Registered: Mar 2005
Location: Illinois
Posts: 2043

im trying to find a way this year where i dont have to go out every three hours and break the ice in their water buckets. i had heated buckets where i lived before but where their pen is now i cant get any electricity to them. is there any other way to keep their water from freezing(at least as fast)?. im sure there has to be a way..

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Registered: Jul 2006
Location: Turtle Mountains, ND
Posts: 1023

Try to get the bucket out of the wind, a barn maybe. Bank it with straw. Cover half the bucket with a board to help insulate it. Fill with warm water. I also used the warm water to wash the outside of the frozen bucket to get the ice to drop out. Replace the water twice a day, double theiri ration and the dogs should be fine. Good luck.

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Registered: May 2006
Location: KENTUCKY
Posts: 407

poor a little salt in the bucket it wont hurt the dogs and it will take about 12 hours to freeze been doing this for severl years now and it works great

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Registered: Jun 2003
Location: Los Angeles, MN
Posts: 4236

I seem to remember from science class that warm water actually freezes faster than cold water.

Salt will help some, as long as temperatures are above 20.

I would invest in some extension cords and get some heated bowls, saves a lot of aggrivation IMO.

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Registered: Nov 2006
Location: Mayer, MN
Posts: 920

...then add some warm water to their food (warm not hot) and they will get some good liquid with their meal. Then twice a day getting that ice out of the buckets. Get those buckets made out of recycled tire rubber and you can flip them over and step on the bottom to get the ice out. It helps if you don't fill it so full, just make sure they have all they want before it freezes over. Or you could do like lots of folks in the north do, take a corner of your attached garage and add an indoor outdoor kennel and keep the food and water inside. It still might freeze but not as fast or thick. That may be a big solution to a small problem but year to year for 4-5 months emptying ice out of buckets gets old.

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Registered: Dec 2003
Location: Mercer PA
Posts: 4837

quote:

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Originally posted by josh

I would invest in some extension cords and get some heated bowls, saves a lot of aggrivation IMO.

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Ron Ashbaugh
CROOKED FOOT KENNELS

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Registered: Mar 2005
Location: Illinois
Posts: 2043

my kennels are 200 yards from the nearest outlet..lol thats alot of extension cords..

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Registered: Mar 2005
Location: Illinois
Posts: 2043

opie how much salt?

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Registered: May 2006
Location: KENTUCKY
Posts: 407

i usually poor about 3 to 4 table spoons in a 3 gallon rubber bucket it will still freeze but just a thin layer on top the dog can easily break it with his nose

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Registered: Jul 2006
Location: Turtle Mountains, ND
Posts: 1023

quote:

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Originally posted by josh
I seem to remember from science class that warm water actually freezes faster than cold water.

Salt will help some, as long as temperatures are above 20.

I would invest in some extension cords and get some heated bowls, saves a lot of aggrivation IMO.

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