livestock water heaters

[chrisdvorak]

I am looking for some advice on what you guys use from keeping your livestock water from freezing, i have a barn with electricity but do not want to run up a huge bill for having a heater going 24/7 and i do not have nor have the money to install a frost free hydrant. i have chickens with a self watering can and cows with a plastic tub, any suggestions?

 

[RichZ]

For my goats and sheep, I use 15 gallon heated tubs that TSC has for the best price. For my horses, I use a submersable heater that I put in their 50 gallon stock tank. That's also cheapest at TSC.

 

[valley]

We use 5gal heated plastic buckets, we have fewer goats that you Rich.
Richard

 

[RichZ]

The 5 gallon buckets are fine, but make sure they are someplace where the goats can't knock them over. Goats play rough with each other and can easily knock a 5 gallon bucket over, heck mine sometimes knock their 15 gallon buckets over, even when they're filled with water. Make sure the buckets turn off if the water dumps out of them. Any new heated bucket should do that, but I'm not sure about old ones.

 

[Soundguy]

I use floats that are heaters with thermostats.. they only run when temps hit freezing.. never had a tank freeze solid across a top yet.. always a couple foot hole around the float for the animals to drink from..

soundguy

 

[windy acers]

Use a the smallest rubbermade tank and heater that installs through drain plug from TSC. Bolt the tank to a fence post on a fence line and run the cord and plug on your side.The heaters have thermostates that keep the water above 40 degrees and are inexpencive to run.Use a gruond falt plug.

 

[Rusty]

Use a the smallest rubbermade tank and heater that installs through drain plug from TSC.

I have no experience with chickens or cows. For horses, I have a 50 gal. RubberMaid tank w/drain plug heater from TSC. The entire tank sets inside an Styrofoam insulated wood box. I cut a single round hole in the box cover that accepts a cut down 5 gal. plastic bucket with a large hole cut in the bottom. I have no data on electricity savings, but I am sure the insulated box and reduced water surface exposure is reducing electricity usage, considerably. The box cover can be lifted off to clean the tank. I do have to put the bucket back into the box cover at times, as the horses lift it out when they get bored.

 

[chrisdvorak]

can you see a big difference in you electricity bill by using these heaters?

 

[Rusty]

can you see a big difference in you electricity bill by using these heaters?

My heater is thermostatically controlled and the box has 1" of styrofoam insulation on all sides. My electricity bill averages 257 KWH higher per month during the heating months. Some of that increase is from the tank heater. Some of the increase is from three bucket heaters in an unheated barn, more lights on for more hours per day, and the furnace blower motor running more.

 

[sal64]

hello i use beat juice after boiling the beat the juice remaines i mix with water and water doesnt freeze as easy .naturaly i eat the beats and chickens love the juice.