How to stop the water freezing??

[richje100]

guys,

any one have any idea how to stop the water trough from freezing during the winter? someone said put some table tennis balls or tennis balls in the water so they float about & move teh water.
unfortunatly, i have no power supply where they are kept.
any on got any ideas?

 

[Akane]

If it's a big trough like a stock tank there's an old trick I had to use once when an ice storm knocked out our power for weeks. Depending on the height of the tank dig down a few inches into the ground, set the tank, pile manure around it, pile straw or hay around that. The composting of the manure will produce heat, the straw and ground will insulate it, and the temperature of your tank will increase 5-20F depending on outdoor temperatures, the size of the pile, and the composition of the decomposing material (what type of manure and whether there is bedding in it).

For smaller tanks there really isn't much you can do. You are best off tipping it over and knocking the ice out to refill it daily.