6 Best Deicing Products For Farm Animal Hydration Old Farmers Swear By
Winter freezes water troughs, risking livestock dehydration. We review 6 farmer-tested deicers, from tank heaters to heated buckets, for safe hydration.
There’s a moment every winter when you walk out to the barn, axe in hand, and see the stock tank is a solid block of ice again. You spend the next twenty minutes swinging, shattering, and scooping, all while your animals watch you, thirsty. Dehydration is a bigger threat in winter than many new farmers realize, and providing constant access to thawed water isn’t a luxury—it’s a necessity for keeping your herd healthy and productive through the cold. This isn’t just about convenience; it’s about fundamental animal husbandry.
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Why Thawed Water is Critical for Winter Herds
Animals need more water in the winter, not less. It’s a common misconception that their needs decrease with the temperature. Proper hydration is essential for digestion, especially for ruminants on a dry hay diet, and it’s a key component of how they regulate their core body temperature.
Dehydrated animals won’t eat properly, leading to weight loss and reduced energy when they need it most. For dairy animals, milk production will plummet. In horses, dehydration is a primary cause of impaction colic, a dangerous and potentially fatal condition. Don’t fall for the old tale that they can just eat snow. Forcing their bodies to melt snow for hydration burns precious calories they need to stay warm, effectively putting them in an energy deficit.
Providing liquid water is one of the most important jobs on the winter farm. It directly impacts their health, condition, and ability to withstand the harshest weather. A good de-icing system isn’t a gadget; it’s a piece of essential survival equipment for your livestock.
Farm Innovators Heated Bucket for Small Herds
Keep water ice-free with this 2-pack of 24-quart heated buckets, ideal for large animals. Thermostatic control saves energy, while the flat-back design and hidden cord compartment offer convenient year-round use.
For those with just a few animals, a heated bucket is the simplest, most direct solution. These are typically 5-gallon buckets with a heating element completely sealed within the base. You just fill it, plug it in, and you’re done.
This is the perfect tool for a horse in a stall, a pair of goats in their own pen, or even for providing water to your barn cats and dogs. The thermostat only kicks on when temperatures approach freezing, so it’s not running up your electric bill unnecessarily. The cord is usually wrapped in a steel coil to deter chewing, but it’s still wise to position it out of reach.
The tradeoff is scale. If you have more than two or three animals in a single pasture, a 5-gallon bucket won’t be enough, and running multiple buckets and extension cords can get messy and expensive. But for individual or very small-group situations, their plug-and-play simplicity is unmatched.
K&H Submersible De-Icer for Large Tanks
When you’ve got a larger herd drinking from a big stock tank, a submersible de-icer is your workhorse. You simply drop the unit into your existing tank, and it sits on the bottom, heating the water around it. These are built for volume, with wattage ratings designed for anything from a 50-gallon trough to a 150-gallon tank.
Their primary advantage is power. A good 1000 or 1500-watt submersible de-icer can keep a large tank liquid in sub-zero temperatures. They are incredibly effective and work with almost any kind of tank, whether it’s a galvanized steel trough or a heavy-duty plastic one.
The main consideration here is the power cord. Since it runs over the lip of the tank and down into the water, it’s a prime target for curious horses or nibbling goats. You must protect the cord. Running it through a piece of PVC pipe is a common and effective strategy. Also, ensure the unit remains fully submerged; running it dry will destroy the element and create a fire risk.
API Heated Base for Poultry Water Founts
Chickens present a unique challenge. Their waterers are small, and the nipples or cups they drink from freeze almost instantly. A heated base is the most targeted and efficient solution for this problem.
It’s a simple, flat disc that the waterer sits on top of. The low-wattage heating element gently warms the fount from the bottom, preventing the water inside from turning to ice. It’s designed to work with both metal and plastic waterers, making it a versatile tool for any flock.
The beauty of this design is its energy efficiency and simplicity. It uses just enough power to do its specific job without wasting electricity heating a whole coop. However, in truly arctic blasts, the very top of a tall fount might still get a layer of ice, and you need to ensure the base is on a solid, level surface where it can’t be knocked over.
Farm Innovators Floating De-Icer for Stock Tanks
A floating de-icer accomplishes the same goal as a submersible one but works from the top down. These units float on the surface of the water, keeping a hole open even as the rest of the tank freezes over. They are often encased in a durable plastic or metal shell to protect the heating element.
Some farmers prefer floaters because they are less likely to get buried in the muck and debris that inevitably settles at the bottom of a stock tank. It’s also easy to see at a glance if it’s working—if there’s open water around it, you’re good to go. Most models are thermostatically controlled and designed to be safe for use in plastic stock tanks, which can be damaged by some bottom-sitting de-icers.
The downside is that a floating object can be an irresistible toy for a bored horse or cow. They may nudge it, bob it, or try to lift it out of the tank. This makes securing the cord and ensuring it can’t be pulled into the water a top priority.
API Drain Plug De-Icer: A Tidy Solution
For the farmer who values a clean, safe, and permanent setup, the drain plug de-icer is a game-changer. This clever device replaces the tank’s standard drain plug. The heating element sits inside the tank, while the power cord connection is on the outside.
Its single greatest advantage is cord safety. With the entire cord outside the pasture, there is zero risk of an animal chewing on it. This is the ultimate solution for anyone with persistent cord-chewers like goats or young horses. It’s an incredibly tidy and "set it and forget it" system.
The main drawback is installation. You need a stock tank with a standard drain hole, and you have to drain the tank completely to install it. It’s not a solution you can just drop in on a cold day. But if you’re setting up a new tank or doing a deep clean before winter, the extra 15 minutes of work pays off in season-long peace of mind.
Pirit Heated Hose for Refilling Troughs
Keeping the trough thawed is only half the battle; you still have to refill it. A frozen hose can turn a simple chore into an hour of frustrating, back-breaking work hauling buckets. A heated hose is one of those investments you’ll wonder how you ever lived without.
This is an electrically heated, thermostatically controlled hose that prevents water from freezing as it flows from the spigot to the trough. You plug it in, wait a few minutes for it to warm up, and then use it like a normal hose. It makes refilling tanks on a 10°F day as easy as it is in July.
These hoses are not cheap, and they require an outlet near your water source. It’s also crucial to follow the instructions: you must drain the water out of the hose after each use. Leaving it full of water, even when plugged in, can damage the internal components. But the labor it saves is immense.
Safety Tips for Using Electric De-Icers
Electricity and water are a dangerous combination, and adding livestock to the mix means you can’t afford to cut corners. Your animals’ lives and your own safety depend on doing this correctly. Taking a few extra precautions is not optional.
When setting up any electrical de-icing product, follow these rules without fail:
- Use a GFCI Outlet: Always plug your de-icer into a Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter outlet. This will shut off the power instantly if it detects a short, preventing electrocution. If you don’t have one, hire an electrician to install one.
- Protect Your Cords: Use heavy-duty, outdoor-rated extension cords. Encase any cord that an animal can reach in a chew-proof conduit like PVC or a metal pipe.
- Regular Inspections: Check your de-icers and cords weekly for any signs of wear, cracking, or chewing. Replace damaged equipment immediately.
- Match the Product to the Tank: Never use a de-icer in a plastic tank unless it is explicitly rated as safe for plastic. Some models get hot enough to melt or warp the material.
- Follow the Instructions: Read the manual. Submersible units must stay submerged, and floating units must be allowed to float freely. Using them improperly is a fire hazard.
Choosing the right de-icing tool comes down to your specific herd, your type of water tank, and your tolerance for risk. A heated bucket is perfect for one animal, while a drain plug de-icer offers the ultimate safety for a whole herd. By investing in the right equipment and prioritizing electrical safety, you can turn one of winter’s worst chores into a simple, worry-free task and ensure your animals stay healthy, hydrated, and warm all season long.
