Sub-zero temps later this week -

The Tin Mom · #1 01/31/11, 09:14 AM

which is really rare here. Also near blizzard conditions on the way. My goats are in a shelter with good wind protection - but is there anything else I should do? Thank goodness no kids for another 3 weeks!

Backfourty,MI. · #2 01/31/11, 09:17 AM

Just make sure they have plenty of good hay to eat which helps keep them warm & also good layers of warm bedding like straw or wasted hay, etc.
Sounds like the shelter is nice & that is what they need out of the wind.

Were going to be getting some of those same conditions, already had quite a bit of sub zero night time temps & I was hoping for no more of those.

julieq · #3 01/31/11, 09:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Backfourty,MI.

Just make sure they have plenty of good hay to eat which helps keep them warm & also good layers of warm bedding like straw or wasted hay, etc.
Sounds like the shelter is nice & that is what they need out of the wind.

Were going to be getting some of those same conditions, already had quite a bit of sub zero night time temps & I was hoping for no more of those.

And plenty of warm, fresh water! Here in Southern Idaho we have to keep heated water buckets going all winter for the goats, dog and chickens. Horses have a heated trough.

pygmybabies · #4 01/31/11, 10:05 AM

I am right there with you!! I am worried about babies being born in this, but I have a dog coat, sweaters, kid jammies heated dog house and heated kidding pen hoping that it is ehough with the wind and all, problem is hope they are not spoiled after this!
Thinking too about winterrwolf, she is trying to move about 2 1/2 hours away in all this mess and cold! I hope her babies dont have babies in this while she is going back and forth.

mammabooh · #5 01/31/11, 10:45 AM

Depending on how big their area is, you could possibly make the area smaller with some stacked bales of straw so that their body heat would warm the area better. I don't know...I don't have goats yet, but it sounds like a good idea to me.

Minelson · #6 01/31/11, 10:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pygmybabies

I am right there with you!! I am worried about babies being born in this, but I have a dog coat, sweaters, kid jammies heated dog house and heated kidding pen hoping that it is ehough with the wind and all, problem is hope they are not spoiled after this!
Thinking too about winterrwolf, she is trying to move about 2 1/2 hours away in all this mess and cold! I hope her babies dont have babies in this while she is going back and forth.

Sounds like you got it covered for the bad weather pygmybabies

I will send a prayer out to Winterwolf...jeepers, moving is hard enough when the weather is perfect! I feel really sorry for her

Oat Bucket Farm · #7 01/31/11, 10:51 AM

Yep, lots of hay and plenty of bedding. We take warm water out about three times a day in weather like this.

beccachow · #8 01/31/11, 11:36 AM

Hay, bedding, and somewhere warm and dry to stay out of the weather. They will pile on each other and take care of the rest. No worries about them going outside, most goats would really prefer not to get their dainty hooves soiled, wet and dirty.

lucyp · #9 01/31/11, 11:59 AM

What others have said about warm water, lots of straw bedding and hay.

The idea on the straw bales is a good one, but goats eat straw too. As a result, the integrity of the bale stacks would not endure for more than a day or so. That's a lot of work for just a few days, and then you have a pile of straw with which to contend. Maybe stacking straw bales on the exterior of the shelter (if not accessible to the goats) on the north side and whatever additional direction the wind is coming from, which I believe in this storm is supposed to be north and west, though right now for me is north and east. That would help insulate the shed from the wind and keep some warmth in without risking the bales falling on the goats or spending so much time for something that won't last long.

I have only two goats, and they are smaller does (one Lamancha and one Nigerian Dwarf). They sleep inside in a very large dog crate when the overnight low drops below zero, as it is supposed to do here on Wednesday night. My chickens and ducks may even come inside too. I haven't decided yet. When it dips below 15, I put coats on the goats, but they stay outside.

Oat Bucket Farm · #10 01/31/11, 12:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pygmybabies

Thinking too about winterrwolf, she is trying to move about 2 1/2 hours away in all this mess and cold! I hope her babies dont have babies in this while she is going back and forth.

Oh my, I would hate moving in this, expecially trying to get all the out door critters moved and settled in their new location.

The Tin Mom · #11 01/31/11, 12:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pygmybabies

I am right there with you!! I am worried about babies being born in this, but I have a dog coat, sweaters, kid jammies heated dog house and heated kidding pen hoping that it is ehough with the wind and all, problem is hope they are not spoiled after this!
Thinking too about winterrwolf, she is trying to move about 2 1/2 hours away in all this mess and cold! I hope her babies dont have babies in this while she is going back and forth.

Praying for winterrwolf! What awful weather for moving!!

Heritagefarm · #12 01/31/11, 09:36 PM

Dang. I was managing to forget that until I found this article. EKK.

mamato3 · #13 02/01/11, 06:40 AM

Yep its bad her were under a blizzard watch already got 2 inches on the ground. Glad my new goat have a big shed to move around in. Just wish they were buddies so they could huddle together.

Heritagefarm · #14 02/01/11, 10:26 AM

Freezing rain! AGH!

fishhead · #15 02/01/11, 10:31 AM

Dry fluffly bedding, protection from the wind, warm water a couple of times each day, lots of hay and alfalfa pellets and maybe even some corn in the evening is what I do with mine. They also get BOSS and AC every morning too. Even at -40 F they aren't shivering but they have had time to grow a good coat.