Winter and keeping them healthy

[alsea1]

I am in the pacific northwest. We get rain, rain and more rain then some freezing rain on occation.
Keeping livestock in good shape here is a challenge.
Seems it stays warm enough for all kinds of disease to form and attack animals.
Keeping them dry enough is also a major problem.
Today I must catch wild black belly ewe to trim and doctor her hoof. I imagine she has developed hoof rot.
Anyone else live in really wet climate.
Ugh, and the stuff that develops in the mass quantities of mud.
LT

 

[Southern by choice]

Yep, that's Central NC...rain, rain, rain, and then more rain. Fall and winter is terrible... just nasty rain. We have to also really watch for any hoof issues. The ground, if it does freeze isn't frozen for long...so, more mud! We all wear rubber boots, you can walk across the grass and the water is sloshing! The geese and ducks sure love it though. :/

 

[alsea1]

Rubber boots are a must have.
I know we need a good freeze but it sure makes tending the animals hard.

 

[finns&fjords]

Rubber boots are a must have.
I know we need a good freeze but it sure makes tending the animals hard.

Oh I feel your pain! I'm on the wet side of OR too, and I'm sure I spend more time in my rubber boots than any other shoes, probably from Oct-June. I've been fortunate with my little flock; haven't had any hoof issues. I do keep the feeding stall clean (most of the time) and keep it bedded with shavings. When it's nasty they do tend to hang out inside more. I'm thinking about occasionally using the stall pellets as I know they will pull moisture from everything.
Hoping for a few dry days...and a freeze!