It's going to be COLD !!

MDKatie · #21 01/06/14, 10:47 AM

A fire in the pasture sounds very dangerous, especially because it's likely going to be windy. Not a good idea.

Nette · #22 01/06/14, 10:49 AM

They should be OK. Make sure they have PLENTY of hay.

Delion · #23 01/06/14, 10:57 AM

Yes, If they have to have plenty of good feed, the heat from metabolism and digestion is what warms them.

They should have good dry bedding at night, in a place that sheltered from the wind.

Don't forget to give them lots of water to drink. I used to warm it a little, because our well water was just a few degrees above freezing, so I'd pour a dipper of hot water in their water pail so they wouldn't lose so much body heat warming up an icy drink.

poorboy · #24 01/06/14, 11:03 AM

In out of the field here and milked this morning at -2*F( wind chill of 20 below)No frozen udders, ice on her hair and her body didn't lose enough heat to melt it in the barn..It should've yesterday but it didn't their skin and hair are a great insulator...Winter of 76-77 it got to -24*f

here and my milk cows never suffered frozen teats..

Bret · #25 01/06/14, 11:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bowdonkey

It is cold. Last night they called off todays hockey game. -30 again, I think my thermometer gets stuck there and won't go any lower. I hope it gets a little warmer for this www.GreatLakesPondHockey.com

They couldn'start the Zamboni. Keep the hay burning in their bellies...I agree.

ronbre · #26 01/06/14, 01:04 PM

i have no advice for caring for your livestock, but winter is the best time to burn up brush piles and if the animals can get near them it sure wouldn't hurt as long as they don't get TOO close

PrettyPaisley · #27 01/06/14, 08:45 PM

I was out in it today after the sun came out, laying out lots of hay and giving a warm electrolyte mix to the herd. Gallons and gallons of warm water with molasses, salt and ACV and MAN did they appreciate it !!! The cows looked very fluffy - very fluffy. I thought the cows might be okay but tonight I was walking across the parking lot at Walmart and it was stupid cold. The wind is insane so the cows are in the barn. We moved the rabbits and squeezed everyone in. And I think they are happy-they laid down quite quickly. I'm happy knowing the cows are warm and I hope they feel the love.

Now the pigs ... we took several bales of hay and made a fortress and covered it so they could go under. They are propped against the side of the barn so there is a wind break unlike the pasture. The cows would have no way to get out of the crazy wind.

And of course the goats are all lying on their hand sewn pillows that are stitched together with the webs of fairy spiders.

They are *rotten* but so worth it.

PrettyPaisley · #28 01/06/14, 08:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rambler

Well, what do you consider cold? And what is a normal low temp? And I will assume the cattle and hogs are used to being outside and used tot he normal low, whatever that is?

My cattle have access to a barn pen, open door. But most will choose to stay outside in the weather in my picture. Here.

Now, this is cold.

In worried a bit, but we have had minus 15 and minus 17 the two previous weeks. And my cattle are used to being outside, not thrown out suddenly.

And they have shelter from the wind.

And it is dry out, they are not wet.

And they have access to all the hay they want to eat.

So I think they will be ok.

I would not start a fire, no way.

I would make sure they were out of the wind, and had all the hay they wanted.

I suspect they will be much happer with whatever you consider cold, than they feel when it is very warm a d humid in summer.

Cattle can handle cold much easier than hot, with a few considerations.

Paul

Holy. Cow.
I would die if I had to live in that kind of weather. I don't know how you do it!

Rectifier · #29 01/06/14, 10:31 PM

A cow is a big fermentation plant, the bacteria digesting cellulose in their rumen actually heats them from the inside as well as their own metabolism. Cows and other ruminants are amazingly tough and just amazing overall that they work as well as they do.

A chinook has pushed the cold out of Calgary and looks to be breaking the cold in the west of SK as well. We are now around 0C here (25 degrees in 12 hours?), it has risen by 10 degrees at the farm and they are predicting above zero out there by the end of the week.

It better not actually go above zero for very long or what a mess it will be. I may in fact hate piles of wet slush even more than frigid cold.

Nette · #30 01/07/14, 06:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PrettyPaisley

...The wind is insane so the cows are in the barn. We moved the rabbits and squeezed everyone in. And I think they are happy-they laid down quite quickly. I'm happy knowing the cows are warm and I hope they feel the love. ....

I wouldn't leave them cooped up for long--respiratory problems can set in.

It's always something...

Gravytrain · #31 01/07/14, 07:31 AM

-14 here now, which isn't really that out of the ordinary for this time of year. Cows got a fresh bale in the feeder last night as well as one in their shelter. Pigs also got a bale and some extra feed. They'll do fine.

SLFarmMI · #32 01/07/14, 08:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PrettyPaisley

Holy. Cow.
I would die if I had to live in that kind of weather. I don't know how you do it!

Well, it's a dry cold.

Sort of like how folks from Arizona and thereabouts tell you it's a dry heat when it gets stupid hot. I think I prefer the cold (although not as cold as it is right now, -12 with a -37 wind chill) because I can always put more clothes on. When its hot, there are only so many clothes I can take off before it becomes scary.

motdaugrnds · #33 01/07/14, 09:05 AM

Had 3-4 inches of ice on top of all non-heated watering pans this morning. Last night we kept only one "cold-water" faucet slowly dripping as the water pipes had to run the length of the trailer to get to it. We also kept all cabinet doors open that had piping inside as well as the door to the hot-water tank and its pipes.

In preparation I had just laid down 4 full bailes of straw for the dairy goats (pregnant and due to kid anytime). Had just laid down a full bail of straw for the geese. Did nothing for the chickens/guineas. Thru a large covering (rubber matting from under an old carpet) over the back gate of the barn and another hung from outside top plates at end of roofing rafters just past that gate; so no wind getting into the barn from the north. Shut all shutters on the west side of barn too. With all the partitions and bedding laid down I found the dairy goats in good condition this morning, not one was even fluffed out.

The geese had gone to bed on top of that straw earlier than usual. This is part of the chicken house with 3 sides solid wood and pen facing the south. The geese as well as all chickens/guineas were in good shape this morning. (We have rose-combed chickens.)

The dogs could have gone to the barn or stayed on the back porch as both are always options for them. The wind was trying to whip around to get inside the porch. I didn't want to take a chance on their going back and forth during the night; so I brought their bedding inside and placed it on the floor in my room. Valentina did not want to come in; but I insisted. Both she and Cujo laid down on their bedding and didn't make a peep until morning when Cujo put his head on my bed to let me know he wanted out. They are now playing out in the cold....not sure running like that chasing each other is wise in this cold though.

The sun is out and it didn't get to the 5 degrees predicted. Still the temperature outdoors is cold enough to put the ice back on top of all the non-heated watering pans. So will be watching all animals throughout the day.

TheMartianChick · #34 01/07/14, 09:41 AM

We're at -22F with the windchill. It is a dry cold, so I've got a pot of water on the stove to put a little moisture into the air. I also have a fire going now. I decided not to light one sooner because I didn't want to run out of wood in the house and have to go outside for more. Hubby will bring more in later. My hands cannot handle the cold and even chemical handwarmers in my gloves don't keep them warm for longer than about 3 minutes in super cold temperatures. I brought quite a bit of wood in the house yesterday in case the power went out, but I don't think that power loss will be an issue. Our kitchen stove is gas powered, so I could always use that to keep the chill off if there was no power.

brosil · #35 01/07/14, 09:57 AM

I lost a sheep last night. One of our ram lambs from this year got on the wrong side of a drift and didn't make it back to shelter. I never lost a sheep to cold before.