|
Post by ymarsay on Jan 9, 2011 10:19:40 GMT 1
Hi Guys
Does anyone know what they do in countries with sub zero temps to stop water freezing, do they use some sort of trace heating? Can you buy battery units, tried looking on the net with no luck.
I Live in the north of Scotland and we have not had more than 5 days above freezing since November the 1st, water is proving a major issue, people say horses don't drink snow, well I tell you there is only so much you can do in these conditions. Horses do eat snow for water, it's in way no way ideal, and I am worried, but she does seem really fine and probably I'm worrying too much. We tried hauling hot water but it freezes almost as quick as it comes out the containers, the stream has frozen solid (slow running) but also the build up of snow and ice means both owner and horse practically risk life and limb try to get to it. I have no stable, all taps have frozen other than my house which is proving very messy and extremly time consuming (modern taps don't fit hoses, ha ha). Nothing seems to help when temps drop below minus 5, everything is lagged but no luck. tried the ball thing, no luck and tried insulating tubs sitting on rubber tyres, tried bubble wrap......help. I am looking to move to a lower lying livery yard as it is obvious things can't go on like this, but I have to pay rent or loose the land and i have bought all they hay in....paying for livery could cause divorce but I am conserned for the welfare of my horse, just trying for that last ditch help.....TA (although getting the horse box out on 6 inches of hard packed ice is also proving a mjor obsicle even the tractor failed). My other friends are not so worried and working on the snow is better than nothing regime but we are all struggling, I will say I live in an amazing community and last winter and this has really pulled us together - but lets hope whatever is causing these winters isn't going to last as there is some serious issues going on up here, all the sheep, deer (which by the way are so hungry they actually have a go at puinching the Hay from under my horses nose) not just the horses are all suffering.
|
|
|
Post by Mellymoo on Jan 9, 2011 11:28:03 GMT 1
Someone in the states has a heated trough - it has power to it and keeps the water liquid. Not sure of the company but if you google it might come up? I feel for you - I hope it thaws soon, this is the most ridiculous winter ever!
|
|
|
Post by happysnail on Jan 9, 2011 12:06:23 GMT 1
I wonder what they do in Canada? Totally agree that it's fighting a lost battle at the low temps as even the hot water freezes before it can melt ice. On the plus side, they seem to cope better in snow than in wet, windy weather around 0oC.
|
|
|
Post by wabuska on Jan 9, 2011 12:17:11 GMT 1
They can eat the snow, but it takes energy for their bodies to then warm the cold snow to water, so it can lead to weight loss. Here in Ireland, everyone seems to be hauling water from home. Few yards survived that last cold snap.
|
|
|
Post by cassiejane on Jan 9, 2011 12:22:58 GMT 1
Dont think they do eat snow kanga, honestly never seen evidence of it.
My brother in law suggested a pond heater might work, so I am going to try that he has one he is going to lend me to try, will keep you posted.
|
|
|
Post by bertie666 on Jan 9, 2011 12:47:24 GMT 1
|
|
cazd
Intermediate Poster
Posts: 190
|
Post by cazd on Jan 9, 2011 12:47:50 GMT 1
Trace heating might work. My hubby works for one of the water companies (not in Scotland though) and that is what they are doing with their water intake stations. We got down to -18 here one evening in the really bad cold spell but so far as I know, the trace heating kept the water from freezing. we were able to thaw the taps out each morning at our yard by filling a hot water bottle and wrapping it round the tap for 15 mins or so while we poo picked - dont know whether that might work?? Otherwise I think you are going to be stuck with taking water from home. I really feel for you - it must be a nightmare.
|
|
cuffey
Olympic Poster
Posts: 962
|
Post by cuffey on Jan 9, 2011 12:56:17 GMT 1
|
|
|
Post by ymarsay on Jan 9, 2011 13:35:10 GMT 1
Hey thanks guys, I'll look at the pond heater and have another look on line for trace heating, (I'll try the poo packing, you just never know. Cazd is the trace heating your hubby uses mains linked, probably I think.
Thanks for your help chaps
|
|
Trouble
Grand Prix Poster
Posts: 2,263
|
Post by Trouble on Jan 9, 2011 13:51:43 GMT 1
Turn it off at the mains and keep all taps open so they drain - nothing to freeze in the pipes and even if there is a bit left, it won't split the pipes.
Using this methos we've managed to keep water running all winter so far (not to the auto troughs in the field but we didn't even try!)
At most, it takes us a kettle of water just to unfreeze the actual tap.
|
|
daisysp8
Grand Prix Poster
People only see what they are prepared to see
Posts: 2,120
|
Post by daisysp8 on Jan 9, 2011 14:16:05 GMT 1
Dont think they do eat snow kanga, honestly never seen evidence of it. Oh trust me, they do lololol .... I spent 10 minutes hacking my way through 6 inches of ice on the top of one of the troughs ... Coby came over to see what i was doing ... he sniffed the hole i`d made in the ice, turned to the other trough that i hadn`t touched, that had a good pile of snow on top of it, and proceeded to munch, lick and slurp his way through the powdery snow lol ... Horses, who`d have em !! ymarsay ... I have no idea`s on how to keep it running, here in Linces we`ve had the same problem and have been carting it down from home for weeks on end ... It`s been down to -18 here, and with the thigh deep snow we couldn`t get the car down either, so i had to pull a sledge 2.5 miles, 3 times a day, carrying the water containers .... add into that a 6 year old son and a lil dog stuffed uner my arm and it`s been heaps of fun lolol Just wanted you to know you`re not alone ;D
|
|
|
Post by ymarsay on Jan 9, 2011 14:17:15 GMT 1
Thanks Cuffy seriously going to check this out as well.
|
|
|
Post by donnalex on Jan 9, 2011 15:42:48 GMT 1
Not the answer but if your horse is living out it might help a bit if you put hay down on the floor and shovel snow on top of it so as they eat they take in a bit of snow at the same time. It has been so cold here that when I sprau anti freeze onto the car window it just freezes instead of thawing the windscreen. We are incredibly lucky and have a spring that comes from underground and runs away down the bank but the horses stand on the top side of it where the water never runs so it is dry and not slippy. And once we got the hose going this time we put it into a land drain and left it running. Last winter I got so fed up of lugging water from the house! I do hope we are not heading for an ice age, apparently quite a few years back there was a 'mini ice ages' which got like this, gradually worse for quite a few years then went back to normal. Still at least global warming is not being rammed down our throats at the moment
|
|
|
Post by kristine on Jan 9, 2011 18:16:03 GMT 1
Horses DO eat snow, but its probably not nearly enough with the stabled horse's irregular feed intake. (i.e. meals 2-3 times a day instead of constant grazing). I have tank heaters. They don't actually make the water warm, but they DO keep it from freezing solid. Sometimes theres a little ice around the rim, but it keeps it open. These are the kind I have and I have one for the horse trough and one for the sheep trough. www.valleyvet.com/ct_detail.html?pgguid=4f619298-9977-4f0a-8d6f-5a9805e04cf4My horses are chewers, so part of the trough with the heater in it is blocked off by a piece of fencing. They are totally the ones that would eat electric wires. They do take quite a bit of electricity to run, but its worth it!!! As far as temperatures where I live (let me go convert from F to C) Right now its 9am, sun is out and its -14C. Tank heaters work! I have a frost-free spigot down at the barn, too so the pipes don't freeze. Its a spigot buried about 5 feet in the ground with a drain at the bottom. When you turn it off, the water in the pipe drains into the earth so the pipe doesnt freeze. Takes a backhoe (uuuuhhhmmm, trencher? Trying to overcome language culture differences) to put in, but again... its the price of having water instead of ice in the winter for your horses! Also, I have a garden hose that I fill the tanks with... it has to be unhooked and drained after each use or you will get frozen pipes! The trough itself is a black rubber 100 gallon. I'll try to take some pics. I moved here from a warm part of the US (the same state, but almost 500 miles to the south) and its been a learning experience to do extreme cold weather horse-keeping! MTA: I leave them turned on all the time... painful on the utility bill for sure, but a "cost of doing business".
|
|
|
Post by anastasia55555 on Jan 9, 2011 18:48:49 GMT 1
Havent tried this myself but a friend did, but water bucket inside two tyres and she said even at -15 they were frozen solid like the ones outside, this was inside field shelter. I did think that if the tyres were stuffed with straw and maybe placed on some straw and something else, carpet, door mat or something, then that might help insulate it?
|
|