Cold Weather Tips

Just make sure they have a draft free area, straw thats fetlock deep to lay down in, water and hay.

Since its gotten colder we've started bringing buckets of warm water out morning and night. They really seem to like that too and everybody gets in line to get a drink.

Lots of good hay, plenty of deep straw bedding. We spread wasted hay on top of that.
We've had freezing temps all week. I bring out buckets of hot water. Sometimes I cant pour it cause one of them sucks it down.

Piggybacking on OP's thread, responding to ciwheele's instruction to provide deep bedding: whenever I put out straw bedding (dead grass raked from the lawn (no chemicals, don't worry)) the goats just end up eating it, so there is no thickness to it, never mind fetlock deep! They get nice, fragrant, green grass hay to eat for carbs to burn for warmth, and their body condition is good, but I can't keep them from eating their bedding. What's up?

Put straw down.

The coarseness of the straw would deter them from eating it, then, ksalvagno? Admittedly the dead grass is quite fine.

no, the coarseness doesn't deter them at all. Mine will chew on straw too. It's just that you're basically putting "hay" down and that's edible and nutritious and yummy. Straw is just ....blah compared to hay. LOL

Yes, plus the taste. My goats may find a few grain heads that they will eat but generally won't touch the straw.

Your grass that you are putting down is hay and they will certainly eat that. Use it for food instead of bedding.

I put plenty of grass hay down.They will pick out their favorite parts but they also have hay 24/7 in the feeder so they go back to that after all the good pieces are gone

Goat_in_Himmel said:

Piggybacking on OP's thread, responding to ciwheele's instruction to provide deep bedding: whenever I put out straw bedding (dead grass raked from the lawn (no chemicals, don't worry)) the goats just end up eating it, so there is no thickness to it, never mind fetlock deep! They get nice, fragrant, green grass hay to eat for carbs to burn for warmth, and their body condition is good, but I can't keep them from eating their bedding. What's up?

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Dead grass is still grass and goats like it. I have the same problem with using old hay as bedding. I just take it into consideration and put it down extra deep to allow for the eating factor. :laugh: Sometimes I win and sometimes the girls win. :shrug: Keep adding it and eventually you will end up with a good layer of bedding. Something else I've found that helps deter them from eating their bedding is to feed them first, then bed the shed. Straw is not an option around here as it is perfectly good feed for cows, and is not that much cheaper than good hay.

Thanks so much evrryone! Your tips at much appreciated!

Whole or cracked corn is supposed to help keep them warm, but build them up slowly on it. You don't want to give them bloat. Also, they seem coldest when they first get out of bed. So, I throw a bunch of loose hay down for them to chow down on quickly to get it in them and start warming them up, as opposed to them picking it out if their feeder... And of course keep them out if the wind if possible