Ice in water troughs - question

[RuthnMeg]

So, I break the ice twice daily for the mares, and what I want to know is, do you take out the large chunks of ice or leave it a bit 'cluttered'? I realise that the pipes won't work, hence why Iam only taking out some of the largest chunks, but was curious to know what you all do? Cluttered ice means it feezes together quicker, or is that just me?!

 

[Toffee44]

I take it out with a shovel if I can. But my guys are pretty good at making a hole to drink from them selves.

 

[Aces_High]

I know what you mean! I try and take it all out as I seem to have it in my mind that it will freeze again more quickly if there is ice left in it! I am not sure though. I am dreading returning to the big freeze......

 

[bryngelenponies]

I try and take it all out as I seem to have it in my mind that it will freeze again more quickly if there is ice left in it!

This is what I do- I'm sure there must be some logic to it

 

[JanetGeorge]

I know what you mean! I try and take it all out as I seem to have it in my mind that it will freeze again more quickly if there is ice left in it! I am not sure though. I am dreading returning to the big freeze......

It does seem to freeze again more quickly if there's ice in it - but if the pipes caren't working, I just smash it up VERY thoroughly - with a hammer - so if there's a bit of a thaw during the day, it will melt quicker (saves having to cart quite so much water!)

 

[The Xmas Furry]

I smash it thoroughly - and remove the largest chunks to a trug next to the tank behind the electric tape, this is me hoping to stop them forming a large sheet again.

 

[DragonSlayer]

We take them out, and keep topping up from barrels....back-breaking work but satisfying once you see a nice full de-iced bucket/trough! In these temps today though, it will very soon freeze again.....it's fighting a losing battle.....

 

[domane]

Keep the ice chunks you take out in a trug because they may thaw quicker than your pipes and then you can tip the water back into the trough.

 

[Arabelle]

I take them out and keep the water topped up full from containers I have to lug from the house, doubles my time but if I let the level get too low it will freeze solid - it is seriously cold here (Perthshire)

 

[learningcurve]

I use trugs in the field.

I take up 2 large containers of hot water in the morning to top up, the ice melts, a lot less bother.

Never seems to have iced over much if at all when I go back up late afternoon.

 

[lizzie_liz]

Smash the ice and remove the big chunks of ice. I need to keep the container topped up full as u have come down in the morning to find 4 inches of solid ice at the bottom of the bucket. I am lucky as the yard has a toilet with radiator where there is a tap so we never have frozen pipes, a god send

 

[ThePony]

Always take the ice out, I want it to be as tempting to drink as poss. Not a prob now though as the troughs are frozen solid! Fresh water buckets out every day now. Hurry up warmer weather!

 

[Hippona]

I use trugs in the field.

I take up 2 large containers of hot water in the morning to top up, the ice melts, a lot less bother.

Never seems to have iced over much if at all when I go back up late afternoon.

Thats what I do ....take a container of hot water down on a morning...it melts most of it nicely and stays ok until tea time.

 

[spotty_pony]

I try to take out as much as I can, as I think it freezes more quickly if you leave it in as the ice just resets together.

 

[magicgirl]

I take out most of the ice with a colander, much better than using my hands. I also fill the trough daily with water brought from home in a container.

 

[9tails]

I make a schnozzer hole and remove the big chunks of ice from that. I don't smash the whole lot up as taking all the ice out would seriously deplete the water level once the next lot of ice forms, gets smashed up and removed. I have chucked 50 litres into the schnozzer hole.

 

[skychick]

With our drinkers in the stables, we break up all the ice and then fish it all out with little aquarium fishing nets, they are bril!

Re the field drinkers.....not sure the YO does them! Pretty sure just smash the ice up and remove the big bits!

 

[Shazzababs]

We have big oblong troughs, I smash one half and then pile all the chunks up on the other. Means the water goes back in when it melts.

 

[badgerdog]

I take out all the chunks of ice. I take a kettle and defrost the pipes. It took 2 kettlefuls this morning but I've always managed to do it up till now. I

 

[PurplePickle]

someone mentioned putting blobs of sunflower oil in the trough to stop it freezing, not sure if it works but trying it today after defrosting the trough with hot water from the bath

 

[ponypops]

have given up breaking ice as it froze back almost straight away. similar to last poster am hauling large containers from kitchen and filling 2 big buckets. make sure i empty out and fetch buckets down at night as horses all in anyway. sometimes have to nip out out lunchtime and refill depending on how many out but is still easier than breaking ice as well as making sure they get a proper drink.my children spent the weekend filling ponies buckets with hot water and found they liked it better warm although it used up all our hot water!!!!

 

[JadeWisc]

Reading all of this really makes me feel for you. I use a tank deicer/heater to keep my tanks from freezing. After another thread I understand that most of you do not have easy access to tank heaters and that is unfortunate. They are a God send. It also makes the horses drink more because the temp is more pleasing to them.


I also agree that leaving the chunks in will make it freeze together faster so best to remove them.

 

[Dizzydancer]

We don't take any out, we make a small hole in middle big enough for them to drink out of, YO likes this as it does actually prevent it freezing so quickly as it is a bit of insulation layer. Apparently!!