Rammy's Ramblings

[Rammy]

Tank is about 20ft from an outlet. Outlet is in a storage building and its got a power strip attached to it and I have a heatlamp in the building for the outdoor animals. The breaker is also used for the barn and its lights and I also have a timer for lights connected to a power strip out there and heated water buckets, hence my hesitation to connect a de-icer to the breaker, causing an overload.

 

[Bruce]

I would be concerned as well. Not the lights but the heat lamp and the other heated water buckets.

 

[Rammy]

That's why I thought it best not to plug it in. Also about not using an extention cord. Thought I might overload or cause a short and come home and find my house or barn gone. Not worth the risk. I'll talk to an electrician about installing a plug on the fence later this spring. Right now, guess Im breaking ice when needed.

 

[Bruce]

At least you live somewhere that doesn't go below freezing all that often.

 

[Rammy]

You wouldnt think that tonight! Its going to be single digits. Im ticked off for another reason tonight, both of my heated buckets for the ducks and the chickens are frozen solid. Im not sure if its just too cold or the heating elements have gone out.
Ive had them a couple years and they were working fine until this cold snap. The one in the storage shed for the barn cats us working fine, too, and its same age as the other two. But, of course, the shed also has a heat lamp in it. I can take that one and swap it out with the chickens and see if it happens again. May have to buy a couple new ones or do like @Latestarter did witg the 5 g bucket.

 

[Bruce]

The heating elements have bitten the dust. I have a heated dog dish for the chickens and a heated 2.5 gallon bucket for the alpacas. Both show no signs of ice even at -20°F.

 

[Rammy]

I figured they have. Suppose to warm up this weekend. I will have to get a few new ones or do the 5g bucket heater. Might be better since it will hold more water.

 

[Latestarter]

Have you checked the circuit breaker panel to the plug/outlet? When I thought mine had fried, it turned out that using two of them on a single circuit was overloading the circuit and tripping the breaker. It was too cold for both heaters to be producing max output simultaneously. Once I put each on its own circuit, no further issues. Hate to say it, but I loved my 5 gallon heated chicken waterers... lid kept most crap out, water stayed liquid, rarely needed to be messed with/refilled. Did have to finger massage the nipples each morning at feeding to make sure they were free and clear.

 

[Bruce]

Hate to say it, but I loved my 5 gallon heater chicken waterers

Why do you hate to say it? Convenience at its best!

 

[Rammy]

Circuit breakers are fine. Think its the extreme cold. Last night, I took an old protien bucket and gave the cows fresh water. It holds about 50 gallons. Not as good as the big 100 gallon, but its better than nothing.
Later on, I looked at the cameras and saw the dusk to dawn light had gone out. I was hoping I had accidently flipped the switch off when I was watering the cows. Nope. Luckily, I had bought an extra light for it and had taken it out to the barn with me just in case. So I got the ladder and got up there and replaced it. It was super cold, but I cant have that light out for long. Getting a few more this weekend. I just replaced that light a few months ago.
Chickens water was frozen this morning but the ducks water wasnt. Gave them fresh water anyway so they wouldnt go without all day. Ducks water had a little ice on the rim but the rest of it was fine.
Its suppose to be in tbe 60s this weekend. Planning on moving ducks into the backyard by setting up the extra dog kennel I have. Havent gotten any replies to my ads. Culled 4 more eggs last night from the bator. I do t think any of those dozen eggs I got from that one guy were fertile. The six I got from the other seller are showing alot of promise.