[Cactus_Acres]

I am going to make a run for some stuff to keep the goats happy for the next few days. We are expecting temps to drop below freezing starting Tuesday, and not to crawl out of that range for the foreseeable future. Lows from -1 to -8.

I'm about to make a run for straw bedding and some more hay. Will the buckling still be okay by himself (keeping him separated for the first few weeks) with just deep bedding? Anything I should do extra for the goats, aside from more hay and such? The

 

[dchemphill1]

My three wethers have straw bed about 10" deep in the shed and have done well with nights in the single digits and cold wind chills below zero. The get hay and a bit of goat pellets each day.

 

[MsScamp]

Cactus, are you a Wyoming native?

 

[GATA_Goats]

Good luck, let us know how they do!

 

[Cactus_Acres]

Lol, nope, this is just my first winter with animals other than dogs/cats up here ( been here three and a half years). I love the cold for me, just want to be sure I take good care of the animals. I've had large animals before, but only down in the south. I spent a few years in Alaska, where I got my liking for the cold.

I've got some work to do in the barn over the next day or two to stop snow from somehow building up in the bed of straw I made (last round, the snow found its way under the rises in the metal roof and built it up in straw).

 

[MsScamp]

I see, well a belated welcome to Wyoming! Yeah, the wind blows the snow in under the eaves if not blocked. Are the wall studs wood? If so, you can cut 2X4's to fit between the studs and toenail them into the studs.

 

[Cactus_Acres]

Yeah, it's wood. One part it's blowing in doesn't have enough room to fit wood, so I am going to use some crack filler spray in stuff there. I am tempted to convert the 12x12 stall into two smaller stalls, well, one with a gate, and one not, so I can keep him penned up, but give the girls a really good way to get out of any drafts. I'd have to clean it out really good, since he has had free range of the whole thing, but so far, aside from the eye thing that seems to be allergies, he is doing good.

 

[MsScamp]

...so I am going to use some crack filler spray in stuff there.

You know, you might want to give some thought to just stuffing it full of insulation, old rags, towels - something that will block the winter wind, but is removable next summer when it gets hot.

Be careful how much you confine your little guy to the barn. He needs exercise, sunshine, fresh air, and play to stay healthy. What is the name of the thread about your little guy? I seem to have missed it and can't find it.

 

[Cactus_Acres]

Will do. One of my chickens (I have at least 3 dozen) decides to keep him company every day. This buff Orpington pullet keeps hopping over the gate and picking at his hay, though none of the others go in there with her.

Tomorrow my husband will be home, and we have some items to stow away (like my 400lb gorilla, I mean tiller, that is sitting out in the garden from where I finished turning under manure and such a couple weeks ago). Our garden has a short fence around it, so I can take him out there and let him poke around some. He spent some time out there with us this last week when we were doing a burn pile after the last round of snow (moisture on the ground, no wind=perfect burning weather).

 

[MsScamp]

Will do. One of my chickens (I have at least 3 dozen) decides to keep him company every day. This buff Orpington pullet keeps hopping over the gate and picking at his hay, though none of the others go in there with her.

Tomorrow my husband will be home, and we have some items to stow away (like my 400lb gorilla, I mean tiller, that is sitting out in the garden from where I finished turning under manure and such a couple weeks ago). Our garden has a short fence around it, so I can take him out there and let him poke around some. He spent some time out there with us this last week when we were doing a burn pile after the last round of snow (moisture on the ground, no wind=perfect burning weather).

What does your little guy think of the chicken? That has to be comical at times. Yeah, I hear you on burning stuff. Our burn pile has become a monster that we are still trying to figure out what to do with. There are a couple of very tall cottonwood trees that are partially dead in the middle of it, and lighting it up could get very dicey very quickly.

 

[rockytg]

Sounds like you have things under control with the buckling. Plenty of good hay to go with his spot should be good. It is funny that you mentioned the rooster that hangs out with him some. Last winter we had a depressed horse that bonded with one of our bucks. They also had a rooster that decided where they were was a good place to hang out and get some 'free food' (anything that dropped out of either of their mouths).

 

[GATA_Goats]

Lol, how are the buff orpington's I hear they are the friendliest birds and great layers, never knew they like goats!