Watering for winter

[Iwantgoats]

thanks for the opinions everyone. We have alot to consider and think about and will hopefully find something that is safe and works for us.
Glad to know that watering in the winter without electricity IS possible.

 

[savingdogs]

Water freezes hard outside here in the winter but we found the pail in the goat barn did not freeze. When we refilled it, we did use a big giant container we had and used hot water from the house. They like drinking hot water when it is cold outside, or at least mine do.

If we filled it once a day that way it stayed unthawed. Our goats get into too much mischief to have electric cords around.

 

[Aped]

I don't have electricity to where the goats are so I fill once or twice a day depending if it freezes or not. I keep the water inside my goats' shelter. The floor is covered with straw which I don't change much in the winter. I have found that if the straw accumulates around the bucket, then the water is less likely to freeze overnight depending on temps. I always fill with hot water so I guess it's the insulation the straw gives. The goats also keep the shelter warmer with their body heat. Sometimes it's a hassle lugging a huge bucket of hot water back there, especially in 3 feet of snow but at least I know it doesn't freeze 2 seconds after I put it down. Which is a good thing because considering what other people have said and just the logistics of my setup, I'd never be able to run electric down there.

 

[cmjust0]

Tip of the day....two buckets of water are much easier to carry than one bucket of water, even if both buckets are full. And two half-full buckets as compared to one really full bucket?...a veritable walk in the park.

It's a balance thing.

 

[Mea]

It's a balance thing.

Un-oh..... Now we have to be balanced around the goaties ??? How long do You think They will go along with That ?? !!!

 

[Iwantgoats]

Tip of the day....two buckets of water are much easier to carry than one bucket of water, even if both buckets are full. And two half-full buckets as compared to one really full bucket?...a veritable walk in the park.

It's a balance thing.

well said, I found this out after about a week of goat raising, but you worded perfect.

 

[PattySh]

I dunno about you guys but I could not get by without heated water buckets in the winter. I chopped ice for many years and am done with that. I have 2 five gallon ones(75 watts) for the goats, the horses and cows each have a 16 gal muck bucket style heated bucket(250 watts) each, the piggies get a drop in water heater (like for birdbaths etc that heats to 25 gal and runs at 250 watts) in their waterers (plastic drum with pig nipples 10 inches up on barrel), chickens/turkeys have heated plastic chicken waterer, and rabbits have heated water bottles. I do have the luxury (by personal design !)of having all my stalls, chicken coop etc wired with electric plug ins so all "tanks" are inside. In the past I did have electric extension cords to run an outside heated bucket or tank(and actually I think we will need one for our boar piggie this year). If I use an extension cord in the winter I tape the connection with electrical tape securely, place it out of the walking area, place a piece of foam insulation over it etc to protect the connection. Never had a problem. Foam insulation under a rubber tub also helps insulate for those who can't do electric heat, and a bucket in a bucket with foam insulation between can keep water from freezing. Avoid the expensive 1500Watt items there are alternatives that are alot less expensive to run. I used to run a 1500W tank heater and that is sitting in my barn unused, all the heated wateres together now run on less! www.jefferslivestock.com has alot of heated waterers.