Goats and snow

[Cygnet]

Learning experience here for me -- I've been here a couple years, but last year was the winter that wasn't. We have close to 20" of powder snow on the ground from yesterday's storm. First time dealing with goats and snow that is deeper than a couple inches. (I'm not completely new to dealing with snow and cold weather, just don't have much experience with the goats and snow.)

The water trough for the goats is outside the barn, about 40 feet from it. Temps are in the teens, so any water I put in the barn is going to freeze right away. I've dug a path to the water trough for the goats, but they aren't using it. They're refusing to leave the barn. By refusing, I mean not a single hoof print outside.

Will they eventually suck it up and go outside when they get really thirsty, or do I need to start hauling water into the barn for them? I don't want my wethers getting bladder stones from dehydration. On the other hand ... what do wild goats do when it snows? The little princesses really aren't going to die if they dip their tootsies in the snow, and maybe I can wait them out?

[billinwv]

Try leading the "boss" out to the trough and see if everyone else will follow.

[Cygnet]

I actually caved in and hauled a bucket of water into the barn. It'll freeze, but I figured they could get a drink before it did. I've lost a wether to stones, and I don't want to repeat that nightmare. (And we're snowed in -- no way to get a vet out.)

They sniffed at the water and didn't drink anything.

Guess they're just not thirsty .... *sigh* ... and they are also very, very, very spoiled.

(The herd queen is a real drama queen, even by goat standards. That may be part of the problem with them not going out. She's always the first to go in at the first rain drop, or even a strong gust of wind.)

[arnie]

my spoiled babys will stay in the barn and peep out the door if its windy rainy snow or cold but if I put pan of grain out they come running

[SJSFarm]

Mine drink more water when I put the acv in it.
I have a 100 gallon with a heater in the aisle way of the barn and keep a 3 gallon bucket hooked in the stall for my 4 does and the two bucks in a separate stall. When it freezes, I put the buckets, hanging, into the stock tank while I finish the chores and by then the bucket is usually defrosted enough to just pop the ice into the tank to melt. If not, I just use a different bucket for their stall and leave the iced buckets hanging in the stock tank to melt for the next feeding.

[sammyd]

Ours are fine outside in the snow. The water is outside of their shelter and they use it when they need to.

[mygoat]

We feed and water outside of the barn all year every year.


Last year was horrible with snow and extreme cold. That snow is just as cold as the air, but is wet and up to their bellies (Or higher on the poor minis!)... They were resisting going out in it so last year I actually made paths for them to some extent. I'd NEVER done that before, just expected them to go out and do it themselves. We've had lots of snow through the years and cold temps, but nothing like last year. The round bales are quite a walk away from the barn, and exposed in the middle of a field, and we haven't had goats during a winter half so bad a that. I actually fed some hay in the barn last year, and I did move the water bins closer but still outside. I even did bring them a couple buckets of warm water here and there, on the really cold days when I didn't see them going out. But most years, I feed/water outside and don't do anything special for them besides making sure they have access to high quality feed, all the water they want, and minerals/baking soda which will help increase their water desire.

[Cygnet]

Thanks, everyone.

I finally convinced the boldest wether to come out. He's half dog anyway, and eventually worked up to plowing through the snow (which was shoulder deep to him -- I have Nigerians) and frisking about a bit while he followed me around. The other wether came out a few strides and stood there, unwilling to leave the path I'd dug. The girls stayed in the barn and screamed like they were being eaten by wolves.

OMG, the ground is WHITE and it is COLD and JUST NO NO NO NOPE! BAAAAAAAAAA!

If this is a more typical winter than last year, the precious little darlings better get used to it. *grin*

[marusempai]

Goats don't like anything new, and they don't like being wet, so sudden snowfall is like the goat apocalypse. They'll get over it. I keep the hay in the barn (because it's convenient for me) but the water is all outside because the hose won't quite reach. Even Sundae (who won't go outside in the rain for CORN) will eventually make little water runs.

[FarmerKat]

Interesting read ... this is our first winter with goats (I only have 2 wethers for brush control). We had several people locally tell us that if it rains or snows, the goats will not step outside. But none of them keep their goats in a pasture with pigs ... if our pigs go outside, the goats go too and the pigs do not care much about the weather. I actually worry about them getting too cold because they get wet running outside in the rain. We have only had snow twice so far with them (3-6 inches) and it did not slow them down. Now this thread got me curious what they are going to do if we get more snow than a few inches ....

[dozedotz]

Ours will NOT come out of the barn...the girls anyway. The boys will. We have heated buckets inside, but they are a standard size and we are constantly filling them in the cold, snow, winter, wind, dew drops...etc., etc. It actually never occurred to them or us that we should not do this for them...they ARE the goats after all!!! We live to serve...

[creeklady2000]

Yes it is funny how some people think goats are tough and will eat anything and will live any where and that is so untrue but then again mine are spoiled and I love them dearly and they have trained me well. they get there hay in the barn on wet or snowy day's ,

[FarmerKat]

Originally Posted by dozedotz

Ours will NOT come out of the barn...the girls anyway. The boys will. We have heated buckets inside, but they are a standard size and we are constantly filling them in the cold, snow, winter, wind, dew drops...etc., etc. It actually never occurred to them or us that we should not do this for them...they ARE the goats after all!!! We live to serve...

Originally Posted by creeklady2000

Yes it is funny how some people think goats are tough and will eat anything and will live any where and that is so untrue but then again mine are spoiled and I love them dearly and they have trained me well. they get there hay in the barn on wet or snowy day's ,

I will admit that until I actually started educating myself about goats when we were getting ready to bring them home I thought the same thing.

[wogglebug]

Mountain goats handle the conditions well enough.
Goats that have gone feral act just exactly like mountain goats after just a few months.

Your domestic princesses and drama queens may not WANT to handle the conditions, but they CAN if they get hungry or thirsty enough to motivate them.

[V-NH]

My goats are pretty rugged. I don't know why, but they usually don't go inside when it rains or snows unless it is extremely bad. I don't lock them up at night, they live in something like a 1/4th acre electrified pen with a hoop house for shelter. I am usually very surprised by how they choose to live and sleep. A few weeks ago they were hanging around outside during freezing rain, acting like everything was normal and fine. Last night it was about 10 degrees out with a strong wind chill and they were all sleeping by the hay feeder out in the open on top of a hill rather than inside of their house. They're alpine, so maybe it has something to do with that, but I don't know.

I feed them water out of food grade five gallon buckets and I cycle them in and out of my garage as they freeze. One freezes solid, so I put it in the garage and bring a different one out. By the next morning the one in the garage is thawed and I do the swap again. Thus it continues all winter long. I use a stock tank in the summer.

They're not picky at all about food. If it's edible, they'll come running for it. Sometimes when they come running toward me at feeding time I hum a goat version of that famous Marvin Gaye song...

'Cause baby,
There ain't no mountain high enough
Ain't no valley low enough
Ain't no river wide enough
To keep me from getting to you (and my grain)

[Backfourty,MI.]

We try & snowblow or shovel for our goats, duck, stc. If the snow gets too carried away like last year we at least shovel paths.
Our goats are used to the snow so as long as it's not frigid temps & the wind blowing 30 or 40 miles an hour they come outside a little.
I think in Michigan they just get used to the winter weather maybe a little better.

Try filling their water bucket with really warm water & adding a little apple cider vinegar. Mine Love warm water in the winter & also apple cider vinegar in it.

[Frosted Mini's]

My strange goats for whatever reason prefer icy cold water to warm. LOL

They don't seem to mind snow too much. Rain is scary like the sky is falling.

[V-NH]

I just went outside to give them a water recharge. We're in the middle of a snowstorm, four inches on the ground so far and its steadily coming down. My goats were all hanging out right by the gate, absolutely no desire to go inside their house on the other side of the pen.

[Wendy]

I feed hay & water mine in the barn. They have to come out & go to another shed for grain & to be milked.

[anita_fc]

It's probably the African-origin goats who hate winter. My pygmies are exactly like the Nigerians described above. Lol