Cold Weather and Kids

[20kidsonhill]

If they have a dry place to lay down out of the wind they are normally fine. Lack of fresh air and poor circulation can cause more problems with pneumonia than the cold will cause. We were 1 degrees last night with a windchill of 20 below and some of my goats were sleeping outside instead of in their bedded down calf huts. Ground was dry with no snow on it. But still, they could choose to lay in the shelters, there are plenty of them. Plenty of feed and water to keep their energy up. Hay all day and night should be provided.

 

[jodief100]

They can handle the cold, it is the water that is your biggest problem. As long as they have access to water, hay and are out of the wind on bedding that gets them off the cold ground, they will be fine. They must have hay- it gets the rumen running and keeps them warm.

My vet sent out an email yesterday telling everyone to cut back on the grain and give mostly or all hay until the cold blows through.