New England winters can be brutal. Temperatures at night are usually in the teens to below zero. There are even days when high temperatures do not rise above freezing.
What happens to the water when it's so cold outside?
Of course it's freezing.
While I'd like to say we had our entire farming plan mapped out before we started raising livestock, I'd be lying.
It's just not my style, guys. I'm a 'jump in with both feet and ask questions later' kind of guy.
For the first few winters, our "plan" for handling frozen water buckets was basically to keep two sets of buckets. One in the downstairs bathroom and one outside with the animals.
Every morning we would get out a hot bucket of water and bring the frozen bucket inside to thaw. Every night we did the same thing.
It was a battle! (and my bathroom was a constant mess!)
Fast forward to the newly built barn and hindsight is 20/20. Enter frost-free fire hydrants and heated water buckets.
Total time saver...and my bathroom thanks me.
When you're starting out, having heated water buckets may not be an option. But there are still some ways to prevent water from freezing.
Insulation of your water buckets.
Insulating your water buckets will increase the time it takes for the water to freeze. Eventually everything freezes when it's really cold, but if it doesn't freeze like that for a few days, you can extend the time between bucket changes.
One way would be to place your water bucket inside a larger bucket and fill the space between them with straw, hay or chips as an insulator.
They also sell plastic insulated bucket holders that you can place your buckets in.
If your buckets are in the sun, black buckets allow you to harness the sun's heat to keep them warm.
Covers the water container.
Using some form of sunscreen over part of your water tank will use the sun to keep the water from freezing. You need a way to keep it safe. If you have animals that eat things (other than what they are supposed to eat) like we do, you need to find a way to only give them access to the open part of the trough. This can be done by putting it through a fence and leaving the insulated part outside the fence.
Use of compost.
We haven't tried this, but it makes sense. Pile compost around your buckets or troughs to use the heat from composting and keep your water from freezing. You can use old tires, place the bucket inside and fill the space with compost.
Keep the water moving.
Unless it's really freezing, moving water doesn't freeze. Some people float a ball in a large trough. This means there is less surface water that can freeze and larger animals such as horses and cows will move the ball with their nose to get to the water. (The ball should be heavy so it doesn't blow away.)
Heated water bottles.
Fill plastic water bottles with hot water and place them in your water buckets. This can slow the water from freezing so you only have to change them twice a day or less, and they are easier to carry around than full buckets of water.
Lie it!
This is what we did, twice a day. It will break down, especially if your water source is not near your shed, but it is a temporary option to get through it. Store filled water buckets in a warm place. Replace your frozen buckets with heated buckets once or twice a day. Thaw the frozen buckets and repeat.
Commercial heaters
There are numerous commercial products on the market, including insulated water bucket covers, electric immersion heaters, and flat-back heated buckets.
The options and prices are virtually endless, so you're sure to find something to meet your needs and budget.
Using a combination of methods may also produce the desired results. If there is a small amount of ice on the water, break it up and remove it completely. This in combination with one or more of the above methods extends the lifespan of your water.
As an enthusiastic farmer who has experienced the harsh winters of New England firsthand, I can confidently say that I have a deep understanding of the challenges faced when it comes to dealing with freezing temperatures and water management on the farm. Allow me to share my expertise and knowledge on this topic.
In New England, winter temperatures can plummet to the teens and even below zero at night, with days where the mercury struggles to rise above freezing. Naturally, water freezes when exposed to such extreme cold. When my farming journey began, I must admit that I didn't have a well-thought-out plan for handling frozen water buckets. My approach was more of a "jump in and figure it out later" style.
During those initial winters, our method of coping with frozen water buckets involved keeping two sets of buckets - one inside the downstairs bathroom and another outside with the animals. Every morning, we would bring out a warm bucket of water and bring in the frozen bucket to thaw. This routine was repeated every evening. Needless to say, it was quite a struggle, and my bathroom was in a constant state of disarray.
However, as time went on, we learned from our experiences and made improvements. With the construction of a new barn, we installed a frost-free hydrant and heated water buckets. This simple addition proved to be a game-changer, saving us time and preventing the chaos in my bathroom.
For those starting out and unable to invest in heated water buckets, there are alternative methods to help prevent water from freezing. One effective technique is insulating your water buckets. By insulating the buckets, you can increase the time it takes for the water to freeze. One approach is placing the water bucket inside a larger bucket and filling the space between with straw, hay, or shavings as an insulator. Another option is to use plastic insulated bucket holders specifically designed for this purpose. Additionally, if your water buckets are exposed to sunlight, using black buckets can help utilize solar heat to keep the water warmer.
Covering the water trough with a solar cover is another effective method. The cover captures the sun's heat, preventing the water from freezing. However, you'll need to find a way to secure the cover, especially if you have animals that may attempt to access it. Placing the trough through a fence and leaving the insulated part outside the fence can help address this issue.
Using compost as a heat source is a lesser-known technique. By piling up compost around the buckets or trough, the heat generated from the composting process can help keep the water from freezing. One creative way to implement this method is by placing the bucket inside old tires and filling the space with compost.
Keeping the water moving is another effective strategy. Unless it is extremely cold, moving water does not freeze as quickly. Some farmers use a ball floating in a large trough to reduce the amount of surface water that can freeze. Larger animals, such as horses and cows, can move the ball with their noses to access the water. It is important to choose a heavy ball to prevent it from blowing away.
Another option is to fill plastic water bottles with hot water and place them in the water buckets. This can delay the freezing process, reducing the need to switch out the buckets as frequently. Additionally, it is easier to carry these smaller bottles compared to full buckets of water.
If all else fails, the "lug it" method can be employed as a temporary solution. This involves manually switching out frozen buckets with warm ones, usually twice a day. Although it can be physically demanding, especially if your water source is far from the barn, it can help you get through the winter. It is important to keep the filled water buckets in a warm area to prevent them from freezing.
There are also various commercial products available to address the issue of frozen water buckets. These include insulated bucket covers, submergible electric heaters, and heated flat back buckets. The options and prices are abundant, allowing you to find a solution that fits your specific needs and budget. You may even find that combining multiple methods yields the desired results.
In conclusion, dealing with frozen water buckets during harsh winters requires creativity and resourcefulness. By insulating buckets, covering water troughs, utilizing compost, keeping the water moving, using heated water bottles, or employing manual methods, you can extend the life of your water supply and make the winter months more manageable for both you and your animals.
