Over at Livingston Brook Farm the horses don't have water heaters. They have a bubbler. Yup, a cheap fish tank bubble filter that heats nothing at all but keeps the water moving, and discourages freezing. It costs a fraction of the electric bill and does the job. Neat idea, huh?
posted by Jenna Woginrich at 8:00 AM
The blog of author Jenna Woginrich of Cold Antler Farm. Where pop culture meets agriculture! Here she writes about her adventures following her feral life as a self-employed writer, homesteader, archer, falconer, equestrian, martial artist, hunter, spinner, brewer, geek, and real-life Game of Thrones Extra. She loves movies, music, running far, and eating animals. Paypal.me/JennaCAF On twitter @coldantlerfarm
23 Comments:
Wow!! If that works up there, it should work here in Ohio!
We use those to keep ice fishing holes open ;)
If you have time to answer, I was wondering...is the tank inside or outside? Do they use the bubbler all winter, or switch to a heater when the weather gets colder? Thanks
Hetty
Rock Island Farm, Maine
Interesting! I just ordered an expensive chicken waterer for the barn to make life easier, but a bubbler, who'd have thought!
Thanks for the tip!
How do they protect the air pump from the weather (rain and such)? I'm assuming it's outside next to the water tank.
That is awesome. Thanks for the tip!
Why is Merlin over at Patty's farm?
Love the idea of the bubbler!
Brilliant! I've been pondering what to do for mine, since I'm overwintering ducks for the first time (without a pond). This just might be the ticket!
I'm not sure about all the questions.. I'll ask patty. It's her set up. I use a broken single tree to crack the ice on my horses trough!
I know the tank is outside, but under an overhang.
Jenna, I'm mailing you a basket of goodies tomorrow to the same address that I sent the Halloween card. If that address doesn't cover packages (USPS) please let me know -terriertalesfarm@gmail.com
eileen
The pond bubbler is in the barn. A 20 ft tube runs out to the tank. So far it works. It may need heater back up in the dead of winter ie many days below freezing consecutively. We have had 1/2" ice but a hole remains at the bubble site. Horses can break through that. Chickens dont need much of an opening to drink. It's an experiment and about 4 watts as opposed to 1500 watt stock tank heater. The water tank is outside. It's a pond aerator - comes with the tubing and air stone. On amazon.
The pond bubbler is in the barn. A 20 ft tube runs out to the tank. So far it works. It may need heater back up in the dead of winter ie many days below freezing consecutively. We have had 1/2" ice but a hole remains at the bubble site. Horses can break through that. Chickens dont need much of an opening to drink. It's an experiment and about 4 watts as opposed to 1500 watt stock tank heater. The water tank is outside. It's a pond aerator - comes with the tubing and air stone. On amazon. I read that any fish tank bubbler will do.
This is a neat idea! It beats chipping ice every day!!!
Great idea, we have a duck, this might be just the ticket to keep his water from freezing. thanx
Great idea, we have a duck..this might be just the ticket to keep him swimming in winter!
thanx
Thanks Patty!
You could also use a tubing splitter at the tank to have multiple tubes in the tank at the same time. I think that may keep the water open at even colder temperatures by preventing ice in more of the tank.
Thanks for the info Patty (and Jenna for relaying the questions). Would be interested to know how the experiment comes out. I use a heated bucket for sheep now, after many years of hitting buckets with a rubber mallet. So much easier. But, less electricity would be good too.
Think lily pond not fish tank. We use them to keep our koi pond open. They are larger and more effective than the small aquarium ones.
http://www.thepondguy.com/product/pond-logic-pondair-aeration-systems/water-gardens-fish-ponds-aeration-systems
Hum, we just use a stock tank heater. They have a thermostat to run at a certain temp. It keeps a 80 gallon tank ice free.
interesting!
Post a Comment
<< Home