Should I?... or shouldn't I

I have to say, the goats look pretty well insulated all by themselves. Maybe a draft came through from the open doors and she cought a chill, the bodies natural responce to keeping warm is to shiver, so if shes not continuing to do so, I wouldnt worry about it.

Most goats live and dont have half of what yours do, if that wasnt true, then how many goat idiots would there be left in the world? None, there wouldnt be anymore goats owned by them.

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They are your friend, partner, defender and your dog.
You are their life, love and leader.They will be faithful and true to the end. We owe it to them to be worthy of such devotion

Just did another check...They came out of the hut for some attention and I took off my glove and put my hand in there and it's nice and warm No shivering. I gave them more alfalfa hay and they drank more warm water. The horses are in (they warm things up a tad) all doors shut. It was 10 degrees inside when we left. The -17 is supposed to happen around 4am...so the temp is dropping, it's -3 right now. Naturldane, I think maybe it was such a shock to come out of that warm hut into the frigid barn air that maybe that started the shivering....I'll be keeping a close eye on her.

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Teach only Love...for that is what You are

crud, forgot that foxfire auto logs me into natural dane and not cannon farms...lol..

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They are your friend, partner, defender and your dog.
You are their life, love and leader.They will be faithful and true to the end. We owe it to them to be worthy of such devotion

Fluffed up hay surrounding them will keep them warm - as long as it can trap air pockets, it'll insulate some. Maybe not quite as well as straw but it'll work.
I can't imagine living where it gets that cold!!! It's 5° right now with high winds and I hate it!!

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Cloven Trail Farm
Lord help me be the person my dog thinks I am!

Ja-Lyn's Radio Flyer, aka "Rad" on his 17th birthday.
9/14/93 -12/3/10.
Rest peacefully my soulmate, I'll love you forever.

And to think I was just asking DH if maybe I should go out and add more straw to the goats' stall in a few minutes...after all, it's supposed to be 20° here tonight, LOL. I cannot imagine truly cold weather, obviously!

Keeping the straw/hay fluffy is key. We built a similar structure to your hut, Minelson, with a low roof to trap heat, and I fluff the straw up with the pitchfork every night so they can snuggle in. I swear I spend more time making their bed cozy than my own.

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Beth ~ Old Church, VA
3 Nigerian Dwarf goats, 4 cats, 3 Pekin ducks and 7 chickens. One very patient husband~

Beth, that's funny, it's supposed to be a "frigid" 20 here, too, and I was worried about ------ (the goat Survivor) and if I needed to pen him in or leave him free rein to run in and out. Since he's half angora, he's already wearing a sweater...

Thanks guys, for making my end of the world seem like a tropical paradise, lol.

Love all those pics, and your horses are gorgeous. Your hubby looks like a handsome fellow, or at least his mustache is (giggle).

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Becky

I went through the same thing with my goats this last week. We went from 30 degree nights to negative numbers literally overnight (not to mention the foot of snow and it has been snowing almost non stop for a week now). I thin the quick drop in temperatures was quite a shock to their system and a few were shivering. I bring out warm water twice day to them, free choice hay, and THICK straw in their shelter. There is five of them to cuddle up together. All seem to be doing much better now that they are getting used to it. Except for my prima donna Ginger (La Mancha). She is my delicate girl but my very favorite goat so I am happy to pamper her a bit. I have a polar fleece foal coat that I put on her if I see her starting to shiver. I am thinking of making some for the other goats too but we will see.

Just wanted to let everyone know that Gretta, Frankie & Flossie survived the cold night just fine We will have a balmy 7 degrees for a low tonight so I think we are in the clear....for now! Thanks everyone!

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Teach only Love...for that is what You are

Glad they did fine!! Those pictures were great and your goats look well protected to me, I loved the last pic of your DH. I'd put a little molasses in the warm water, that seems like it would add some extra calories and be a nice treat too. I wanted to second whoever said to use straw. I read an article a long time ago about if you have outdoor dogs that they should always be given straw (not blankets) because straw is the best insulator for cold nights.

You know, I bet she had been snuggled with the others before you went out and shivered from being out of the warm hutch.
I had a pygmy for my horse and made a small enclosed area in the run-in for her that when she came out to eat, she shivered, then ran right back to the enclosed area as soon as she was done. She hated the dog sweater I put on her at night.

Honestly I'd move them! And me too to a warmer climate!!
And to think I was worried about my kids in 20 degree weather. I am glad everyone is alright.

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Chris
http://aberryvinefarm.blogspot.com/

We just had to bring in one of our pregnant girls b/c she did catch a cold. She's doing great now but everyone else was happily munching away. Last night it was about 9 degrees and tomorrow it is finally supposed to get warm during the day at 40 degrees yeah!! Anyway. while we are talking about it anyone have advice for when our babies are born in mid January?

The most important thing is to get them dry and colostrum in their bellies. Lots of bedding (straw is best...shavings will stick to them and make a mess) Warm water with a bit of molasses for mama when she is done. No wind. I had towels warming in the clothes dryer and then when she went into labor I grabbed them and shoved them into one of those big insulated bags that they sell for keeping food cold/warm...like pizza delivery guys use. They were nice and toasty for drying them off But the temp dropped so low the next day that I did end up moving them into a heated shed (30 degrees is heated around here in Jan lol)

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Teach only Love...for that is what You are

How are they doing today? It was -29 with the wind chill and -19 yesterday. I it when it gets that cold so I give everyone two times the hay I normally would so that I can sleep at night, never mind them. LOL The wind is always blowing here so it gets quite bitter. Once your boogers freeze though, it all feels the same. Miserable!

THey are doing great! And now DH is in charge...I'm out of town! TOmorrow it's supposed to get to 25 degreesssss!!!!!!!!yipee for them!

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Teach only Love...for that is what You are

Wooee a heat wave Minelson! Your goaties all look fat warm & content as can be in there.

I been throwing plenty straw for the girls. This aft I went out, someone had dug a hole down to bare metal..it was probably the Nubian...one of her Boer buddys was practically buried in the stuff that Nubie Herd Queen had shoveled and she did not want to move!

Merry Christmas to all!!

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Bob and Nancy Dickey
Laughing Stock Boer Goats
"Seriously Great Bloodlines"
and the meat goes on....
Near Seattle