-14 F Coming--Do I Need to Worry?

[drdoolittle]

The low temp in a couple of days is going to be -14 F. Is there anything I should do for my animals besides giving extra feed rations and extra bedding? Most of my goats are old enough I'm not too worried, but I have 2 doelings born about a month ago that I am a little worried about. They are shut up.in a stall of the goat shed with Momma, but no heat source---lots of deep bedding.

 

[Egg_Newton]

I am concerned about this too. I have two goat coats but not enough for everyone.

 

[bloonskiller911]

looks like this will be hitting all of us. luckily I don't have any does ready to kid or my ewes ready to lamb, but my father in law does I am going to put down extra bedding for them and hope for the best.

 

[elevan]

If you don't have electricity in your goat barn / shed then I'd say your plan of giving extra feed, lots of hay and extra deep bedding is your best bet. If you have goat coats or sweaters that you can put on the babies that might be helpful as long as they aren't going to get wet.

We're supposed to be -40 with the windchill on Monday, so I'm definitely worried about my animals but the best I can do is bed them down with deep bedding and plenty of food and hope that they can ride it out because I cannot bring them all inside.

Best of luck, this is the coldest that we've been here in Ohio in the last 20 years.

 

[Egg_Newton]

I locked down the barn. Closed up all the doors and openings. Put coats on the two less fluffy girls and thinking about taking them out some hot oatmeal....

 

[bonbean01]

Same concerns here with the cold...not as cold as that, but forecast to be colder this weekend than it has been in 15 years...and we have a 3 day old lamb and more on the way any day...no barn...good shelters and extra deep bedding and feed...bought the heat thing that goes on a propane tank for any birthing, but can't leave that on if we aren't there for fear of fire...if it gets too cold, will bring lambies inside at night. So, what's up with this global warming???????

 

[Azriel]

Luckly I have no babies of any kind due right now. We are getting -25 regular temp up to 10" of snow, and right now have winds of 70 mph. I don't even know what the wind chill is on that. There are people here calving out on open range right now. I just can't see many of the calves making it over the next few days. I have made blankets for calves and foals out of heavy towels and old blankets, you could do that for your babies. Hope you can keep all the little ones warm

 

[drdoolittle]

Well, moved my momma and 2 babies to the garage where they have a heat lamp. All.my other does and older kids are locked in the goat barn with deep.bedding. My 2 bucksare in.their own pen---hope theg do ok. I am really worried about my pot belly pigs too.

 

[jodief100]

Good luck. We just spent all afternoon putting in deeper hay. That is pretty much all we can do too. I hope all goes well.

 

[Egg_Newton]

How's everyone holding up? It's supposed to startwarming back up tomorrow.