January 27, 2005

Stock tanks or skating rinks: keeping the livestock watered in subzero weather

After lunch today I schlepped the water hose from the milkhouse, across the road, and into the stock tank for the older group of heifers/steers. Another one of the joys that these cold, cold days of late January/early February bring is keeping the stock tanks for the young stock outside from turning into skating rinks. The older group gets their tank filled every other day. The younger group, housed on the same side of the road as the dairy barn, has water run to their tank twice a day.

CowHoldsHose20105.jpg
Dawn helps hold the water hose as it fills
up her tank.

As soon as the older group hears the gate chain clang against the metal gate, they descend on the stock tank to slurp up the water as it starts running in. I usually hang around for a few minutes as it starts filling to make sure the over zealous animals don't knock the hose out of the tank. Today Dawn was giving me a hand by holding the hose with her mouth. While this tank filled I went to check the other tank used by the younger group.

WaterTankAx0105.JPGTwoCalvesFrozenWater0105.JPG
No ice please. An ax is essential equipment in making sure
the heifers and young stock get their water.

The other stock tank is just outside the young stock barn. It had plenty of water but an inch and a half of ice on top was preventing the animals from getting to the water. I had brought the ax along, and in a minute I had a nice opening chopped in the tank and the heifers and steers could drink to their hearts content. In the meantime, the stock tank across the road had filled up to the top. I drained the hose as I coiled it up heading back to the milkhouse. This would keep the hose from freezing up as it sits in the cold corner of the milkhouse waiting for its next trip across the road. With more subzero temps forecast for the rest of the week, I think we had better keep the ax handy.

--Jonathan, Howmars Farm
Franklin, Vermont

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Posted by Blogger Chris at January 27, 2005 10:17 AM
Comments

Why don't you have a live stock water tank heater in them there water tanks.. Oh My God what a lot of work with out them. I use electric tank heaters for my head of 20 goats and its a life saver during the winter months.. Just my 2 cents worth on the subject..

Posted by: Sandy at August 30, 2005 08:51 PM

This blog reminded me of the years that we had livestock and it got down to an unheard of temp of zero here in Arkansas and stayed there for around a week! We had 2 calves and somewhere around 80 rabbits! We had to take the axe to the water trough for the cows! Although the rabbits were in a rabbitry (barn) their water bottles would freeze up pretty quickly. We had to have 2 sets, one in the rabbitry and another one thawing! Taught daughter a real lesson in responsibility that winter!

Posted by: Valerie at January 27, 2005 06:26 PM

" I think we had better keep the ax handy", Isn't it a little too dangerous for your animal family members as it is visible in the bucket?

I enjoy reading about your extended family favorite pastimes and daily adventures. I also have a black lab like your baby Yukon. Take care of you and yours.

Posted by: JILL HUME at January 27, 2005 03:44 PM

I really enjoy reading the Bovine Bugle. It is both
informative and fun.
I don't know what a URL is or what it is for.

Posted by: molly at January 27, 2005 03:42 PM