6 Best Durable Waterers For Aggressive Goats Old-Timers Swear By
Tired of replacing broken troughs? This guide reveals 6 durable, goat-proof waterers, from heavy-duty rubber tubs to steel pails old-timers trust.
There’s a special kind of frustration that comes from finding a water trough flipped over and empty, again. Or worse, shattered into a dozen pieces by a head-butting buck who was just bored. For goat keepers, providing a constant source of clean water isn’t just a chore; it’s a battle of wits against some of the most destructive livestock on four legs.
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Why Your Goats Need an Unbreakable Water Trough
Goats are not gentle creatures. They paw, they push, they chew, and they use anything in their pen as a scratching post or a sparring partner. A flimsy plastic tub is simply an invitation for destruction, leaving your animals without water until you discover the mess.
Dehydration is a serious risk, especially in hot weather or for pregnant or lactating does. A broken waterer also means wasted time and money for you. A cheap bucket that needs replacing every few months isn’t a bargain; it’s a recurring expense and a hole in your farm management plan.
The goal isn’t just to find something that holds water. It’s to find something that can withstand a full-force headbutt, resist the gnawing of a bored wether, and stay upright when a goat decides to use it as a step stool. Investing in durability up front saves you from emergency trips to the supply store and potential vet bills down the road.
Fortiflex Rubber Tub: The Chew-Proof Classic
When you think of a tough, no-nonsense solution, the black rubber tub is what comes to mind. Made from reinforced rubber, these tubs are flexible rather than brittle. A goat can kick it, ram it, or stand on the edge, and the tub will bend instead of breaking.
Their primary advantage is chew-resistance. While a determined goat can damage anything, these dense rubber tubs offer little satisfaction to a chewer and stand up to casual nibbling far better than any hard plastic. They are also heavy, especially when full, which helps deter the casual flipper.
The tradeoff is in the cleaning. The slightly porous surface of the rubber can be tougher to scrub clean of algae than a smooth-sided galvanized or plastic tub. They also get floppy and unwieldy to carry when full, so it’s best to fill them where they sit.
Behrens Galvanized Tub: Heavy-Duty Steel Choice
For sheer, immovable weight and brute strength, nothing beats galvanized steel. A Behrens tub is an old-school solution that works because it’s heavier and harder than any goat. You won’t find a goat chewing through steel, and only the most determined herd could manage to tip a large, full tub.
The zinc coating provides excellent rust resistance, and these tubs last for decades if cared for. They are completely rigid, so they won’t warp or bulge under the weight of water. This is the "set it and forget it" option for a permanent watering station in a pasture or high-traffic pen.
However, steel has its downsides. The metal gets hot in direct summer sun and ice-cold in the winter, which can deter drinking. They are also heavy and awkward to dump and scrub, and if the galvanized coating gets deeply scratched, rust can eventually set in.
Little Giant Flat-Back Bucket: Simple & Stable
Sometimes the simplest designs are the most effective. The flat-back bucket solves one of the most common problems: tipping. By hanging it against a flat surface like a stall wall or a sturdy fence post, the bucket can’t be easily spun, rocked, or knocked off its hook.
This design is perfect for smaller herds, individual pens, or for providing supplemental electrolytes or medicated water. Using several of these is often smarter than one large trough, as it prevents one dominant goat from hogging the only water source. Redundancy is a key principle in good animal husbandry.
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Of course, their capacity is limited, typically to around 5 gallons (20 quarts). This means more frequent refilling compared to a large tub. You also need a solid wall or fence to mount them on, making them less ideal for open pasture settings.
Little Giant Everfull: A Tough Automatic Option
Automatic waterers save an incredible amount of labor, but many are made of cheap plastic that a goat will destroy in a week. The Little Giant Everfull, however, is built from heavy-duty molded polyethylene and features a metal float cover. It’s designed to take some abuse.
This unit connects to a standard garden hose and automatically keeps the water level constant. This ensures your goats never run out of water and eliminates the daily chore of hauling buckets. For a busy hobby farmer, automating a critical task like watering is a massive time-saver.
The main consideration is the plumbing. You need a reliable, frost-proof water line running to the pen. The float mechanism can also get clogged with debris or freeze in the winter, so it requires more mechanical oversight than a simple tub. It’s a great tool, but it’s not as foolproof as a bucket.
API Heated Bucket: The Ultimate Winter Solution
Fighting frozen water buckets is the bane of every northern climate farmer. A heated bucket is less of a luxury and more of a necessity for ensuring your herd stays hydrated when temperatures plummet. The API heated buckets are a common sight on farms for a reason: they are tough, thermostatically controlled, and have a heavy-duty, chew-resistant cord.
The internal thermostat only kicks the heater on when temperatures approach freezing, saving electricity. This simple piece of equipment eliminates the chore of hauling hot water or breaking ice with a hammer multiple times a day. It’s a game-changer for winter animal care.
The obvious requirement is a safe, GFCI-protected electrical outlet near your pen. You must ensure the cord is completely out of reach of curious goats, usually by running it through a PVC or metal conduit. Electricity and livestock demand absolute caution, with no shortcuts.
Tuff Stuff Fence Feeder: The Tip-Proof Design
While marketed as a feeder, many old-timers use these heavy-duty troughs for water. Their key feature is the mounting system. With sturdy metal brackets, you can bolt this trough securely to a fence rail or stall wall, making it virtually impossible to tip or move.
The deep, narrow design also makes it difficult for goats to stand in the water and foul it. Made from thick, durable plastic, it stands up well to abuse and is a great mid-capacity option that combines the stability of a flat-back bucket with the volume of a small tub.
Like the flat-back bucket, its primary limitation is that it requires a sturdy structure for mounting. It’s not a freestanding solution for an open pasture. However, for a dry lot, barn, or paddock system, it’s one of the most secure options available.
Securing Your Waterer: Tips from the Old-Timers
The right waterer is only half the battle; how you secure it is the other half. Goats are clever, so you have to be cleverer. A few time-tested tricks can make almost any tough tub completely goat-proof.
A classic method for rubber tubs is to place them inside an old truck or tractor tire. The tire acts as a heavy, wide base that prevents the tub from being tipped, and the goat can’t get enough leverage on the tub’s rim to flip it. For galvanized troughs, building a simple, low-slung wooden frame around the base works on the same principle.
For buckets, ditch the flimsy clips they come with. Use two heavy-duty double-end snaps instead. Clip one end to the bucket handle and the other to an eye bolt screwed securely into a post or wall. This two-point connection stops the bucket from being lifted, swung, or knocked down.
Ultimately, the best waterer is the one that fits your specific setup and defeats your goats’ unique brand of chaos. Whether it’s the flexibility of rubber, the weight of steel, or the stability of a fence-mounted design, choosing durability first is a decision you’ll thank yourself for every single day. It buys you peace of mind, and that’s one of the most valuable things you can have on a farm.
