Frosted goat. Should I worry?

sriston · #1 11/28/13, 08:27 AM

My goats have a barn. A nice barn with plenty of room, lots of goat shelves, plenty of dry and comfy bedding. I do not lock them into their barn, they go in and out at will. Predators are not a problem, in case someone wonders.

My girls always sleep in the barn at night. Our ND buckling, Leroy, for some reason doesn't. Now that it is cold, every morning when I go out to let the chickens out, I find Leroy covered in frost. He doesn't act like it bothers him and he is happy and healthy with a thick winter coat.

That said, it bothers ME that my little goat looks like a big icicle every morning. I worry about him. Should I force him to sleep in the barn (begin locking them in), or is sleeping under the stars in frigid temperatures just a goat thing?

bluefish · #2 11/28/13, 08:35 AM

If he's covered with frost, it shows he has a good coat that is very insulating. If he's acting fine, I wouldn't worry about it. Being under cover doesn't always mean anything. I have a doeling this year that has had a few issues with the cold and she's in the barn.

DenMacII · #3 11/28/13, 08:42 AM

Our goats usually have the option to be in or out overnight, although right now we are putting our does up at night since they are due to kid in the next 30 days.

In my experience, as soon as the temps, wind, or rain reach a certain point the goats will come in out of the weather and gladly take the dry indoor bedding.

Does the buckling get along with the other goats? If there is an older, dominate goat pushing the buckling around that might cause him to stay out - but again, once conditions are bad my goats seem to get over their pecking order and huddle up together.

Helena · #4 11/28/13, 08:44 AM

Are the girls keeping him outside at night and not allowing him to come into the barn?? I would bring him in at night perhaps in his own pen. Poor little guy..

sriston · #5 11/28/13, 09:30 AM

He and the two girls get along fine so I really don't think they are keeping him out of the barn. They do all curl up together a lot of the time. Of course, at the first drop of rain or the first snowflake, they all head into the barn because we all know that goats will melt if they get wet.

I guess Leroy just prefers sleeping under the stars and since he isn't uncomfortable I will try not to worry about my little icicle goat. I guess I'm just an over-protective goat mom.

Wolfy-hound · #6 11/28/13, 12:34 PM

If the goat isn't acting cold and there's frost on the outer hair, that means that his coat insulates him SO well that the heat from his body is kept next to his skin. Otherwise it would escape and melt any frost that would try to form.

So I wouldn't worry overmuch as long as he's not acting cold.

dizzy · #7 11/28/13, 03:10 PM

And I was wondering what flavor of frosting was on him, and why anyone would want to frost a goat.

Pony · #8 11/28/13, 07:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dizzy

And I was wondering what flavor of frosting was on him, and why anyone would want to frost a goat.

LOL! I was thinking, "Frosted Mini Wheats!"

motdaugrnds · #9 11/29/13, 08:44 AM

I suppose he's ok if he's not shivering under all that frost; however, it would disturb me if he were mine. I'd probably make sure he was in the barn and sit in there awhile watching to see what was occurring and what he was doing. (I've noticed of late my goats will stand just outside the barn looking in and, when I decided to wait and watch, I found rabbits running around in there.)