[Jacob-list] (no subject)

[stonecroft235 at juno.com]

Help - I need advice.  Any ideas on ways to keep buckets from freezing? 
It's been below freezing here in PA for weeks and stomping on rubber
buckets to break out the ice is wearing me out!!  :-)   Yesterday I
bought a birdbath de-icer to try in one of the buckets (we are a small
operation and use only buckets, not stock tanks) with the pygmy goats. 
This a.m. my goatie friends were very, VERY unhappy with me.....and
acting very thirsty.  They apparently did not drink from the bucket with
the de-icer in it and I discovered when they put their noses in to drink
they appeared to be getting hurt - obviously a stray voltage
problem.....and they left me know I would be getting a lump of coal in my
stocking next year!!!   Have any of you tried the heated buckets - I have
a KV equine catalogue that sells a 5 gallon, heated bucket for $34.95. 
Do these things work, or will I again have a stray voltage problem?  Is
there a cheaper source for them?  I know that dairy farmers here many
times have a REAL problem in their milking parlors and loafing sheds with
stray voltage - and it really affects milk production.  These animals can
feel an electrical "tingle" that we cannot and on a sensitive nose it
apparently isn't very pleasant.....there is absolutely no shock to me
when I put my hand in the bucket of water.   Also, I am not looking to
spend mega bucks on this - I know the Nelson waterers are very nice but
too pricey for our animal hobby budget....if pricey is the only option I
will probably continue to stomp!!   Any ideas would be
appreciated....Thank You!

P.S.  Hope you all are having wonderful holidays with family and friends!

Sue Martin
Stonecroft
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