Licking Snow

[kato]

We put the heat tape down the hole mainly because we weren't interested in digging it all up just to increase the diameter. The directions call for a pretty large diameter culvert/pipe thingy in order to use the ground heat to keep it from freezing, but ours was only about a 6" pipe. So heat tape it is.

I'm not sure how much it's going to change our hydro bill, because we've got three other conventional waterers as well. I do know they use the power, that's for sure. I know we're going to save money, but spread over four waterers, it may not be so obvious right away. Once we replace them all, then it's going to show up more easily.

It didn't take the cows long to figure out that there was water under those blue floats, but it was funny to see them all standing around in a group fooling around with them. It was like office workers at the water dispenser.

[forage]

Isn't there a old saying that the only way not to lose cows is don't own any.If there is anything that can go wrong a cow well find a way to get herself in that circumstance. If memory serves me right a rancher in the east country lost 30 head or more when the herd moved into high banked dugout durring a winter storm using it as wind break and of course the ice gave way drowning a majority and the remaining ones were covered over by drifting snow and suficated. Would have paid to fence these dugouts. But sorry for your loss ,just lucky you only lost one.

[ALLFARMER]

Anyone using cowcrete concrete watering bowls?
Thinking of putting in a few next year.

[smcgrath76]

We looked at them when we rebuilt waterers
here, but went with recycled tire troughs
from Marwayne. Look on Kijiji as they
sometimes show up for less.
I have heard good things about those
trough and bad about the elements. We
really like the tires.

[forage]

I would not recommend them, I have the large blue one for the main winter water supply. Problems with every thing you can imagine .Only 4 years old and numerous stress cracks, elements cann't keep up to cold weather,the electric board completely had to be replaced. I know that as soon as we have to lift it up to replace it ,the complete unit well split in two. Inorder to lift you have to tread in 2 U-bolts and the stress fracks are naturally right at holes for the bolts. Before you purchase one take a good look were the lift points are and one you lift it to load and lift to place on your pad well be about the last time you well be able to work with it. For ever chopping out the ice from blow. Works great for watering alot of cattle at a time durring the summer but winter is your problem.

[DogPatch]

I would be concerned about calves getting knocked in upside down in those tire waters.......

what kind of a price tag on the Ritchie waterers?

[wlc]

Run an electric Wire [or wires ] across top of tire trough .Stops all crowding
and pushing .Also stops cattle from drinking down too low and damaging or
freezing float .

[forage]

Dogpatch you have a valid concern. The water trough that was orginally on this place was a death trap. Steel 4ft x 8ft with a wood burning 20 inch pipe in the middle. Made a bad decision to split the trough so two pens could water from each side, lost a 2 year old heifer after an older cow lifted her from behind between the legs head first into trough, even though I was right there I still lost the heifer. Trough was removed the next day.
Never seen this rubber tire one,rather than put electric wire arround could it fit inside a steel round bale feeder?

[forage]

The above statement should have read eye bolts not u bolts , these night shifts are catching up me.

[grassfarmer]

I sure like the two frost-free nose pumps we have.
Once the cows get used to them they work great. Bit
of a cost/pain to install initially but no electricity
needed and they look well enough built to last for a
very long time. That's in a pasture situation of course
as our cows don't live in the corrals. I guess you can
use them in a corral setting with piped water too if
you wanted to.