Cold weather and water in take

[Catahoula]

Should I worry? We are having some cold temperature...nights in the 20s and barely getting up mid 30's the past couple days. Will be like this for a couple more...and we had 2" of snow and may be getting more tonight and tomorrow. I have been bringing out hot water 3 times a day for the kids. It didn't seem like they are drinking much. I think they may have eaten some snow. They get about 1.5 cups grains a day with alfalfa hay and pellets and they also browse. I don't know what else I could do to make them drink more water. Normally they do drink lots of water. I worry they may get UC.

 

[SheepGirl]

My sheep don't drink much when it's cold. If snow is available, they prefer to get their moisture from that rather than water.

As for UC, as long as your calciumhosphorus ratio is 2:1, you don't need to worry. Water intake doesn't affect UC to my knowledge--just how much they pee!

 

[ThornyRidgeII]

my goats love love love warm.. not hot water when its cold.. I invested in those bucket submersible water heaters and heat up around 5 gallons of water to a warm but drinkable temperature.. I am attacked carrying buckets into the pen.. they love it.. also invest in the heated freeze free buckets that will keep water above freezing and when it is super cold it actually feels slightly warm.. all the heaters and buckets can be bought at TSC or local feed/supply stores for around 35-55 bux

 

[Catahoula]

Thanks, I do have the 5 gal heated bucket and I will set it outside tomorrow. I just noticed that today they didn't seem to drink much water. I would have set up the heated bucket sooner. I will first thing in the morning.

 

[Stacykins]

My sheep don't drink much when it's cold. If snow is available, they prefer to get their moisture from that rather than water.

As for UC, as long as your calciumhosphorus ratio is 2:1, you don't need to worry. Water intake doesn't affect UC to my knowledge--just how much they pee!

Drinking less water will make the urine more concentrated. A more concentrated solution means that crystals are more likely to precipitate out of solution. In a goats case, that would cause development of a UC. So I am sure drinking less water could be problematic.

 

[SheepGirl]

My sheep don't drink much when it's cold. If snow is available, they prefer to get their moisture from that rather than water.

As for UC, as long as your calciumhosphorus ratio is 2:1, you don't need to worry. Water intake doesn't affect UC to my knowledge--just how much they pee!

Drinking less water will make the urine more concentrated. A more concentrated solution means that crystals are more likely to precipitate out of solution. In a goats case, that would cause development of a UC. So I am sure drinking less water could be problematic.

But what I was thinking is that it can be concentrated or diluted--but as long as there's at least 2x as much calcium as there is phosphorus, you don't need to worry about UC because there is enough calcium there to break up the phosphorus even if the urine is concentrated. But I don't know I think that's a question for the vet!

 

[Catahoula]

I set out the heated bucket and brought them more warm water. I don't know if they drank more or what. I saw at least one kid peeped. They are eating and running around so I assume they must be fine. I believe they get enough calcium. They are more hungry because they can't browse as much. All the vegetation is covered with frost/snow... I will bring them more hay and alfalfa pellets tomorrow. This cold spell should be over soon. This would be my first winter like days with the goats. I need to be more prepared.