Frozen Livestock Water?

[Deleted]

Just read a suggestion on one of the goat groups.  Seems that, if you put salt water into pop bottles, seal tightly, and float them in your water buckets/troughs/whatever, it keeps the water from freezing because the pop bottles bob around.

Research on google found suggestions for placing tennis balls and such into the water. That may work for some, but would be ill-advised for farms with inquisitive pups.

Has anyone tried the salt water bottles? Did it work for you?

[Ozarks Tom]

I'm more scientific, a 3 lb hand sledge hammer and a leaf rake.

Leaving anything in the tubs would be a very temporary thing, Turk thinks everything is a chew toy.

[Deleted]

Yeah, I didn't think about Jake and Ellwood grabbing the bottles... I really need to get them a Jolly Ball.

Didn't get to try it last night, but will pick up some bottles today and give her a go. If nothing else, the ice will be thinner and easier to break up.

[DEKE]

Pony, don't be silly. Frozen livestock don't need water.

[Deleted]

Jan 6, 2017 15:34:36 GMT DEKE said:

Pony, don't be silly. Frozen livestock don't need water.

[farmgirl]

It does work.

[Deleted]

I had read about the pop bottle trick a while back but had forgotten it. Thanks for the reminder. Gonna give it a try!

[Deleted]

Nick set it up, and Jake got one of the bottles almost as soon as Nick turned his back.

So he grabbed the bottle back from the dog, chastised him, and wired the bottle to the bucket handle.

Will keep you posted.

[joebill]

The very best cure for that problem is spring. If you wait long enough it always shows up. I never found anything that works half as well, and the longer you wait, the more skill you gain with the doublejack. Some problems were meant to be solved only with time and patients. best of luck.....Joe