Ice Management

What should I do first when ice moves in?

Before the freezing rain even starts, walk your route from the house to every animal shelter and note where footing is worst. Slopes, gate thresholds, ramps and the low spot by the hydrant tend to glaze first and stay slick longest.

Decide now which chores truly cannot wait. Water, feed and a quick health check come first. Fence repair, hauling and anything involving a ladder can usually wait a day or two.

If you keep animals on pasture, think about where they will shelter and whether they can reach water and feed without crossing glazed ground. Animals slip on ice just as people do, and a bad fall can mean an injury that needs a veterinarian. Putting hay or a water source on level, well-drained ground ahead of time keeps traffic off the slickest slopes.

• Charge phones and keep a flashlight within reach of the door
• Move feed and bedding close to the animals so you make fewer trips
• Tell someone your chore schedule if you live alone

How do I make walkways and work areas safer?

Traction beats melting when you are working with a small area. Sand, fine gravel or wood ash spread thinly gives boots something to grip. Deicing salt works, but it can damage concrete, corrode metal gates and harm the plants and soil along the edges, so use it sparingly and keep it out of animal pens where animals may lick it.

Wear footwear with a real tread, and consider add-on traction soles for the worst days. Shorten your stride, keep your hands free, and avoid carrying a full bucket in each hand.

Gates and latches deserve special attention. Ice builds up around hinges and chains and can freeze them shut, which tempts people to yank or kick them. Work the latch gently, clear the ice with a plastic scraper, and wipe moisture away so it does not refreeze behind you. Keep a spare way into each pen so one frozen gate does not stop the whole morning.

• Treat the path first, then the pen gate, then the water source
• Clear snow before it packs into ice where you can
• Keep a small bucket of traction material at each building

How do I keep animal water from freezing solid?

Livestock and poultry still drink in ice weather, and reduced water intake leads to trouble. Check water at least twice a day and break or replace ice rather than assuming animals will eat snow.

Insulated or heated waterers help, but anything electrical in a barn needs outlets, cords and fixtures that are rated for the damp conditions and installed safely. If you are unsure, ask a licensed electrician rather than improvising with household extension cords.

• Larger water volumes freeze more slowly than small pans
• Shade-free, sheltered spots stay open longer
• Carry warm water out on the coldest mornings if power is out

What about ice on roofs, trees and power lines?

Ice loads add serious weight to roofs, hoop houses, shade cloth frames and branches. Heavy ice on a greenhouse or run cover can collapse it, sometimes with animals underneath. If a structure is creaking or sagging, keep people and animals out of it.

Never go near a downed line or a tree resting on one, and do not climb to knock ice off a roof. Report fallen lines to your utility and leave tree work near them to qualified crews. Once trees are coated, wait for the melt before pruning, because ice-laden limbs can snap without warning.

Look overhead before you stand anywhere. Ice sliding off a metal roof can drop all at once, and branches coated with ice can release a load of frozen weight onto people and animals below. Keep feeding areas and walking paths away from the drip line of buildings and large trees, and think about where roof snow and ice will land before you place feeders.

• Move animals out from under weak shelters before the load peaks
• Stay clear of trees that are bowed or cracking
• Photograph damage for your insurance record when it is safe

Is it safe to walk on pond ice?

Do not count on any pond or stock tank ice to hold you, a child or an animal. Thickness varies across a single pond, and springs, inlets and snow cover create thin spots you cannot see.

Fence kids and animals away from open water during icy periods. If someone or something goes through, call emergency services rather than attempting a rescue yourself.

What should I check after the ice melts?

Walk fences, gates, roof lines and shade structures in daylight. Look for sagging posts, bent latches and cracked limbs hanging over pens or pathways.

Check animals closely for slips, hoof or leg problems, and for any that were reluctant to drink. Call your veterinarian if an animal is limping, cold, listless or off feed. Rules on large cleanup, burning brush and debris disposal are local, so ask your county office before you start a big pile.

• Repair latches and electric fence connections before animals test them
• Re-stock traction material for the next storm
• Write down what worked so next winter is easier

Last reviewed: November 12, 2026. Written by the Homestead & Small Farm Editorial Team. See our editorial policy.