They look strong, rustic, and beautiful, but that galvanized (metal) waterer in your coop might be a ticking time bomb for your flock. 
Here is a story, a fellow keeper spent hundreds of dollars on avian vet bills and blood panels to solve a mystery illness. Their chickens were rapidly losing weight and showing neurological issues.
The diagnosis? metal Poisoning. The culprit? Their standard metal waterer.
Galvanized metal is coated in zinc to prevent rust. Over time, that coating naturally breaks down. This happens especially fast if you are adding supplements like Apple Cider Vinegar (ACV) or liquid minerals. The acid in ACV strips the heavy metals directly into the drinking water, creating a toxic cocktail your birds are drinking daily. Even certain medications or supplements with minerl can trigger a dangerous chemical reaction with the metal.
Even with just plain water, the metal will eventually degrade and rust. Your chooks might seem perfectly fine drinking water with tiny flakes of rust in it—right up until the toxins accumulate to a level their bodies simply cannot handle.
Please use BPA-free plastic, kitchen grade good quality stainless steal or PVC waterers. Let’s not compromise flock health for “rustic aesthetics.”
Check your setup today. It only takes one sick bird to pay for a better watering system. 
