Are your goats HOT????? And what are you doing about it??

[DonnaBelle]

Mine sure are. Even though they're in the shade. I've been taking cool water out to them several times a day.

I'm going to put some giant ice cubes in their bucket soon as they freeze.

It's 101 here today.

DonnaBelle

 

[SDGsoap&dairy]

101?! Ick! It's in the 90s here today and I really don't want to go back out and continue the yard work I had slated for today. My goats all seem to be handling it pretty well. They're all clipped. Those few degrees between 95 and 101 can sure make a big difference though. Have any fans for the barn?

 

[DonnaBelle]

Got a big fan from Supply Tek in the barn, plus DH did the smartest thing. He built a 12'x 20' addition on this spring, heading back into the woods.

It's got 8 ft garage doors on both ends and this pm. it's dark and cool (well as cool as it's gonna get today) in there. That's where they hang out in the afternoons!!

He's been storing up wife goodwill since he's was plotting/planning his new tractor.

DonnaBelle

 

[carolinagirl]

I have sheep and most of them are lambs, so they have not all shed off their wool yet. They are hair sheep breeds. They don't seem to be terribly bothered by the heat and it's been over 100 here too. I have a window fan in their shed so they have a cooler place to hang out and they do go in there sometimes, but only stay for a little while and then go back to the fields.

 

[MyKidLuvsGreenEgz]

90's here on the Colorado Plains (desert). I have plenty of shade, and they have two half-barrels of water. I give them lots of oats when it's hot (I read last year that it helps cool them down so I go through a LOT of oats for chickens and goats during the summer). I also minimize alfalfa... leave the bale but they dont' eat nearly as much in the summer. I supplement with those oats and other grains.

They also have a LOT of chickens in with this them year and it seems to keep them cooler, with the flapping of wings they do.

They'll acclimate to the heat but with 100's expected this week, I will start watering down the pen too.

 

[Ariel301]

It was 109 here yesterday and today. I keep my goats shaved in the summer (except my white buck who sunburns easily), provide plenty of room to lay in the shade, and use the water hose to mist down their favorite napping spots to keep them cool. I make sure they've got lots of water, and I also do not feed them during the hot part of the day so that they will just sleep while it's hot and stay up later at night when the temperature is reasonable. For the most part, my goats take the heat way better than the chickens, I give the birds pans of ice water to stand in during hot afternoons so they can cool down, but I always end up losing a few chickens in the heat anyway.

 

[julieq]

We just put up box fans hung from the ceiling in both our goat barn and horse stalls a few days ago. It's been in the 90's here and by mid afternoon everyone's hanging out under the fans. On the plus side for the horses, the fan helps keep the flies away.

 

[goatmama]

We just use fans here in PA but it is only in mid 80's. Nubians spend a lot of time in the barn but the Pygmies like to browse most of the day. I can tell it is hot if the Pygmy doe and babies are in the barn. I live on a mountain so it is cooler than lots of other places and usually have a breeze.

 

[DonnaBelle]

I'm SO JEALOUS of your summer weather.

I'd sure like to get outta Oklahoma summertime this year. We have been in the 100's practically every day since June 1.

DonnaBelle

 

[maggies.family]

We just got our goats today, so I don't have a lot to offer. But it is pretty darn hot here. I actually thought ahead of them getting here and froze water in a gallon jug and put it in their water so they have a constant supply of iced water.

We have mister sprays for the chicken coop, I thought maybe the goats might like one? Anyone use them for goats?