frozen water tubs

randy1 · Dec 2, 2017

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How do all of you keep your outdoor cattle / horse tubs from freezing? tying small sump pump this yr it will be on a timer run 15 min off hr what do you think? heaters cost way too much too run

Russ from MN · Dec 2, 2017

Do you have it well insulated? If it gets very cold it will freeze as soon as it stops moving. There is no free lunch!

hydro70guy · Dec 2, 2017

I have a fairly large tank unless really cold it stays pretty good. I leave an electric heater in bottom and will plug it in to thaw out completly every 3 or 4 days plus keep half of tank covered. I am in NC Iowa so not extreme cold I hope at least.

Joe

IaGary · Dec 2, 2017

Keeping water thawed for livestock in the winter is the cost of doing business.

Running a sump pump will take electricity aw well.

So why not spend a little more and do it right?

Or you could spend a few more dollars up front and buy a energy free highly insulated waterer.
Waterer

Determined · Dec 2, 2017

(quoted from post at 07:50:48 12/02/17) h
How do all of you keep your outdoor cattle / horse tubs from freezing? tying small sump pump this yr it will be on a timer run 15 min off hr what do you think? heaters cost way too much too run

Running heated water bowls costs money, plain and simple.

When it is -40 outside and the wind is blowing sideways and you are sitting inside with your feet up knowing there is a dependable water supply for your livestock you will soon decide it was some of the best money you ever spent.

cjunrau · Dec 2, 2017

If horses only and you have snow, no need for water. if You don?t have extreme cold a three sided shelter open facing south that is only 4 ft high in the front usually collects enough heat in the day to keep it from freezing solid. If you pump in the mornings enough for them for the day and again at night till they quit drinking ( not over filling) it works all winter. I?m in Manitoba and my best friend waters 100 cows like that in a large galvanize trough. Waters 2 times a day. Has a sump pump on a float switch. Plugs it in in the morning and waits 1/2 -3/4 hour when everyone is finished drinking and plugs it out again. Does it at dark again but then stays and plugs it out as soon as they slow down coming and the. There is only a few inches froze at the bottom by morning. Fresh water thaws most of it in the morning and the sun does the rest

Fred Werring · Dec 2, 2017

I use a timer if I have to use a heater, usually 6 hours on 6 hours off.

Fred

ss55 · Dec 2, 2017

What type of cold: +25F or -40F? Insulation helps a lot.

Ground water temperature will be around 58F. Some have had success adding a large overflow to a livestock tank and continually feeding spring water or pumping ground water into the tank as a heat source.

DoubleR · Dec 2, 2017

One thing I do that offsets the cost is just keep enough water in the tank or whatever you are using to last about every 12-24 hours. I keep the water outside the pens with a head gate to stick their head in to drink. they are not able to mess with the heater which is at the other side of the tank. I keep about ten steers through the winter in the end of their barn which has a open door to the east to go outside in their lot. I bed the inside so they hangout their and their body heat will keep the barn warmer. Plus more steers mean someone is drinking allot of the time and keeping the water moving. I don't need the tank heater until it gets 20 degrees or less. Cost me about 20-25 bucks a month I figure in the winter to heat water for cattle and chickens. The cost of doing business in the North.

MARK ROBKE · Dec 2, 2017

I do not see how using a tank heater could be expensive.I used to fill my tank twice a day from a hydrant and left the heater plugged in all winter.It only uses electric to when the water temperature is below freezing, not air temperature.I never really noticed any change in my electric bill.
Actually,the only trouble I ever had was calves pulling the cord and the heater out.I put a concrete block in the tank and tied the heater and cord out of temptation's reach and never had any more trouble.
Busting ice,calves not getting water,well..., you can't put a price on not worrying about that, as far I am concerned.Mark

730virgil · Dec 2, 2017

i have a floating heater i keep it plugged in until no longer freezing in spring.
i think cattle drink more water in winter as warm water helps them stay warmer

D beatty · Dec 2, 2017

We used an old bath tub and put a jacket around it with insulation between tub and jacket. We used a tank heater with thermostat and left it on all the time during the winter. It also had a valve that kept tub full all the time.

jacksun65 · Dec 2, 2017

Cheaper than finding your animals bound up, vet bills get expensive as dead animals

JD Seller · Dec 2, 2017

I DO not have Tubs anymore. The time saving by having automatic waterers is worth the cost. You did not say where your located and what type of livestock your keeping. IF your keeping cattle or hogs on feed not keeping water to them will cost you money in lower gains. Also the livestock has to eat more to heat up the cold water. It is cheaper to have heaters in the waterers.

donjr · Dec 2, 2017

I have two Behlen waterers that only rarely, if ever, freeze up. And that's usually with near zero temps and a stiff wind blowing. They'e heavily insulated and the water tank is sealed by a big ball. I also have three spring developments that have never frozen. They get 55 degree water from 3 springs and constantly flow, so water that goes in at about 55 may go out at 50 or so, but it never is in long enough to freeze.

olgentdc · Dec 3, 2017

i have a 20 ft windmill from KOenders ,it pumps air into the water , the bubble ripple never freezes

Bret4207 · Dec 3, 2017

(quoted from post at 13:30:20 12/02/17) I do not see how using a tank heater could be expensive.I used to fill my tank twice a day from a hydrant and left the heater plugged in all winter.It only uses electric to when the water temperature is below freezing, not air temperature.I never really noticed any change in my electric bill.
Actually,the only trouble I ever had was calves pulling the cord and the heater out.I put a concrete block in the tank and tied the heater and cord out of temptation's reach and never had any more trouble.
Busting ice,calves not getting water,well..., you can't put a price on not worrying about that, as far I am concerned.Mark

Seriously?!! Where do you live Mark? The tank heater comes on at a preset temp, usually a few degrees above freezing and will run until the water temp is above that. In minus 20 to minus 40F temps that can be several DAYS or even WEEKS in my area. The only help I've found is using an insulated tank. I use old dead chest freezers.

frozen water tubs

randy1

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Russ from MN

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hydro70guy

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IaGary

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Determined

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cjunrau

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Fred Werring

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ss55

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DoubleR

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MARK ROBKE

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730virgil

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D beatty

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jacksun65

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JD Seller

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donjr

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olgentdc

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Bret4207

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