Frozen water buckets!

[MrsKingfisher]

How do you stop your water buckets from freezing? Tried the tennis ball, hasn't worked. Has anyone got a solution?

put in some electrolytes, that should help

We use warm water to fill them

Big bucket with a tyre round it, or small bucket in a larger bucket stuffed with straw.

Bank straw up around it.

Nope! I smash and remove ice twice a day - they seem to manage. There is also a bucket in a shelter which only gets a thin layer and they drink quite a bit from that.

My 3 drink from dustbins, they haven't frozen yet... It gives me lots of wiggle room if the pipes freeze. There's no way I could transport enough for all 3! I also have a spare bin outside each box with the lid on and a layer of dry bedding underneath to insulate the bottom. So far, so good.

@Mysa74 your system sounds good, do you need to baracade the bins in at all? Just wondering if they ever knock them over although I imagine they are quite heavy....

I saw something on TikTok of all places that apparently worked. Fill a large plastic bottle with 1/4 salt, 1/2 water and leave the rest empty/full of air. Float that in the trough/bucket and because of the salt it won’t freeze and the fact it bobs about the water it’s in doesn’t freeze. I hope I’ve explained that properly

I've been taking warm water and topping up with that. It worked even on an outside water. (A half blue barrel)

@CountryCob they haven't knocked them over, even when nearly empty. I'm on wood pellets, the bins are in corners, two have woodpellets round them to a depth of about 5cm, the other is completely free standing. I've also managed to arrange a hose through the window that can be connected to the tap, it's tied to the rafters... So easy in warmer weather and my back is a lot happier!

I am impressed @Mysa74 it’s systems like this that will keep us going til spring!!