Happy January, all!
Hoping I can put cold weather fears to rest. Reading through the forum, I (Granny) hear lots of sensible people saying that goats are fine under shelter with no heat. They've got a cashmere undercoat, etc. etc. All that made perfect sense when I read it this summer. It made a lot less sense last night when it was 10 degrees and I tossed and turned, afraid and guilty.
This morning one of the goats had a fine coating of ice crystals on his back. Maybe huddled together sleeping, sister's breath was moistening his hair. I just want to know if that's a problem. It's just the surface. My daughter shuts them completely in at night, so while there is ventilation (gap where walls meet roof), there shouldn't be a way for them to get frosted on.
Also the water bucket was, of course, sealed with a good 3/4 inch of ice. We change the water twice daily (morning and evening). I think there are other fine people here who don't have a de-icer in the water bucket, right? Is twice daily enough time for them to be well hydrated?
I want to keep them as happy as possible, not just alive. However I realize I'm suffering from first-time Grandma syndrome, probably worrying about every little thing. Usually I can allay my fears by reading old posts but I guess six months have built up and I finally needed to hear someone say what I think I should be telling myself. This is harder than having my own babies, IMO. Thanks for any words!
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Caught them at their midday nap today, and Mira was lying with her chin draped over Luke's back. If it's a habitual sleeping arrangement, I'm gonna guess that it's just her breath building up on him overnight, the way my scarf over my face gets frosty from my breath.
I'll definitely keep my eye on the water bucket too though. They do love to butt and play together.
And now that they've made it through the three really chilly nights with no other problems, my anxiety level is dropping.
Deborah Niemann-Boehle said:
Thank you so much for replying, Deborah. I watched carefully yesterday and this morning, both very cold days again (3 degrees today). Luke had a small patch of frost on one side again today. It just seems like if it's an overall humidity issue, I should be able to feel it when I first go in. It also seems unlikely that humidity would build up with a 3 1/2 inch gap on the front and back walls (only 6 1/2 feet high). There's no moisture on the other goat or any surface inside the barn.
I appreciate the feedback!
I agree with Donna that it sounds like your barn is too well insulated. Barns should be well ventilated but not drafty. That means that you should have a window or door open, but don't have one open on each end so that the wind is blowing through it. You want humidity and ammonia to be able to escape. We have had temps as low as -10 and even -20 once, and I have NEVER seen frost on a goat that was inside of a barn. That would indicate a crazy high level of humidity. I'd also worry about a very high level of ammonia build-up if you can trap that much moisture.
I'd love to hear how your bucket insulator works, Donna! Will it be ready for use this winter?
Thank you for the suggestions. We do leave the barn door open all day, but I'm afraid to at night. Some because of temps and some for nighttime critter prevention (maybe that's silly too, as there is a 4 ft fence and no climbing nighttime critters bigger than possums and raccoons). If enough people weigh in with the same opinion as you, I might overcome that fear. :)
I am trying a project I found on fb.........take two tires 14 in. screw them together, and till the insides of them with insulating foam ,,,,,than smooth out the inside of the hole in the tires so you can place a bucket for water, put a piece of foam core UNDER the bucket and it is said that the water will NEVER freeze.............
Also a closed up barn can become colder than outside, and all the animal breath. moisture.condensation will get over everything............frosty in winter and VERY WET in the spring...................leave doors open all day to let the ari circulate....................... i learned the hard way.....