Shopping--What did you buy?

[Connie Bennett]

SO ordered a heater for the fish pond.

Details please. I am stumped as to how to keep the 100 gallon water tank, in the far pasture, from freezing over. I rented that pasture to the lady who owns Ali for her BLM & her donkey. Everyone who was boarding where she was had to be out in less than a month; some folks had been there 14 years.

Anyway, we ran 300 feet of one inch water hose from the spigot at my barn, down to the water tub, but there is no electric.

I am open to any and all ideas

 

[Hedi Mitchell]

I ordered a couple of sweaters fro Sophie from Walmart. I went into acct yesterday to find out Walmart cancelled my order
due to unusual activity- Seriously? Never got a text or a message about why this was done. I asked the AL on their site.. It did not know either.I am not happy. So ordered from Amazon.

 

[Marie Miller]

Details please. I am stumped as to how to keep the 100 gallon water tank, in the far pasture, from freezing over. I rented that pasture to the lady who owns Ali for her BLM & her donkey. Everyone who was boarding where she was had to be out in less than a month; some folks had been there 14 years.

Anyway, we ran 300 feet of one inch water hose from the spigot at my barn, down to the water tub, but there is no electric.

I am open to any and all ideas

Amazon. Search “stock water tank heater solar”. Several options. There was a thread here about solar applications. Maybe the posters can assist.
Actual commercial units are out there but for a price.
Here is some reading material https://solarpoweredwaterheaters.co...ghs-freeze-resistant-solar-heating-solutions/
Have you contacted your County Extension Office or any farming/ranging related organizations?

 

[Connie Bennett]

Amazon. Search “stock water tank heater solar”. Several options. There was a thread here about solar applications. Maybe the posters can assist.
Actual commercial units are out there but for a price.
Here is some reading material https://solarpoweredwaterheaters.co...ghs-freeze-resistant-solar-heating-solutions/
Have you contacted your County Extension Office or any farming/ranging related organizations?

1. Thank you very much. I will visit Amazon

My area sees a lot of sun, but the tub sits in a shaded area. I would need to find a solar panel that can see thru the trees.

2. No to contacting our county co-op. Once upon a time the folks on the back counter really knew their stuff, but those folks all retired. The younger ones who took their place all say “I can look that up for you”. So can I kid, but thanks anyway

I can always go back to old school and bust ice with a sledge hammer, but I have to do it over the woven wire fence, then fish the ice out. Thankfully that kind of freezing doesn’t last too many days where I live.

I appreciate your input. Hopefully I can find something workable on Amazon

 

[John Brunner]

I went to ALDI today and got a couple of bags of these. They are only offered this time of the year:

I used to find a version of these as Windmill Cookies all year long. The Benton brand uses various Christmas cookie cutters as well as a windmill, and lacks the almond slices that classic windmill cookies have.

 

[John Brunner]

1. Thank you very much. I will visit Amazon

My area sees a lot of sun, but the tub sits in a shaded area. I would need to find a solar panel that can see thru the trees.

2. No to contacting our county co-op. Once upon a time the folks on the back counter really knew their stuff, but those folks all retired. The younger ones who took their place all say “I can look that up for you”. So can I kid, but thanks anyway

I can always go back to old school and bust ice with a sledge hammer, but I have to do it over the woven wire fence, then fish the ice out. Thankfully that kind of freezing doesn’t last too many days where I live.

I appreciate your input. Hopefully I can find something workable on Amazon

I wonder if getting a solar powered aerator along with a heater might also help prevent freezing. I'm curious as to how either solar option would help with the temps being lowest when the sun is down.

 

[Marie Miller]

I wonder if getting a solar powered aerator along with a heater might also help prevent freezing. I'm curious as to how either solar option would help with the temps being lowest when the sun is down.

Battery back up

 

[John Brunner]

Battery back up

I thought of that, but the current draw for a heater would be significant...I assume.

 

[Connie Bennett]

I thought of that, but the current draw for a heater would be significant...I assume.

Yes. Not cost effective, plus I would have to haul it 300’ downhill and put it inside some sort of weatherproof& crushproof container. Believe me the limbs on some trees lining the fence are big enough to be their own tree.

I appreciate all ideas — if they aren’t workable, chances are good they will lead me to something that is

 

[Beth Gallagher]

Is the tank metal, @Connie Bennett ? Some kind of tank insulation around it (a frame and some straw or sawdust) and a solar cover for the top? You'd have to have a cutout on the top for the animals to drink.

 

[John Brunner]

Is the tank metal, @Connie Bennett ? Some kind of tank insulation around it (a frame and some straw or sawdust) and a solar cover for the top? You'd have to have a cutout on the top for the animals to drink.

That's a good point. The less surface area for the heat to escape, the easier it will be to keep it from freezing...regardless of what solution you opt for. Even a tarp over it at night (then removed in the morning) would be of benefit, assuming the critters don't need 24 hour access.

 

[Connie Bennett]

Is the tank metal, @Connie Bennett ? Some kind of tank insulation around it (a frame and some straw or sawdust) and a solar cover for the top? You'd have to have a cutout on the top for the animals to drink.

No. It is a Rubbermaid tub. A partial solar cover is a great idea. The material is supposedly not toxic to horses, so that’s a huge plus.

That's a good point. The less surface area for the heat to escape, the easier it will be to keep it from freezing...regardless of what solution you opt for. Even a tarp over it at night (then removed in the morning) would be of benefit, assuming the critters don't need 24 hour access.

Both of you have given me an outside-the-box idea! Hopefully it will work as long as neither the Mustang nor the donkey chew things up.

I am going to purchase enough soft solar pool covering to wrap around the tub.

I can’t completely cover the tub at night because they do drink at night. BUT I can try to figure out how to partially cover the tub to help hold heat but they would still be able to drink.

The best part is, this should be efficient without breaking the bank

 

[Tony Nathanson]

Yesterday, my mouse quit scrolling. No surprise; it's at least 14 years old. I went to Office Depot & got a new one, along with a new mouse pad.
My old mouse took two batteries & the new one takes one. I put the battery in & the mouse wouldn't work. I thought the battery might be dead but it tested good. I tried to read the directions but the print is too tiny. I was about to return it & remembered that instruction manuals are often available online. I googled "Wireless Mouse Instructions." There it was. When you open the battery compartment, there is a pull-out USB plug to plug into the computer.
These days, most instruction manuals are just a brochure with tiny print - useless!

 

[John Brunner]

Yesterday, my mouse quit scrolling. No surprise; it's at least 14 years old. I went to Office Depot & got a new one, along with a new mouse pad.
My old mouse took two batteries & the new one takes one. I put the battery in & the mouse wouldn't work. I thought the battery might be dead but it tested good. I tried to read the directions but the print is too tiny. I was about to return it & remembered that instruction manuals are often available online. I googled "Wireless Mouse Instructions." There it was. When you open the battery compartment, there is a pull-out USB plug to plug into the computer.
These days, most instruction manuals are just a brochure with tiny print - useless!

In other news...sucks gettin' old.

 

[Yvonne Smith]

It is definitely getting colder, so I ordered a throw blanket to cover myself when i am sitting in my recliner. Even with socks, my feet are getting cold easier now, so a throw blanket should help and it will be cozy.

 

[Marie Miller]

SO is in the process of replacing all switches with toggle switches My question - what caliber?

 

[Mary Stetler]

Details please. I am stumped as to how to keep the 100 gallon water tank, in the far pasture, from freezing over. I rented that pasture to the lady who owns Ali for her BLM & her donkey. Everyone who was boarding where she was had to be out in less than a month; some folks had been there 14 years.

Anyway, we ran 300 feet of one inch water hose from the spigot at my barn, down to the water tub, but there is no electric.

I am open to any and all ideas

I carry HOT water at least once a day during cold season.

 

[Mary Stetler]

It is definitely getting colder, so I ordered a throw blanket to cover myself when i am sitting in my recliner. Even with socks, my feet are getting cold easier now, so a throw blanket should help and it will be cozy.

Alpaca socks! Ask Santa.

 

[Mary Stetler]

Is the tank metal, @Connie Bennett ? Some kind of tank insulation around it (a frame and some straw or sawdust) and a solar cover for the top? You'd have to have a cutout on the top for the animals to drink.

A friend used styrafoam but animals sometimes like to chew on it so you need a wooden container around it too.