It’s Winter!

Somehow we always manage to wait until it turns cold before we realise the water tanks must be dealt with.  At least it wasn’t uncomfortably cold.  I already had two tanks drained, but still had one more to go, and two to turn on the leak valves so they won’t freeze.  I chopped out soft ice about an inch thick that had formed on the surface.  My husband had dozens of tanks to deal with!

Cheers

tauna

The little bubble indicates that the leak valve is open, allowing water to flow constantly thereby keeping the water moving so that it won’t freeze.  Plus with cattle drinking, warmer water from the pond continues in through the regular valve.  Since we don’t want the water to flow over the side of the tank making a muddy or icy situation, the excess water flows through the overflow pipe in the middle of the tank and is piped some 20-30 feet away underground.  Usually into a ditch or creek.

Too Darn Cold!

Yes, i did take out and unroll four bales of hay to my cows. Yes, i should be strip grazing. But it’s TOO DARN COLD! I get out, cut the strings, pull them off, get in the WARM pickup, unroll, then do it again. Except for cutting strings and busting ice on the tank, I’m not gettin’ out much.  Windchill is 8°F below zero.  (-22C)

The leak valve is keeping the water coming into the tank, but I think not enough overflow to keep ice from forming on top at night when the cows aren’t drinking. There is always a hole straight above the leak valve that is open. Incredibly! the water in the ditch is still running – barely. — at Tannachton Farm.