainless steel would be ok too but wanted to check first.

[Cat tails]

Think stainless steel will be fine with tonic, but to realise that any metal will heat up faster, but also cool down faster. So don't leave it in the sun in summer and check if your heater doesn't warm up the water too much. Think those heaters were made for plastic water containers and not metal ones.

[Beantree]

I think the issue for zinc plated drinkers is the use of Apple Cider Vinegar; the acidity strips the zinc off. If I remember correctly the last time we bought some (12 years ago) there was a warning on the container label. We use some stainless drinker bowls outside and they do cause the water to go green, so they may perhaps be warming up more?

[Luvachicken]

On 12/22/2021 at 9:16 AM, Cat tails said:

Think stainless steel will be fine with tonic, but to realise that any metal will heat up faster, but also cool down faster. So don't leave it in the sun in summer and check if your heater doesn't warm up the water too much. Think those heaters were made for plastic water containers and not metal ones.

Thinking about it, I wouldn't need to use a metal drinker in the summer because I wouldn't need to use the water heater.

The water heater I have is one of those blue, plug in, hard plastic round ones - can't remember which drinker it is meant for but pretty certain I have used it for plastic and metal drinkers.

What is the consequence if the water heats up too much ? Apart from maybe it getting too hot ?

Thanks everyone for all your thoughts so far.

[Cat tails]

In summer it could get quite hot, but with some heaters as well. But other than that, water will evaporate faster.

I have a heater in my pond, which keeps it at 18 degrees at night and it almost seems it makes the water evaporate even faster than in summer.

[Luvachicken]

On 12/23/2021 at 6:20 AM, Cat tails said:

In summer it could get quite hot, but with some heaters as well. But other than that, water will evaporate faster.

I have a heater in my pond, which keeps it at 18 degrees at night and it almost seems it makes the water evaporate even faster than in summer.

Hmmm, that's interesting about your pond heater then.

I have put my fingers in their heated water before and it is literally just lukewarm, if that.

I will investigate the stainless steel drinkers a bit later then and just use it for the winter.

[Luvachicken]

Well, I got my numbers muddled up and where I thought I'd read 2 litres it was actually 2 gallons which is far too big for my girls, so will have to stick to the leaky plastic one or just buy them a new plastic one.

The only small, stainless steel ones I could find were in New Zealand I think. 

[Cat tails]

My plastic ones sometimes leak too, when they are not on a level surface. The reason I have to in the run, so they always have a filled one.

[soapdragon]

I am embarrassed to say that I read the 'header' of this topic and my immediate thought was 'Oh no, G &T is so much better in a glass'. Although I have to put on record that I've not had G & T so far this Christmas - although there is time yet!!!!

Hope you have solved the problem, Luvvie!

[Luvachicken]

On 12/29/2021 at 1:43 PM, Cat tails said:

My plastic ones sometimes leak too, when they are not on a level surface. The reason I have to in the run, so they always have a filled one.

Yes mine have 2 as well - one on the heater (when it is freezing) the other is hanging.

 

On 12/29/2021 at 5:12 PM, soapdragon said:

I am embarrassed to say that I read the 'header' of this topic and my immediate thought was 'Oh no, G &T is so much better in a glass'. Although I have to put on record that I've not had G & T so far this Christmas - although there is time yet!!!!

Hope you have solved the problem, Luvvie!

Yes, soapy, not that kind of tonic    

[Luvachicken]

Had a lovely day out to Flyte So Fancy at the weekend (to get some new woodchips) and got chatting to the guy on the till.

I asked him about putting tonic in a metal drinker and he said it is fine to do that, and that it is the apple cider vinegar that causes a problem, not the tonic.

So I don't need to buy a new drinker after all 😊