Anyone try to keep water open during winter?

[Catscratch]

Just checked on my deer pond (maybe 10' by 10'). I put an aerator on it a couple of days ago and it still has open water. I don't know if any deer are using it but birds are. This little pump isn't permanent, just an experiment to see if something a little more substantial is called for.
Temp was 15 when I got up this morning, setting at 16 right now.
Any of you put effort into keeping water open for deer or ducks?

 

[sandbur]

Not with a temp of -22 this morning.

 

[bueller]

I've got a creek/ditch on one side of me that stays open year round.

 

[homegrownbucks]

Couldn't find a recent pic but this is a spring that stays open year round.

 

[WTNUT]

Not with a temp of -22 this morning.

I don''t even like to read. About -22!!!

 

[UP Powers]

cat,

you will need to move your aerator UP off the ground. It is going to freeze up with the ground moisture. replace the clear hose with black hose. don't know your power situation, but you could easily go with a bigger aerator. my guess is you have a stone on the end. toss it. :)

 

[Catscratch]

cat,

you will need to move your aerator UP off the ground. It is going to freeze up with the ground moisture. replace the clear hose with black hose. don't know your power situation, but you could easily go with a bigger aerator. my guess is you have a stone on the end. toss it. :)

Hadn't thought of getting the aerator off the ground, or getting a different hose, or taking the stone off. Thanks, to be honest I just used the pump I had in the shop to see if it would work. I'm developing a plan but haven't finished it yet, your suggestions will be used. Some of the reason I haven't gone further is my water has only been frozen a couple of weeks total for the winter. It's been very mild so it hasn't been on my mind much.

 

[UP Powers]

if you had a bigger pump that I would say yes to the diffuse stone, but little one like that is simple. good luck with it. generally up here we have this stuff called SNOW along with the ice. :) LOL

 

[Catscratch]

We haven't had a snow yet this winter (a couple of rains). Temps have been in the 50's the last two weeks. The week I had the pump out was the only cold week we've had...

I want a bigger pump that will run off of a 12v car/marine battery. Put it all in a weatherproof box and mount a solar panel on top. I think it could be useful for yrs that we actually get a winter (by my standards) :)