Off the wall idea...

I believe antifreeze is ethylene glycol?

 

Nope don't think nutradrench will help with freezing water.

 

Yes, Regular (car type) anti freeze is ethylene glycol. Propylene is the FDA approved food use glycol and would not help keep the water from freezing.

P

 

Or... you could try it out and let us all know!

 

Although the newer stuff is less toxic, old-style (cheap) antifreeze is deadly poison.

Tom

 

Vodka doesn't freeze! :rofl

 

Would this be the same as glycerine. On another forum a gal had posted (from 2004), that she added 1 tsp of glycerine per gallon of water to keep her rabbits water from freezing. Haven't tried it as I haven't gotten any factual answers as to if this would be safe.

 

I think you would have to use a fair amount of propylene glycol to the water to keep it from freezing. That much would probably make the goats not want to drink it. If you've ever had to give it to a sick goat, you will probably also remember what a PITA it is to get a goat to swallow 30-40 cc of it. Nutradrench attempts to make pg more palatable by adding molasses, which I also wouldn't want to be adding to the goats' water on a regular basis. I've neber heard of adding glycerine to rabbit water. I think if that worked and was safe, my friend would be using it in her rabbit waterers. It's cheaper to by a stock heater to use in the goats water tub. Kathie

 

Propylene Glycol is sold for use in dairy cows, and I have used it before in goats. But there is also Propylene Glycol anti-freeze for vehicles, which is the same thing. Don't think it would work though for freezing water troughs.

What about ACV? I've heard that it has a low freezing point?

 

Get yourself some drop in heaters and/or plug in buckets ;-) I've been breaking ice every morning, but it's about that time for me.

Tracy

 

ACV = Apple Cider Vinegar

 

As someone who used propolyn glycol alot during the olden days of ketosis, it does a number on the throat and rumen of the goat. The only way we could keep a doe alive and eating longer than just a week or so was to tube it, because it was so caustic. I would want to find another solution to this problem rather than using something like this. Or first put the same ratio you are going to use in a glass and drink it yourself.

I know we don't 'freeze' here like you all do, but what about just putting a basketball or something into the water to leave and open space each day, know it worked in our koi pond. Vicki

 

ROTFL! My farm RUNS on extension cords all winter! Sometimes as many as 5-6 at a time!

Tracy

 

LOL! We have a system of extension cords that are artfully twined at the tops of our stock panels and then drape across some tall pine trees to provide water heaters/de-icers for the goats! Probably a small fortune in extension cords, but is sure saves time and frustration when dealing with frozen water. Plus, hauling water on snowy/icy paths really, um, stinks.

Our dairy girls like the donut that heats the trough, the Boers only like the de-icers that keep the water liquid.

 

don't forget to check the water's temp when using a heater--i was gone over the weekend, hubby did chores. i called home, how's it going? he says 'do you realize how hot that water is?' nope, i surely did not--its hot as soup! i have one of those 'bucket heaters', looks like a tin can iwth holes in it, and it says 'ideal for 5 gallon buckets.' then in smaller print, its says 'heats the water rather than de-icing.' now, i really have NO idea why anyone would want water hot enough to make tea, in a 5 gallon bucket, but those poor dears couldn't even touch it!