Goat Management
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Water and Watering Solutions
Water and Watering Solutions
Float valves are a goat owner’s best friend in non freezing weather. Before we moved to a house with a creek (decadence, I tell you 😁), this is the system I used and the only way I’d do it again.
Pictured here is a like 2 quart red plastic bowl purchased from our local North 40. I’d guess that the depth is about 5″. The doohickey attached to it and the hose is a float valve that regulates the water level. When water is low, it drops down and the water in the hose (attached to a faucet that is turned on) flows in. As it fills, the float valve floats up and seals off the water flow for 100% automated water. 💪
The one in this photo waters my poultry/rabbit pen and is attached to a 55-gallon barrel. The barrel itself ALSO has a float valve installed that is attached to a faucet. The reason for the barrel is so that even in a power outage, I can have automated water to my poultry pen and I always have a reserve so they won’t run out. Doing it this way allows me to dose herbal remedies into their water, which is the easiest way to treat poultry.
Now to what I used for my goats (the above would work for a couple):
If you have a super small herd, this tub is too big. You just need one high enough to attach the float valve, but this is the tub we used with about a dozen does: https://north40.com/tuff-stuff-rubber-round-tub
Here’s the metal float valve: https://north40.com/little-giant-trough-o-matic-stock-tank-float-valve-w-aluminum-housing
And a plastic version: https://north40.com/little-giant-trough-o-matic-stock-tank-float-valve-w-plastic-housing
If you have tiny waterers, this is one that requires a hole drilled instead of fitting over the top of the bowl, but you can use it in virtually any application. We used this in rubber bowls for the rabbits before we switched to the larger float. You’d need silicone to seal it, which is the one shortcoming to this type but beyond that it’s highly versatile and is the one we use to float the barrel: https://www.amazon.com/Kerick-Valve-MA052-Float-Adjustable/dp/B0077RAP1I/
CLEANING
One of the best parts about this system is that the water is never stagnant long enough to build up much algae. In the big barrel we only clean a couple times a year but it’s kept in the shade and I add silver to it. For the little bowls, a once a week quick scrub is all I’ve needed to do.
I’m a big fan of automated systems as much as possible because I want to spend my time enjoying my animals (or other things) rather than maintaining them. The auto water also means they never run out and I can go camping etc. without worrying about their water supply.
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Found this in my saved posts on FB from so long ago I can’t remember. 😆 A battery operated tank heater to keep water thawed in winter. Manufacturer says the battery needs to be swapped out once a day, but for off grid setups this might be something to look into. https://www.hydrogenappliances.com/stocktankheater.html
hydrogenappliances.com
Submersible plunge probe 12 volt water heater horse stop Cold Weather Colicing dog Colic voltage 24V stock VDC tank 24 cattle12V waterheater HotWater 48 systems RITCHIE animal Miraco lilspring Miraco livestock
And also this one using jugs to keep water thawed in winter. The text of the post is, “Works with any plastic bottle ( soda, water, juice, milk)!!! For ALL live stock troughs. Has to have a lot of salt. This was about 1/2 cup salt to about 1/2 full jug of water. Adjust the size of your jugs to the size of your troughs and livestock. If you have big troughs you can add more jugs.”
https://www.facebook.com/kayliekris.seymour/videos/1744549639206302/
facebook.com
Works with any plastic bottle ( soda, water, juice, milk)!!! For ALL live stock troughs. Has to have a lot of salt. This was about 1/2 cup salt to about...
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