Feeding during a severe cold snap - give 'em more.

[Roll farms]

Just thought I'd toss this out there for the newbies who may not realize that when a goat is cold, it needs roughly 1/3 more feed (hay) per day than it does when it's not cold.

If your goats are shivering, they're cold. If they're acting normal, they're probably "ok".

Staying warm burns more calories than when the temps are moderate.
Just because it gets colder doesn't necessarily mean they need more (they're better equipped for colder temps than we are, so they can handle lower temps than we could), but if they act cold, a full rumen of hay will create added heat.

Added grain won't do the same as added hay, it's the roughage that creates heat...but I do admit my girls get an extra scoop on days like today, when the temp is 18 w/ a windchill of 0. All our pens are getting an extra 2 flakes of hay until temps get back above 30.

 

[autumnprairie]

thank you for the advice.

 

[Queen Mum]

Just thought I'd toss this out there for the newbies who may not realize that when a goat is cold, it needs roughly 1/3 more feed (hay) per day than it does when it's not cold.

If your goats are shivering, they're cold. If they're acting normal, they're probably "ok".

Staying warm burns more calories than when the temps are moderate.
Just because it gets colder doesn't necessarily mean they need more (they're better equipped for colder temps than we are, so they can handle lower temps than we could), but if they act cold, a full rumen of hay will create added heat.

Added grain won't do the same as added hay, it's the roughage that creates heat...but I do admit my girls get an extra scoop on days like today, when the temp is 18 w/ a windchill of 0. All our pens are getting an extra 2 flakes of hay until temps get back above 30.

AMEN! It was SUDDENLY 9 degrees the other morning and everyone was cold around here. They were gobbling down the hay! Today it's in the 40's but the wind is blowing and the hay is disappearing at a phenomenal rate. They really need it to keep warm.

 

[Beekissed]

I agree...good advice. I even feed the dogs more in the winter and let them put on a little more fat than I normally let them keep. The extra layer of insulation sure comes in handy for withstanding the temps when they sleep outdoors.

 

[ThreeBoysChicks]

Thanks for the advice. I wasn't sure if that was the case, but I have been feeding mine extra now that winter has arrived. Thanks for the reassurance.