Chores in December

[Shortgrass]

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This morning looks different

Ready for action

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Action's over

This stuff does beat a snow bank!

Won't turn it down

Windmill in the fog

Barn cats

Tools of the trade

 

[bverellen]

Thanks forposting the pics, sure looks a wee bit cooler there than down here.

bart.

 

[Jassy]

If ya ever lose your light colored cattle in that snowy fog, you can just leave a trail of hay and eventually you'd find em...Doesn't look like a very nice day out there, but hopefully the sun will shine for ya soon! Thanks I enjoyed your morning chores....

 

[Sundancer]

I've heard of "tire tanks". How are they constructed? How do they hold water? Concrete in the bottom with tar? I see this one is around a hydrant. I'd be interested in learning more about this tank. Thanks!
What size tire is the one pictured?

 

[the_jersey_lilly_2000]

I"m tellin ya...all these snow pictures, sure do make me thankful to be where I am.

Those are some beautiful barn cats. Their markins are unique.......they are marked so close to the same.

Ya'll are alot tuffer than me that's for sure.

 

[rancherfred]

We have a couple that are a similar setup with the addition of a sewer pipe drain in the middle. The bottom bead is still on and we just poured the inside of it full of concrete and then ran a bead of caulk around the edge of the tire bead. After that we covered the wet concrete with water and let it cure. They are indestructible and a small one like that you can put a little float on it with a T and a small valve to circulate water so you don't have to pitch ice.

 

[Richard Doolittle]

We have a couple that are a similar setup with the addition of a sewer pipe drain in the middle. The bottom bead is still on and we just poured the inside of it full of concrete and then ran a bead of caulk around the edge of the tire bead. After that we covered the wet concrete with water and let it cure. They are indestructible and a small one like that you can put a little float on it with a T and a small valve to circulate water so you don't have to pitch ice.

Hey Fred--can you explain this a little more? How do you keep the water circulating without running the tank over? Thanks.

 

[RobertMac]

We have a couple that are a similar setup with the addition of a sewer pipe drain in the middle. The bottom bead is still on and we just poured the inside of it full of concrete and then ran a bead of caulk around the edge of the tire bead. After that we covered the wet concrete with water and let it cure. They are indestructible and a small one like that you can put a little float on it with a T and a small valve to circulate water so you don't have to pitch ice.

Hey Fred--can you explain this a little more? How do you keep the water circulating without running the tank over? Thanks.

Walters Control Co. has the best(most reliable) water valve I've used...especially for high pressure water systems. Also have a de-ice trickler that only works when the temps get to freezing.

No connection with these folks(other than a customer), but the product is so good, I just wanted to give them a shout out!

 

[BlackCattleRancher]

Is that straw you're feeding or some kind of oat hay? Are you caking with it? If so what kind and how much? Just curious. Nice pics. Thanks.

 

[Shortgrass]

That is sorghum hay. Norkan is the breed. It is an energy feed, so I cake 2 lbs protien supplement daily. I just set the tire over the hydrant, and put in some sakrete.

 

[rancherfred]

We have a couple that are a similar setup with the addition of a sewer pipe drain in the middle. The bottom bead is still on and we just poured the inside of it full of concrete and then ran a bead of caulk around the edge of the tire bead. After that we covered the wet concrete with water and let it cure. They are indestructible and a small one like that you can put a little float on it with a T and a small valve to circulate water so you don't have to pitch ice.

Hey Fred--can you explain this a little more? How do you keep the water circulating without running the tank over? Thanks.

Yeah, that is where the sewer pipe drain comes in. We drilled several holes around the pipe where we wanted the water to drain out. I went off one side of the tee with a reducer nipple to take it down to 1/4 inch. Then we put a little valve on the 1/4 side and capped it. I drilled a little hole in the cap so we would have a high pressure stream coming out of the valve. It ends up circulating the water so well that we haven't ever frozen it when I remember to turn the valve up all of the way. I am not at home right now, but when I get back I can take a picture for you.

 

[Shorthornguy]

:lol: Looks like you are having the same fun we are. We are in our tenth day with below normal temps and cattle are really eating. I've already had several calls wanting to know if I had hay to sell. With the drought and no second crop this year I'll have to turn them down.

 

[John SD]

Nice pics, shortgrass! Even the cats look like they are CharX! :shock: :twisted: :wink:

I've never seen a tire tank with a hydrant in the middle of it. "Here" most tire tanks have the water supply come in through the bottom and a 1" Watson/Lewis valve or Bob valve installed. The water supply is controlled by an undergroud curb stop/drain.

I just put some new water pipeline in with 3 -8' dia tires with drinker holes cut on each side so I could install the tires in the fenceline between 2 pastures. I will construct some sort of cover for at least one of the tires. Conveyor belting or inner tube hung inside the drinkers will further insulate the float mechanism from the cold.

Last winter and this winter I'm watering with a 10' fiberglass tank with a Watson valve in the bottom. I chop a hole for the cows to drink and chop the float loose. Worked down to -30 last winter but I did have to chop ice! :roll: :wink: The top of the tank is open. I have 2 -10' and one 12' corral panels across the top of the tank resting on the tank lip. I chop the hole for cows to drink along the 12' panel as it is the largest opening.