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Post by Susan on Jan 6, 2009 0:11:06 GMT 1
I am trying to look ahead and learn from these low tempretures. Has anyone ever insulated a field water trough, those metal ones with the ball cock system in the middle. I think it is visable to make a jacket in thick bubble warp with polystyrene slabs inside. then a area also lined over the centre even making it little higher so horses can still access water but less chance of it freezing so badly.
I am also going to get hubby to make a wooden box to completly cover our outside tap and pipework in, lining that in polystyrene with a flap to access the tap. I am sure if done right it will survive more so and allow us water supplyin most low temps.
I have tonight pinched hubbies beer making containers x 2 as they hold 20 ltrs each with sealable lids and all the 2 ltr plastic pop bottles we use foir out home brew to take plenty of water to the yard tomorrow. So I have a total of near 70 ltrs of water. I thought if we filled some plastic bins we used for feed it will give us some supply to work from.
Isnt it amazing what we take for granted simply available water supply.
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emi
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Post by emi on Jan 6, 2009 0:34:43 GMT 1
Dunno about in a field, but I 'insulated' Conn's stable buckets with a nice warm fresh poo packed around them with some straw! Lol. Probs won't last long, but better than nothing hopefully.
If you could keep the water moving its less likely to freeze, so I don't know if there's anyway of using a motor with something attacked to it to create a constant whirlpool effect, or if a horse would drink from moving water.
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Post by Susan on Jan 6, 2009 13:58:54 GMT 1
emi dont think the idea is workable but thanks. I have insulated water buckets for years. I simply put water trug inside a larger container but inside the two I put bedding, so it sits on it and has it all around the sides. One year I was given this horrible coat by my Mum, I would not be buried in it. So I opened the lining and filled it with straw and then wrapped and tied it around water buckets ( a large one) and that worked well. Sadly my Mum came to visit and I forgot and she was aghast at what I had done, I thought it was a good use of recycling!
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daisysp8
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Post by daisysp8 on Jan 6, 2009 14:04:26 GMT 1
Thats a good idea Emi and one that my OH is currently trying to do ... He is thinking of rigging up a small water pump to a car battery (or similar) to keep the water moving .. I`ll keep you informed of progress lol !!
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Post by DebbieR on Jan 6, 2009 14:05:11 GMT 1
What ingenuity Susan! Let me know how it works.
LOL at your Mum's coat ;D
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Post by pinkpony on Jan 6, 2009 14:25:18 GMT 1
emi dont think the idea is workable but thanks. I have insulated water buckets for years. I simply put water trug inside a larger container but inside the two I put bedding, so it sits on it and has it all around the sides. One year I was given this horrible coat by my Mum, I would not be buried in it. So I opened the lining and filled it with straw and then wrapped and tied it around water buckets ( a large one) and that worked well. Sadly my Mum came to visit and I forgot and she was aghast at what I had done, I thought it was a good use of recycling! LOL LOL LOL!!!! Look for building sites and go ask the builders if you can have any scraps of insulation out of the skip. If you smile at them nicely Im sure they wont mind. The thick solid yellow and silver stuff is best.
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Post by (\^/) Lotuspoint Joe (\^/) on Jan 6, 2009 18:31:09 GMT 1
All my water barrels and troughs have heaters in them. You can get water heaters from any equarium shop, pet shop. They are the heaters used for tropical fish tanks
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daisysp8
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Post by daisysp8 on Jan 6, 2009 18:34:52 GMT 1
All my water barrels and troughs have heaters in them. You can get water heaters from any equarium shop, pet shop. They are the heaters used for tropical fish tanks Daft Question ... but how do you run them ... do you have direct access to mains electricity ? I think will be my next plan lol !! There is a massive gap in the market for a "livestock water unfreezering" thingumy jig lol ... (and yes that was the technical term)
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Amanda Seater
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Post by Amanda Seater on Jan 6, 2009 18:38:14 GMT 1
Lotus PJ Can you run these heaters of a battery? I was also wondering about brewing heaters.- they come as strips if I remember.
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Caroline
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Post by Caroline on Jan 6, 2009 20:36:51 GMT 1
I used to insulate my rabbits water bottles with layers of tin foil covered in bubble wrap - then spent most nights laying awake terrified the rabbit would get at the foil and plastic and poison himself! I had a sheet of thick plastic over the hutch windows to keep the bunnies warm in cold weather, so there was never much chance the bunny could actually reach anything he shouldn't.
It worked though - it was very rare that the bottle would freeze.
I'm not sure how to apply the same principle to water tanks - but was told today that putting a football in there helps prevent freezing. Will be trying tomorrow...
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emi
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Post by emi on Jan 6, 2009 23:36:17 GMT 1
Ooh Daisy do let me know how your OH gets on with the water-moving creation, I wish I had someone to make me one lol! If it works he should definitely goes into business!
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Post by Susan on Jan 6, 2009 23:45:05 GMT 1
All my water barrels and troughs have heaters in them. You can get water heaters from any equarium shop, pet shop. They are the heaters used for tropical fish tanks I am intrigued if this idea will run off battery like you use for field fencing. If not then it is a no go..fields do not have electricity near enough to run anything like that. Waiting to hear answer.. I also like the idea of the large insulated slabs mentioned now they would be great. Also to use these to form a box to stand a independant water trug in if no trough is used to insulate it. I am sure that idea could work.
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Post by Susan on Jan 6, 2009 23:46:10 GMT 1
also son in law is chippie on building if anyone can get some he can! now I am off on another one.. he will hate me..
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Post by pinkpony on Jan 7, 2009 14:43:23 GMT 1
also son in law is chippie on building if anyone can get some he can! now I am off on another one.. he will hate me.. So your sorted then lol!! My idea would to build a box around, using the insulation slabs. The trade name is cellotex or kingspan.
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gypsydust
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Post by gypsydust on Jan 7, 2009 15:32:25 GMT 1
Isnt it amazing what we take for granted simply available water supply. I got very very excited on Monday mroning when it was actually mild enough for water to be running from the tap! A miracle! Interested in responses to the water heaters Q's... I'm going to try and rig up some insulation around my field trough tomorrow when I am off work... DIY stores here I come!
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