Ideas on keeping the water troughs from freezing

[mkevent]

I’m trying to come up with an inexpensive way to keep water troughs from freezing without using electricity.

The solar powered waterers are out of the question due to cost. I have found reasources on how to make your own insulated water troughs. These look like a great idea but I am wondering if there could be a simpler way for climates that usually hit the 30s temps during the day. The horses are out during the day and in at night in the winter.

From my reading, it seems that ice is less likely to form if the water is moving.

First I found these that duck hunters use to make their decoys look more realistic. They are inexpensive but the batteries only seem to last 4-6 hours so that would get expensive on a daily basis.

http://ads.midwayusa.com/find?userSearchQuery=quiver+magnet&cm_mmc=ps_google--google--HT_Waterfowl_Hunting_Beta_G-_-lucky+duck+quiver+magnet&gclid=CjwKEAiAx4anBRDz6JLYjMDxoQYSJAA4loRmP-bsrvHVb0a4K0thDUapEemw4eprr-PNHveWfDnnKhoCr3Tw_wcB

I have heard that semi deflated basketballs or footballs work by their movement in the trough helping slow down the formation of ice. I have also read that covering most of the trough so that only a small surface of water is open to the air will also help keep the water warmer.

My first thought was to make a type of “floating dock” on the top of the trough with a hole cut out for water access. As the water level dropped, the “dock” would go with it so the horses wouldn’t be putting their heads down into a deep hole in order to get to the water. I thought I could make it out of plywood mounted on some sort of Styrofoam or even old life preservers or such. I think the problem is that most troughs are wider at the top so the floating dock would probably still get stuck somewhere on the trough sides. Is this a feasible idea?

My next thought was people who do ice fishing must have a way to prevent the holes from freezing over. They do make ice fishing covers like this one

https://www.google.com/search?q=ice+fishing+covers&tbm=isch&imgil=JJ7VDSTEE7vH7M%3A%3BXmDyMWkysEF0IM%3Bhttp%253A%252F%252Fwww.fleetfarm.com%252Fcategory%252Ffishing%252Fice-fishing%252Faccessories&source=iu&pf=m&fir=JJ7VDSTEE7vH7M%3A%2CXmDyMWkysEF0IM%2C_&usg=__DSlRHKQjPGpttQpkO0UGVtNUAFg%3D&biw=1235&bih=573&ved=0CE8Qyjc&ei=KADiVLuLEcKXNsPVgZAE#imgdii=_&imgrc=JJ7VDSTEE7vH7M%3A%3BXmDyMWkysEF0IM%3Bhttp%3A%2F%2Fwww.fleetfarm.com%2Fproducts%2Fimages%2Flarge%2F0000000006342.jpg%3Bhttp%3A%2F%2Fwww.fleetfarm.com%2Fcategory%2Ffishing%2Fice-fishing%2Faccessories%3B400%3B400

They are black so they would absorb heat from the sun, they would float and if I attached them to something heavier, maybe they would bounce in the water enough to help slow ice formation. If I used the covers at night on the hole in the ice that they drink from, would this work?

It is usually not for days on end that we have frozen troughs so I just wanted something for the freeze spells.

My other thought was to put a few jolly balls or buoys in each trough to see how that works.

Am I crazy? Has anyone done this? Does it work?

[Bluey]

For some years, we used tractor tire innertubes floating in the water troughs.

The cattle would nose them around and drink where they were, that was generally open.

We also used 55 gallon metal barrels with big rocks on the bottom sitting in the metal or concrete troughs, poured about 1/4 full of diesel and let that burn.
Those kept the water open for a day or so.

We tried to put a little copper tube with many pinholes in it in the tank, then attach it to a propane bottle and let the air bubbling up keep the water moving.
Worked fine, cattle and horses didn’t seem to mind the funny smell, but we did and didn’t keep that up.
If we could have used an air compressor, that would have been better.

You could put 3’ or 4’ plastic barrels under your troughs, so the heat from the earth itself will help keep them warmer.

That is part of how the Cobett waterers work:

http://www.cobett.com/

The trouble is that, if you want your animals to have good access to water, not just a nose type hole, you have a lot of water to keep from freezing.

If you can keep the whole tank warmer, then restrict how much the cold air has access to the water, you are ahead.

[saultgirl]

How many horses are you watering? It might be easier just to carry out a couple of buckets in the morning and dump them each night.

[lcw579]

Last year during the polar vortex I lost power at the barn so the heated tubs were useless. I turned them into “insulated” tubs by piling soiled bedding all around them. I added more every day and it worked really well. It wasn’t pretty but it kept them from freezing.

[DJohn]

Build an “insulator” around your trough. Basically, just build a rectangular box with a few extra inches to spare and put a layer of foam (or straw) on the bottom. Once you put the trough on top, fill it with straw on all sides.

Really though, you do need a floating electrical heater or some form to keep the trough truly from freezing. Even our trough with a heater ices over on the edges.

[Guilherme]

If you keep the temp of the water above freezing (heat, insulation, etc.) then you’re OK. If you use mechanical means to prevent freezing but the water temperature is now below freezing you might find horses reluctant to drink and that will be a set-up for other problems.

In our area (mid-Southern Mountains) during cold stretches I only fill the large troughs about one third full to start and then use water from a yard hydrant to fill it just a bit more (and maybe even add a couple of buckets of hot water). The new/hot water will melt some of the ice, the water won’t be below freezing, and we’ve not had any difficulties from this approach.

Our cold snaps seldom last more than 2-3 days (this current one being an exception ) so this system works for us. If I were in real cold country I’d have some sort of electric heater for troughs, buckets, etc.

G.

[mkevent]

Thanks everyone for the replies!

I’m thinking that insulating the troughs might be the best bet. At least it would also keep the troughs cooler in the summer and I know how to fashion a valve on the bottom to allow easy drainage for cleaning, etc.

My other thought is putting muck tubs inside the troughs for the winter and insulating around the tubs. I could put a plywood top on to keep the horses from pulling the insulation out but still allow access to the tubs. It would require bringing water out daily, but I like this better than constantly chopping ice. Then we could use the troughs regularly during the non freezing season.

[AKB]

If you are in PA, you really need a trough heater or electric buckets. Frozen water can lead to colic and expensive vet bills and/or death.

[goeslikestink]

lag it with horse pooh ie when you muck out start putting round the tank i have been doing this for over 35 years and i normally start just as it getting cold as pooh generates heat, and lag it about 2ft out all the way round as horses do have a neck and can reach the water and do to just below the water line so you dont get no pooh in the water - it will keep it running if self filling and not lto neddies easyto do and they dont eat it pack it down good and tight then in spring and summer it moulds back into the earth might have a little left at bottom but all good stuff to start again in the autum or fall to you lot

[PossumHorse]

[QUOTE=goeslikestink;8013289]
lag it with horse pooh [/QUOTE]
Quick British / American translation: lag = insulate

[Flash44]

Why are you so against using an electric tank heater? During the cold snaps, they need to eat more to maintain body temp, and should be enticed to drink as much as possible by having 24/7 access to fresh, clean water.

I fill my 100 gallon tank up every 2-3 days. To prevent the horses from playing with the heater, remove the lower fence boards and have the trough half in half out of the field, with the tank heater in the out portion. You may have to carpentry the bottom part of that section of fence to accommodate this position of the trough, but it prevents the horses from playing with the heater.

[mkevent]

I am not against tank heaters at all. I used them when I had my own farm and they were great.

I board now and the pastures do not have access to electricity so I am looking for alternative solutions.

[keatssu]

[QUOTE=mkevent;8014072]
I am not against tank heaters at all. I used them when I had my own farm and they were great.

I board now and the pastures do not have access to electricity so I am looking for alternative solutions.[/QUOTE]

I had a different reply in mind before I read that you board your horse. IMO it is completely unacceptable for a boarding barn in PA of all places to neglect to ensure horses have free access to water.

We have the insulated waterers with the ball covering the drinking hole. They don’t require electricity, but they do require a water line. However, when it is very cold (as in -3 this morning) and snow or ice covering the ball we have to make sure the ball isn’t stuck. We put a heater in as well because the horses don’t drink as much, and we have one mare who will colic because she won’t drink if it’s very cold.

I’m quite sure you have limited boarding options or else you wouldn’t be facing this problem and trying to solve it yourself, but I would be looking elsewhere for boarding.

[Flash44]

[QUOTE=mkevent;8014072]
I am not against tank heaters at all. I used them when I had my own farm and they were great.

I board now and the pastures do not have access to electricity so I am looking for alternative solutions.[/QUOTE]

That really sucks, especially in this weather. Hope you find something that works for you.

[Lady_Eboshi]

I can’t use tank heaters for the biggest herd because they’re across the road on the big pasture and there’s no electricity over there.

So here’s what I do: 2 big Rubbermaid hundred-gallon tubs, filled from a hose every 48 hours for 14 horses. Because of the large number of horses, they tend to drink them down often enough that only the surface will freeze hard IF I break a hole large enough for them to drink through (around 14" diameter) AND leave the rest of the surface ice unbroken. Makes a nice little “greenhouse” and the water they draw down below will remain unfrozen or at least easily breakable by the horses.
The tubs are refilled often enough with warmer water that they never freeze in from the sides below the surface and really fill up with ice. Adjust the amount of water to suit the number of horses drinking; the operative part is you should cycle all the water every 2nd day.

Been using this method for 12 years and it works like a charm! Zero AM here all week and no problems.

[Jeito]

[QUOTE=keatssu;8014161]
IMO it is completely unacceptable for a boarding barn in PA of all places to neglect to ensure horses have free access to water.[/QUOTE]

I don’t think mkevent said the horses have no access to water. I board across the river in New Jersey, and it has been an unusually brutal winter here. My retiree is at a barn with heated water troughs, but my younger horse is at a barn that doesn’t have them. The water freezes very quickly, requiring constant attention to break the ice. I DO worry, but mostly I’m grateful to the barn help that does the hard work in 0 degree temps. I may be wrong, but I think mkevent is just looking for suggestions to make it easier.

[mkevent]

^^
Exactly. The horses do have access to water, I just want to delay the ice formation.

I’m working on a prototype of an insulated muck tub and will let everyone know if it works

[keatssu]

[QUOTE=Jeito;8020699]
I don’t think mkevent said the horses have no access to water. I board across the river in New Jersey, and it has been an unusually brutal winter here. My retiree is at a barn with heated water troughs, but my younger horse is at a barn that doesn’t have them. The water freezes very quickly, requiring constant attention to break the ice. I DO worry, but mostly I’m grateful to the barn help that does the hard work in 0 degree temps. I may be wrong, but I think mkevent is just looking for suggestions to make it easier.[/QUOTE]

I understand that there is water for the horses, but if it is frozen they can’t drink. The fact that the owner of the farm isn’t addressing the problem (if they are, it wasn’t stated) is worrisome.

I have a farm with a couple of boarders and wouldn’t expect them to have to solve MY problem. We are quite far south of PA and with the temperatures we are having there is no way we could keep a trough from freezing without the heaters. And as several others have mentioned, there are horses that won’t drink ice water.

There are details to be attended to in order to safely keep horses. As an owner it is my responsibility, not my boarder’s. If the OP is only trying to help the owner who is actively trying to solve the problem it wasn’t presented that way. Also, the problem of frozen water should be planned for, and it sounds to me that it hasn’t been. That would really concern me. We’ve had a week of truly arctic temperatures here which is stressful enough without having to worry about frozen water troughs.

[brody]

Because it works your way for you doesn’t mean it’s the only way.

I for a number of reasons wasn’t able to do my personal best practices for ease of winter water here this year. And it’s been freezing since around christmas.

We’ve been doing a combo of a few of the above methods and it’s working. Is it ideal? No. But it’s working well and the horses are drinking lots of temperate water daily as they want it.

Because we don’t have electricity to the trough or piped water is not a reason to assume their care is substandard.

Anyhow, we use ice as an insulator, use hot water two days then hose to fill one day. We cycle water regularly work to keep sides of trough ice free and on the coldest days also offer warm water ( which usually only one horse wants - and it’s usually a different horse each time)

Horses are also getting feed soaked and warm

[keatssu]

[QUOTE=brody;8020851]
Because it works your way for you doesn’t mean it’s the only way.

I for a number of reasons wasn’t able to do my personal best practices for ease of winter water here this year. And it’s been freezing since around christmas.

We’ve been doing a combo of a few of the above methods and it’s working. Is it ideal? No. But it’s working well and the horses are drinking lots of temperate water daily as they want it.

Because we don’t have electricity to the trough or piped water is not a reason to assume their care is substandard.

Anyhow, we use ice as an insulator, use hot water two days then hose to fill one day. We cycle water regularly work to keep sides of trough ice free and on the coldest days also offer warm water ( which usually only one horse wants - and it’s usually a different horse each time)

Horses are also getting feed soaked and warm[/QUOTE]

Sounds like you are doing a great job. My main point is that it sounds like the owners are not addressing it - if they are, there was no mention of how they are dealing with it now. We could deal with it if we didn’t have electricity, but it would entail going down to the barn every couple of hours to pour hot water in. But we live here, our boarders don’t. Part of the benefit of boarding your horse is not having to worry about this kind of thing, right? That is my point. Maybe the owners are working diligently to ensure the horses have water that isn’t frozen, but there is no mention of it.