Protection when it gets below 0?

[Willowynd]

This is my first winter with goats....so hope this does not sound too stupid I am wondering how much protection they need when the forecast is 20 below with wind chills. The barn is essentially a 3 sided structure right now as I did not get the doors built on and put on before the first snows hit. I am wondering if I should put a tarp over the doorway tonight (but they would probably tear that down or chew it...or if locking the 2 that are currently here (the other 2 are off being bred) in a stall for the night (which is solid wood) is enough.

[bluefish]

Generally, if they are out of the wind and rain/snow (if any) and have lots of hay, they do ok. My girls are in the barn, but the boys are still in a 3 sided shed. I had put up a partial 4th wall, but, naturally, they knocked down. They don't even have any straw because they keep kicking it outside and/or eating it. I just make sure they have as much grass hay as they want. They huddle up in the corner out of the wind and do fine. It was -25 this morning. They are a bit frosty around the face and shivery, but ok. They've withstood this sort of weather for a week or two at a time for years.

[Willowynd]

Ok, thanks. The book I have was saying that they need a barn that stays above freezing...but they have done fine thus far with what I have...but didn't know if they would need more with the negative temps. They do have a thick bed of straw in the stall (which is kept open)...I am going to make sure it is dry though and if not, will change it.

[mygoat]

A barn above freezing? That would be NICE so that I could put their water in there - but completely unnecessary. Goats are cold hardy as long as they aren't otherwise suffering from disease/malnutrition. They should also have a belly full of hay 24/7, as a working rumen is a rumen keeping the body warm.

If I were you I would put them in the stall, though. With a three sided shelter with -20 windchill, they NEED to be out of that wind. Just be sure to let them out in the morning.

[Minelson]

I'm happy when my barn is 10 degrees! Right now it is 18 below with 40 below windchill and mine are outside, out of the wind, laying in the snow in the sun. Chewing their cud. At night they will be in the barn with lots of dry bedding and grass hay to eat

[fishhead]

We had -25 this morning and -38 a few weeks ago. My goats have a 3 sided uninsulated shelter to keep out the wind. I've got a rubber tarp over 1/2 of the open side to stop the wind from that direction.

I make sure they have dry straw to lie on and each evening they get alfalfa pellets for heat. When it's going to be cold I also give them a small scoop of corn to share. They get warm water 2x a day and BOSS with AC every morning since they are wethers.

Stopping the wind, dry bedding and good food is enough once they get used to it. I rarely see shivering and never for more than a few minutes after they get up.

[6e]

When we used to keep ours in a 3 sided shed we used tarps across the front too to block the wind. Works pretty good. They snuggle down in the hay and with each other.

[Backfourty,MI.]

I would lock them in the stall together with plenty of bedding & plenty of hay to eat & keep themselves warm.

Mine are all locked in the barn tonight but even in the barn I doubt it will be above zero with our windchills today, supposed to be pretty bitter cold the next few days & nights here! I'd be happy to have temps as high as freezing temps any day right now!

[The Tin Mom]

Originally Posted by 6e

When we used to keep ours in a 3 sided shed we used tarps across the front too to block the wind. Works pretty good. They snuggle down in the hay and with each other.

What weight were the tarps you used & where did you get them?

Thanks!