cattle waterer

Bkpigs · Dec 2, 2015

I am a newbie to the automatic waterers. I have a Lil Spring 3100 with only 4 steers on it now. If I plug one side of the waterer off will it help or hurt the protection from freezing. I would think it would help but didn't know how much insulation the water in the neighboring bowl added. So, plug or not plug? That is the question.

Thanks in advance!

JD Seller · Dec 2, 2015

It looks like your waterer is real similar to a Ritchie ploy one. Where the float is in the center and there is a hole out each side into a water trough. I have many of these, 15-16. On the smaller two hole ones if I have few cattle on them I sometimes plug the one bowl/trough. I mainly do it so they drink the water out so it stays cleaner but it would cut down on the surface area to be kept warm.

Bobl1958 · Dec 3, 2015

Just another thought on the waterers, but I have always installed a light bulb inside the waterer to aid in the prevention of freezing if it does not get a lot of use. Easy to wire into the electrical, and then just unscrew when warm weather comes back. This is in Central KS on waterers sitting out in the open where it gets plenty cold. Never have had one freeze up, and may not anyway, but it is comforting knowing there is a little extra protection there.

I always use a 60w or 75w Rough Service Bulb and have yet to have one go out over the winter. You don't really need one if a waterer is new, but after a year or so it is just insurance. Bob

cattle waterer

Bkpigs

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JD Seller

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Bobl1958

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