water heaters

[currycomb]

we get some cold snaps here. first, drain all hoses after use, only freezes if water in them. when we need warm water for rabbits and other small animals, fill up 2liter plastic bottles, place in laundry basket, haul to bottom of deck steps and place on wagon or sled, depending on ground conditions. can make controled pouring, going into bowls and not on us or ground to freeze and make for dangerous walking. for larger animals, fill the big trough, place plywood over one end, and place heater under plywood, making the cord unaccesible to horses and goats. usually only have to fill big tank once a week, small animals 2xday

 

[cmjust0]

I throw a hose on the southern-exposed part of our roof during the winter. Roof gets pretty hot in the sun, even on cold days....keeps the hose thawed.

 

[Rence]

I use a submergeable heater for the cows. But for the goats, I carry out a bucket of hot water for each pen, twice a day, and also bust the ice on top of their regular water container. The nubians will drink it hot, they actually like it on really cold mornings, especially kids. It was gratifying to see shivering kids suck up that hot water and stop shivering. You can even add molasses to it if you find some of them aren't drinking. My goats don't particularly like really really cold water.

Now the submergible heater I have only keeps the water from freezing, it doesn't "warm" the water. But it worked out really well for the cows and I love it.

I don't know how experienced you are with goats, but the first year I had them, I worried about them a lot. For what it's worth, as long as you keep them in free choice supply of good hay, it will help keep them warm as it stimulates their rumen. Working rumen = warmer goat (or cow). Take care that if they're not drinking though, because they need water in order for the rumen to work. And some won't drink water if it's ice cold.

If I could, I would also have a heater for them just for the convenience. But mine are too far away for that to be practical. I love the heater for the cows...but I have to run an outside electrical cord to the house and hope no one snags it. I don't have to use it too much where I live though.

 

[freemotion]

You can make an insulated bucket pretty cheaply and easily with two buckets that fit inside each other, a ring of plywood to suspend the smaller inside the bigger, and packing peanuts to stuff between the two. I also used Great Stuff to fill spaces and it ended up gluing it all together. I used a muck bucket with a five gallon pail and it rarely froze, even in sub-zero weather, if I filled it with very warm water. Too tall for my pygmy-x's, though, but worked great for my mare.

 

[JoAnn]

Be careful with the heated 5 gallon horse water buckets! I had them...used them faithfully 1 1/2 seasons. Last winter I had one start on fire! Nearly lost my little barn and 2 horses. My husband saved the day! he saw the flickering light in the barn and realized quickly that it was a fire. He had just been down there and filled the buckets, then turned them on. He grabed a fire extinguser from the garage and was able to put it out. Only the cord, bucket and wall on which it was hung and the mat below were damaged. In just a few minutes all would have been lost!
I had the fire inspector invetigate. He determined that these buckets are a problem because they hang in the stall and we clean them daily, each time we are lifting them and flexing the cord at the base of the bucket to dump the remaining water and debris into the wheelbarrow. The constant flexing of the cord will cause an eventual break in the wires inside the rubber coating and that will eventually lead to a short AND a potential fire.
I have pictures of the burnt bucket if anyone would like to see the damage, sent me a request message.
I am currently on the hunt for a safer solution to having reasonably warm water in the stalls for the show horses!

 

[ksalvagno]

I use bird bath water heaters. I have had the same ones for years. I have 3 that I have had for at least 8 years now. I put them in 5 gallon buckets. My 5 gallon buckets are the ones you see at Home Depot and such.