Ohiofarmgirl'sAdventuresinTheGoodLand-where ya been? whatcha been doin

[Farmfresh]

We had a big tree that was half way between the faucet and the horse tank. In winter we would use a hose that was just long enough to go from faucet - way up high over a big fat tree limb - then down to the tank. The hose stayed in the tree. After watering you simply took one end out of the tank and disconnected the other end from the faucet. TA-DA... an ice free hose!

For times we had to carry water I had a bucket yoke! Works great! Check out my website to see what I mean.

 

[lorihadams]

Don't feel bad honey, I'm schlepping water buckets here too. Forgot about the hose being hooked up when the freezing temps hit and they never left. Now the end of our water hose is frozen solid INSIDE the duck's pool, which is frozen beyond thawing until like April or so.

The rabbit waterers and the quail waterer and the duck's water bowl and the chicken's waterer and the dog's water bowls oh, and the sticking outside cats that try to get inside EVERY time the front or back door is opened a crack. Lil Bit snuck in this evening and I didn't know she was even inside until I went to dry my DD's hair and she was curled up in a quilt in MY bedroom.

Dang cat.

It'll get better in a few months....

 

[Up-the-Creek]

I would just rather schlepp the water as to fight with that miserable froze stiff water hose.

 

[ohiofarmgirl]

to fight with that miserable froze stiff water hose

yep thats what we ended up doing. by the time he got everything sorted out, rehooked up, and then thawed AGAIN.. i had carried all the darn buckets. i still think a hot water faucet outside would be the way to go......

Lori - i laughed about your snugly barncats. we have a couple FORMER barncats who made their way inside permanently.... it just goes to show that being snugly gets you places being scratchy does not!

 

[freemotion]

I don't have enough critters to bother with draining the hose, so I use gas cans that I purchased just for this purpose. Less sloshing into my boots than a water bucket! And I warm up my hands while dumping it in, or I can set two of them an inch apart on the ground and stick my frozen fingers between them for a quick thawing session.

Can't wait for spring!!!!

 

[Up-the-Creek]

I save plastic milk jugs to pack water in,...recycling!

 

[lorihadams]

Both of my outside cats were raised being inside cats until I got pregnant with my first child and my husband REFUSED to clean the litter box. They still remember it fondly during the winter.... I feel bad and let them in during the day periodically when hubby isn't here but shhhhhh, don't tell him that!

 

[lalaland]

its 3 above zero this am - might warm up to 10 or so. I use the milk jugs too, outdoor cold water faucet on the house, hauling out to the coop - but ouch - having as many critters as Ohiofarmgirl, would make morning watering in the winter a very dreaded chore. I say go for that hot water faucet first thing this spring!

 

[Farmfresh]

My aunt installed one of those with a "Y" set up to her regular faucet as well - just so she could give her spoiled rotten Tennessee Walking Horse a warm rinse after she rode him! With the "Y" on there she could adjust it to bath water warm.

I wanted to caution you all about giving chickens water that is too hot. You probably already know this but if they drink water too hot they can scald their crop. It is pretty much a fatal condition for a chicken or other bird. Warm water only - make sure you can hold your wrist in it a while.

 

[ohiofarmgirl]

GREAT reminder FF!

every time i fill up the buckets i vividly remember an article that i read as a newbie....and i hear the author's words in my head: don't let the water get too hot! i think they explained a frostbit comb would heal one way or another but scalding could mean doom.