anyone use nelson automatic waterers?

greenspun.com : LUSENET : Countryside : One Thread

I've been looking at the Nelson brand automatic waterers for our sheep and want to know if anyone else has used them. We are in central New York and it gets pretty cold here so would get the heater option. Does it add a lot to electric bill? Thanks for any info.

-- kate henderson (kate@sheepyvalley.com), December 27, 2000

Answers

Kate It adds to the electric bill. I don't know how much though. We have everything tied into one meter here. But I remember when my husband went out with an axe to chop ice every morning and sometimes more than that when it really gets cold here. It makes it worth the older we get. It is so nice in the summer also. If I have to go to town for the day or we go on vacation, it makes so much easier on everyone. Then the animals never run out of water.

-- Cindy Herbek (dh40203@navix.net), December 28, 2000.

We purchased Nelson waterers about four years ago. I have no affiliation with the company whatsoever and am a living, breathing testimonial to their products being convenient, maintenance free and a true value for the cost. We live in southern Indiana and the winters are mild compared to what many endure, but I don't miss hauling water buckets and busting ice in watering troughs, nor thawing frozen buckets. We even purchased ours at the end of a trade show (Equitana) and secured a discounted price by purchasing the demonstration models. A farmer who raised miniature horses came and gave us his unsolicited testimonial while we were talking with the company rep. It is a family-owned business, if I recall correctly. The ones we purchased have an aluminum exterior (no rust). We plug in the thermostat when the temps dip into freezing for several days running. The bowls need to be wiped out in warm weather if algae grows. In our case, I use a scrubbie occasionally to remove mineral deposits as well. This is a three minute job done every month or so. We didn't notice any jump in the electric whatsoever, but YMMV! Your animals will appreciate them too!

-- lori schutz (laschutz@webtv.net), December 29, 2000.

We just got them in our barn...so far, I don't like them. This is a horse barn, not sheep, but you may have the same problems. So far, 3 out of 6 are malfunctioning and don't refill reliably -- this can be disastrous for horses. One of the 3 malfunctioning has also flooded out the stall. This is in a two and a half week period of time. I hope they're going to eventually be better than this! I don't have any control over their being installed in the barn, but even tho our typical temperature for this time of year is around 2 degrees, I'm keeping water buckets in their stalls.

-- Julie Froelich (firefly1@nnex.net), January 12, 2001.

Moderation questions? read the FAQ