I put Penny & her now 3 day old boy back in with the rest of the herd today, around midday. It was about 85 degrees today. The whole herd, including the big LaMancha cross was wonderful to the new boy, just curious and gentle. They were great with Annie's kids too. Very happy about that.
So, they all proceded to take a nap in the sun. I finished doing some chores, came back to check on them and found PEnny's baby panting with his mouth wide open. He looked distressed. Annie's boys seemed fine, and they were also sleeping in the sun. Anyway, I was worried so I brought Penny & her baby back into the barn so he could cool off. A little while later, he was fine.
Am I worrying excessively? I am planning to put their shed down by the gate in the hopes she will nap in the shade with him, althuogh there was some shade available she had him out in the full sun.
Up until today I have had her and the boy in a smaller pen off to the side of that pasture which has a nice big shade tree & lots more shade than the bigger pasture where I put them today when this happened.
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Well, if anyone else has to deal with a young kid in heat, this is how it worked out for us: I moved both sheds down by the gate & also hung up a shade cloth across the fence so there is plenty of shade. For about two more days they hadn't figure it out yet & I had to move him to the smaller pen midday where there is a big shade tree and most of the pen is in shade. About 3 days in little baby caught on and started only napping in one of the sheds, no more panting. He is doing great. I'd say by 4 days old he had it figured out
I hear you girl! I do understand!
He is not black, he is dark brown and white, about 50% of each. I am not positive he is nursing as much as he should, but he does feel full when I pick him up. And I did see him take a big pee right in the middle of this panting, so he had enough milk in him for that...
I'll take some precautions for him tomorrow & keep an eye on him. It looks like if anything it will be a little hotter tomorrow.
Speaking of fans- this past summer I had a hen go broody in the heat of the summer which for us is pretty hot. I was worried she'd die. I rigged a little fan in the coop to blow just barely across her where she sat. She did great. My husband of course was like "you are using a fan on a chicken???" lol. If it were up to me they'd all have fans all summer- in fact most horse people down here use them, especially to help give them some relief from the mosquitoes
LOL! "on" that was real good how you made sure we knew what you meant! Believe me down her in the south we know what it means to have a fan "on" someone! LOL!
Any chance he is black? When I used to be active on the Dexter cattle lists, some people would have trouble with black calves overheating in the sun. They really absorb the heat. I'd probably be worried too. I keep a fan on my babies that are born in the summer. Well, the fan isn't "on" them, but there is one in the stall so they can stand in front of it if they want, which most do when it's really hot.
Are you sure he is nursing good? You might want to keep them put up in the hottest part of the day for awhile if it makes you feel better. I really think it is probably not a problem, but it would be worrying. Although most everyone on her is probably having the opposite problem, I can sympathize with you on the heat! We are fortunate to not have freezing temps!