How to Melt Ice in Watering Troughs

When temperatures plummet, the top layer of a livestock trough begins to ice over. As this layer gets thicker, it becomes impossible for livestock to access the water in the tank. If you notice that the livestock in your corrals have congregated around the water trough and are raising a ruckus, the trough has probably frozen over. To provide your livestock with drinking water, you must thaw the ice as quickly and as safely as possible.

Things You'll Need

  • 5-gallon bottle of propane
  • Paper towel
  • Matches
  • Propane torch
  • Pickax
  • Pitchfork
  • Shovel
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Instructions

    • 1

      Turn on the valve of a 5-gallon propane bottle. Turn the valve counterclockwise to open it.

    • 2

      Crumple up a paper towel and set it on the ground about 10 feet away from the propane bottle. Light the paper towel on fire with a match.

    • 3

      Twist the on/off valve on the handle of the propane torch counterclockwise one-quarter turn. Just enough to let the propane gas come out.

    • 4

      Hold the torch over the burning paper towel until the gas ignites.

    • 5

      Hold the propane torch over the ice and open up the on/off valve until you have a good-sized flame. Pull the handle of the torch to mix air with the gas. This will increase the heat of the flame. Melt the ice on the surface of the stock trough with the flame. Move the torch flame around until the ice melts through to the water beneath.

    • 6

      Break up the ice with an pickax and toss them out of the trough with a pitchfork or shovel.