7 Best Plastic Soaking Bins For Chickens That Old Farmers Swear By

You walk out to the coop on a blistering July afternoon and see your flock panting, wings held away from their bodies. They’re doing their best to cool down, but they need help. This is where one of the simplest, most effective tools on the farm comes in: a good old-fashioned plastic soaking bin. It’s a piece of equipment so fundamental, you’ll soon wonder how you ever managed without one.

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Why a Dedicated Soaking Bin is a Farm Essential

A soaking bin is far more than just a big water dish. It’s a multi-purpose health and management tool. It’s a cooling station on hot days, a treatment tub for bumblefoot or scaly leg mites, and a vessel for fermenting feed to boost your flock’s nutrition.

The key word here is dedicated. Using the same tub for a sick bird’s Epsom salt bath that you later use to mix feed is a recipe for spreading illness. Cross-contamination is a silent threat on a small farm, and having separate, designated bins is your first line of defense. It keeps your systems clean and your mind clear.

Plastic is the only material that makes sense for this job. It’s lightweight, affordable, and won’t rust like galvanized metal. Most importantly, its non-porous surface is easy to scrub and disinfect, ensuring you’re providing a healthy resource, not a breeding ground for bacteria.

Rubbermaid Stock Tank: The All-Purpose Classic

You see these on every well-run farm for a reason. Rubbermaid stock tanks are the gold standard for durability. They are made from a structural foam that resists cracking in freezing temperatures and won’t warp or get brittle under intense summer sun.

Their low, wide profile is perfect for a flock cooling station. Even heavy-breasted birds can easily step in and out without panicking, which is crucial for encouraging them to use it. The larger sizes, like the 50 or 100-gallon models, are also fantastic for soaking multiple feeder tubes or waterer parts all at once, saving you time on cleaning day.

The only real tradeoff is the initial cost and the space they occupy. They aren’t cheap. But this is a "buy it once, use it for 20 years" kind of purchase. If you need one container that can handle everything from a chicken spa to watering your goats, this is the one to get.

Tuff Stuff KMT100: Heavy-Duty for Feed Soaking

When you’re soaking or fermenting several days’ worth of feed, you need a container that can handle the weight and pressure. The Tuff Stuff line of tubs is built for exactly this kind of abuse. The thick, impact-resistant plastic won’t bow outwards when filled with heavy, wet grain.

One of its best features is the completely smooth interior. There are no hidden ridges or crevices where old, moldy feed can get trapped, which is a major biosecurity risk. A quick scrub and rinse is all it takes to get it perfectly clean for the next batch, ensuring your flock’s feed is always fresh and safe.

While it can double as a water tub in a pinch, its taller, straight sides can make it less inviting for birds to hop into compared to a sloped-side stock tank. It truly excels in its role as a dedicated bin for feed, supplements, or soaking dirty equipment where sheer toughness is the most important quality.

Little Giant Round Tub: Perfect for Foot Soaks

Treating an individual bird for bumblefoot requires a targeted approach. You don’t need a 50-gallon stock tank; you need a small, manageable basin. The Little Giant round tubs, often found in 15-gallon sizes, are the perfect tool for the job.

Their compact size means you aren’t wasting gallons of water and expensive Epsom salts for a single-bird treatment. The heavy-duty rope handles make it easy to carry warm, medicated water from the house to the coop without spilling. I’ve also found that the round shape seems to keep a bird calmer during a soak than a boxy, rectangular container.

This is a specialized tool, not a general-purpose tub. Trying to use it as a cooling station for your whole flock will result in a crowded, muddy mess. But for those essential one-on-one health tasks, its specific design makes the process faster, cleaner, and less stressful for both you and the chicken.

Fortiflex Flat Back Bucket: Stable and Space-Saving

There is nothing more frustrating than a flustered chicken tipping over a full bucket of water. The flat-back bucket design brilliantly solves this problem. By pressing the flat side flush against a coop wall, fence post, or tree, you create an incredibly stable container that’s nearly impossible to knock over.

This stability is a game-changer when you’re trying to soak a bird’s foot. You can hold the chicken with one hand and brace the bucket with your leg, knowing it won’t slide or tip. It keeps the medicated water where it belongs and reduces the stress of the whole operation.

It’s also a smart choice for anyone working in tight quarters. In a small run or a packed barn aisle, the ability to tuck a bucket neatly out of the way is a small but significant victory for organization. It’s the practical choice for efficient, well-managed spaces.

Sterilite Industrial Tote: A Versatile Budget Option

Let’s be realistic—sometimes you just need a bin that works without breaking the bank. The common industrial totes you find at any big-box store are a surprisingly effective option. They get the job done for a fraction of the cost of farm-specific equipment.

The key is to get the right kind. Look for the heavy-duty black totes with yellow lids, not the clear, brittle ones. The black plastic is more pliable and contains UV inhibitors, helping it resist cracking after a season in the sun. They are deep enough for a good equipment soak and light enough for anyone to move around easily.

The obvious tradeoff is long-term durability. They won’t survive being trampled by larger livestock and will eventually become brittle from sun exposure. But if you need a dedicated soaking bin for a few seasons and want to save your money for feed and other essentials, they offer unbeatable value.

Behlen Country Poly Tank: Built for Tough Farm Use

Behlen is a name you associate with steel gates and serious equipment, and their poly tanks live up to that reputation. These are engineered for the daily abuse of livestock, which means they can easily handle anything your poultry flock throws at them. The design often includes heavy ribbing for structural integrity.

Their primary advantage is the material: a high-quality, UV-resistant polyethylene. This tank won’t get chalky or brittle after years of sitting in the sun, which is a common failure point for cheaper plastics. You are paying for longevity and the peace of mind that comes with it.

Many Behlen tanks also include a drain plug. This is a massive quality-of-life improvement. Instead of wrestling to tip over a heavy, awkward tub of dirty water, you simply pull the plug. This feature saves your back and makes the chore of regular cleaning so much easier.

Husky Professional Duty Tote: The Rugged Choice

If you want a bin that is virtually indestructible, look no further than the professional-grade totes from the hardware store’s tool aisle. Brands like Husky build these containers for construction sites. They are designed to be dropped, stacked high, and generally abused.

The thick-wall construction and reinforced corners mean the tote won’t bulge when filled with water or crack if you accidentally drop a hammer on it. The handles are part of the mold, not flimsy add-ons, so they won’t snap when you’re carrying a heavy load. It’s built for work.

While it might be overkill for a simple foot soak, its sheer toughness makes it an excellent multi-purpose farm bin. Use it to soak feeders, mix soil for the garden, or carry sharp tools. This is the kind of gear you buy once and will likely be using for decades to come.

Ultimately, the "best" soaking bin is the one that solves your most common problem, whether that’s flock-wide heat stress, individual health treatments, or simplifying your feed routine. Don’t get bogged down by analysis; just pick one that fits your needs and dedicate it to the task. It’s a simple investment in good husbandry that pays dividends in flock health and your own sanity.