I have been told to put cayenne pepper in our chickens water-to help keep the water from freezing? And to keep them warm. Does this work? Willit hurt them? How much? Can Ido this for the water for the calves, sheep, and goats?

Id there any other way? Gotta be cheap-I tried molasses and it didn't work, though maybe it would if it was not as bitter cold as it is.

Gonna have to add some cayenne to supper here too-propane isalmost gone and the wood stove is only in the livingroom. Or maybe we canheat some bricks!

Peace and blessings, Sarah

-- Sarah (heartsongacres@juno.com), December 19, 2000

Answers

We were just discussing this on one of my goat lists, and it was suggested that you put your 5 gallon water bucket inside 2 tires....the insulation and black color help considerably to keep the water from freezing.

-- Lenette (kigervixen@webtv.net), December 19, 2000.

I really sincerely doubt that cayenne pepper will do a thing to keep water from freezing -- it mixes into my bird feeder slush and freezes bright orange. If you put it into your goat or cow's water, they will not drink it (try a spoonful yourself and you'll find out why!!) and you'll likely have dehydrated or dead animals. Chickens and other birds do not have the neural receptors to taste 'hot' in pepper like us mammals (humans, cows, goats, sheep,dogs, horses) do. The vitamin A content is even good for birds, but it won't keep water unfrozen. Don't think molasses will either.

Two things come to mind -- electric heaters in the water dishes/stock tanks, or else you can heat up buckets of water on your wood stove twice a day and hoof them out to the animals. Molasses in the water of goats, sheep, etc., may encourage them to drink more and prevent dehydration, but so does offering warmed water. Even tepid water is appreciated. The smart ones will catch on quick as to when the hot water is coming and tank up.

-- Julie Froelich (firefly1@nnex.net), December 19, 2000.

I agree with Julie on everything she said. But what I did when I got tired of carrying buckets and buckets to the barn was . . . ran a pipe from the hot water heater to the line feeding the barn water supply. With the turn-off valve right there, I can turn on hot water for the barn in the winter and turn it off in the summer. Works great! Course, it will only work if your water supply comes from your house. There are also insulated buckets that seem to work pretty good. The livestock all drink a lot more when the water is warm.

-- Dianne (willow@config.com), December 19, 2000.

Sarah, also don't kill yourself on this either. You don't need to keep defrosted water in front of your stock 24/7 either! Carry warm water to your milking stock twice a day, and warm water to all other stock once a day, making sure there is enough for everyone, including the low end of the pecking order. We don't have alot of freezes but I do use a stock deicer for my milkers and very bred does. But all the other stock just gets their water deiced once after breakfast, then warm water if we happen to have a real freeze in the evening. On another list folks were talking about pileing their manure and compost around their water barrels so the heat from the compost would keep their water warmed, sound plausable. Keep the water out of the blowing wind and under a shelter. Also a basket ball will keep the very center of your water clear in large stock tanks, not sure just how cold your cold is though! It was very scarry this summer in our horrible heat, I would feel the same way having to deal with all of your northern winters!

-- Vicki McGaugh TX (vickilonesomedoe@hotmail.com), December 19, 2000.

There was a really good idea in Countryside a few years back, for chicken waterers...take an old car rim (the wheel, not the tire) and put a long-burning votive candle in the center hole and put your metal chicken waterer on top. I've never tried it, a real deep freeze around here is pretty scarce, but I thought that was a really clever idea! What would we do without Countryside? Merry Christmas! Kathie

-- Kathie in Western Washington (twinrosefarm@att.worlnet.net), December 19, 2000.

Would buckets of snow work? I know they would need lots of it,would it help in a pinch? Mary

-- Mary (marwel@microserve.net), December 21, 2000.

Unless you have electric, I don't think there is a way to keep it from freezing. A candle might work but could also be dangerous. I am currently using a large rubbery waterer. I fill up a watering can with hot water and pour in. Since the hot water is hitting ice, it cools enough so animals can drink from it. Another way is to have 2 or 3 waterers. When 1 is frozen, bring back to the house to thaw out and use the extra 1 on hand. Hope this helps. Merry Christmas

-- Michael W. Smith in North-West Pennsylvania (kirklbb@penn.com), December 24, 2000.

Why can't you just let the chickens eat snow? I never give water to the chickens after there is snow on the ground.

-- e.bergdoll (peontoo@yahoo.com), December 24, 2000.