MissFitFarm
Loving the herd life
we are going to have 25-30 degree drop in temp tonight, this is way below normal, goats aren't used to this. Don't have blankets for them. we don't have temps like this. -15 tonight and all week.
goat people... suggestions welcome and needed
- Thread starter MissFitFarm
- Start date
Hens and Roos
Herd Master
Can you add extra bedding for them to huddle down in and/or pile up straw bales to provide a wind break.
Good Luck, I hope more come in with ideas for you as we don't have goats
Good Luck, I hope more come in with ideas for you as we don't have goats
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- #3
MissFitFarm
Loving the herd life
I used up all my straw bales putting x-tra bedding for the goats chickens and horses.. am thinking of piling up the snow around all the building for added insulation... got plenty of that.
elevan
Critter Addict ♥
Piling up the snow is actually a pretty good idea. It's a lot of work but it would do the trick to insulate the building. Make sure that they have plenty of hay to eat as this will help keep them warm too.
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- #5
MissFitFarm
Loving the herd life
I'm a chicken... I moved them into the barn with 3 dog boxes filled straw and pine mixed. don't like the billy with the does right now but..... and I moved one of my home made hay feeders filled to the max in with them too. am hoping they will buddy up in the dog boxes. They just said going down to -40 tonight. So worried about them all. The horses blankets were soaked from the wet snow we had all day and now below temps before they had a chance to dry.... I piled snow as high as I could on the chicken houses, every one got x-tra hay and straw bedding. Tarps blocking the biting wind as much as possible. Heat lamps secured in hen house. Dogs brought in. all I can do now is pace the floors and keep my fingers crossed.
20kidsonhill
True BYH Addict
Keep them too closed in with not enough air circulation can be worse for them than the cold, if they are out of the wind and have a dry place to lay down with enough to eat they will be okay.
- Thread starter
- #7
MissFitFarm
Loving the herd life
they got plenty of air, I put them in an outside stall (3 walls a front half door and a roof ) when I went out to feed this morning the Goats were shacking real bad. don't have ant ideal how to help them gave more hay and grain and am just hoping no one gets sick. the horses were fine and I have 5 hens inside the house now cause they have frostbitten combs. 
I had petroleum jelly on them but I guess I didn't have enough. I am so wore out from all this cold and snow, I just want it over without any more damage to my critters.... cant wait till Friday!!!!!! 40o 
Have I said I HATE WINTER? 
I had petroleum jelly on them but I guess I didn't have enough. I am so wore out from all this cold and snow, I just want it over without any more damage to my critters.... cant wait till Friday!!!!!! 40o Have I said I HATE WINTER? 
alsea1
True BYH Addict
Dang. That all sounds so stressful.
Animals are pretty tough though. Its amazing what they can deal with.
As long as they can keep dry and get plenty of hay to eat they should do okay.
Animals are pretty tough though. Its amazing what they can deal with.
As long as they can keep dry and get plenty of hay to eat they should do okay.
Southern by choice
Herd Master
they got plenty of air, I put them in an outside stall (3 walls a front half door and a roof ) when I went out to feed this morning the Goats were shacking real bad. don't have ant ideal how to help them gave more hay and grain and am just hoping no one gets sick. the horses were fine and I have 5 hens inside the house now cause they have frostbitten combs.
Been worried about all you folks up there. Jodief had a great tip... make sure they have water, keep it going although I know its freezing... they will eat more hay. If you have alfalfa give them that too. I think Jodie said less grain.
Sweetened
Herd Master
Something to remember is shaking, shivering, is also a way of keeping warm. Shivering indicates your body is attempting to generate heat by shaking muscles around organs, thus expending energy (which is why more feed is required to keep warm).
I have also, recently, stopped feeding grains to warm animals up after someone I trust told me roughage, so grasses and so on, are what stimulate warmth in ruminants, NOT grains. Hydration is also important. As a person who is perpetually dehydrated, I can tell you I have terrible problems with cold and frostbite in my hands because there isn't enough fluid to cushion my muscles from freezing, thus my muscles are targetted first. The best thing i did was by a submersible water heater. Even when we were -58 F, it kept the water clear and thawed.
Goats apparently take well to sweaters, I would love to get one on them this time of year, but I feel like they'd get it dirty and caked with hay and straw so quickly it'd just be a mess.
I don't know where exactly you live, but I have gone with colder fowl breeds. We have muscovies, but won't do them again since they're idiots and don't lay on their feet. Most of my chickens tuck their heads under their wings, but they all have cushion, rose or pea combs.
I have also, recently, stopped feeding grains to warm animals up after someone I trust told me roughage, so grasses and so on, are what stimulate warmth in ruminants, NOT grains. Hydration is also important. As a person who is perpetually dehydrated, I can tell you I have terrible problems with cold and frostbite in my hands because there isn't enough fluid to cushion my muscles from freezing, thus my muscles are targetted first. The best thing i did was by a submersible water heater. Even when we were -58 F, it kept the water clear and thawed.
Goats apparently take well to sweaters, I would love to get one on them this time of year, but I feel like they'd get it dirty and caked with hay and straw so quickly it'd just be a mess.
I don't know where exactly you live, but I have gone with colder fowl breeds. We have muscovies, but won't do them again since they're idiots and don't lay on their feet. Most of my chickens tuck their heads under their wings, but they all have cushion, rose or pea combs.
