Simple way to not have frozen water buckets

[starbuck]

Thank you Susan ;D . For about the first time in about a fortnight my water bucket in the stable hasn't frozen (despite being broken at 9 pm). I insulated in two buckets and it worked, although it is actually warmer here now it has started snowing.

[julz]

there is a device you can get, that stops water freezing in a trough... it,s a metal wire - looped - and connected to a battery.. you place it in the bit where the ball c0ck is, it heats up, and keeps the water temp above freezing.