Can someone tell me about de-icers for animal water? My friend has a Saint Bernard that is outdoors most of the day (comes in at night) and she has trouble keeping the water from freezing. How do they work, i.e. are they electrical, solar or what, can you get them for a trough that is about three ft by 18 inches by six inches, and how much do they cost. Also, where do you buy them?

-- Colleen (pyramidgreatdanes@erols.com), January 19, 2001

Answers

I got one from CT Farm for about $20.00 .It plugs in ,and turns on and off depending on the temp .I have no complaints

-- Patty {NY State} (fodfarms@slic.com), January 19, 2001.

Right now I have one that has a wire framework that supports it just off the bottom in a 2' x 4' x 1'deep tank for my sheep and goats and 2 Pyrs that live with them. I have a floating type in a recycled cattle protein supplement tubs where I'm overwintering some goldfish and hardy waterlilies. Our 3rd Pyr, the cats and wild birds drink from that. I have a third that was actually designed for keeping birdbaths ice free and a fourth that is a plastic bowl with a built in heater. The first two I mentioned are several years old but I think I gave in the $15-20 range for them. The birdbath heater was more expensive about $35 and has been in use at least 3 years. It and the first two heaters are UL listed but the heated bowl is not. They all came from farm supply stores or feed stores. All are electric and I would have hated to be without them for the last 8 weeks!

The tub with the floating deicer is only about 20" tall and about 24" in diameter. The critical factor with a trough only 6" deep would be keeping adequate water in it so the heating element isn't exposed. Until she is sure the dog won't bother the cord, she needs to keep the cord where the dog can't chew it or pull the heater out of the water. We had a discussion about this a while back but I don't know what category it's in.

-- marilyn (rainbow@ktis.net), January 19, 2001.

I bought a 5 gallon bucket that has a heating element built into the bottom with about a 4 ft electrical cord attached. I think it was around $25. It keeps the water on the warm side but not hot. My cows can get their heads in and drink fine, so it shouldn't be a problem for the St. Bernard. Check out your local grain & feed store or Agway if there is one close by. They also sell electrical heating elements that float or are somehow secured in the water, but I think you would have to watch out for burns (at least that's what the guy at Agway told me).

-- Barb (rosemontfarm1@aol.com), January 19, 2001.

I got a large, heated bowl from Walmart for $20. I works great.

-- Dee (gdgtur@goes.com), January 19, 2001.

I have some buckets like Barb described as well, and I would think that they would hold all the water that a St. Bernard could want in a day or two's time. If he's not the type that can chew through metal or likely to gnaw on the metal wrapped cord, I would think that would be an ideal solution for your use. You can of course get floating stock tank heaters that would do the size trough you're describing, but possibly would be TOO hot. If our floaters get hung up on the edges of the Rubbermaid troughs, they will burn a hole right through. There is also a problem with large and intelligent animals hauling them out to play with. I'd go with the bucket with the sealed in element.

-- Julie Froelich (firefly1@nnex.net), January 20, 2001.

I should mention that I run the cord from the bucket through the middle of two cinder blocks to keep my cows from messing with it - works well.

-- Barb (rosemontfarm1@aol.com), January 20, 2001.

I paid about $25 for a 1 1/2 gallon waterer (non-tip) from Quality Farm and Fleet. Best investment I ever made. I use it with my chickens. They had all sizes.

-- Anne (HT@HM.com), January 20, 2001.

ihad a simular problum to keep water form freezing for my geese used a pipe heater cable. They come with a fixed therostat in lenths from 3 to 50 ft.120vac plugin. You sould be able to find them were plumbing supplies are found in colder climates

-- nick malek (raymondetdesroier@simpatico.ca), January 22, 2001.