Cold Weather Care
As we move into the next season, it is a good time to make sure the barns, animals, and equipment are ready for the oncoming cold weather. Although a lot of the preparation happened over the summer while making hay, there is still plenty to be done right before the winter.
Now is a great time to check on your watering system. If you have automatic waterers, make sure to turn on the heating element (if there is one) prior to the first frost. This will allow you to test for stray voltage, burnt out light bulbs, or other electrical problems that might need to be fixed. A small electrical problem now could lead to much bigger ones in the cold of winter. If you have exposed pipes, make sure they are wrapped with insulation or other means of heating. One of the first barns I worked in had exposed pipes. Every fall we had to make sure to check and double check their wrapping and all equipment and hoses were frost free. It made for quite the set up! Even with these precautions, if it gets really cold, some extra steps may be needed to prevent waterers from freezing. Make sure you have plenty of straw and other organic matter you can build up around the outside of the waterers. This will provide an extra layer of insulation on those freezing nights. The goal is to make sure the animals always have access to clean, fresh water. Anything that inhibits them from drinking can lead to a decrease in production or health.
Regardless of whether you overwinter in a barn or stay out on pasture, your animals need a way to get out of the elements. Make sure they can easily access the barn, run in shed, wind breaks, or whatever you are using. And that there is plenty of space for all your animals! We don’t want to leave anyone out in the cold or have them feel too cramped. If it is a barn or shed, provide plenty of clean and dry bedding, and have plenty more on hand to add to the top as needed. There won’t be many sunny days to clean out, so you need to maximize your shelter’s potential. The goal here is to make sure the animals can get out of the brutal weather. Keeping them dry is paramount to keeping them warm!
Lastly, take a look at how you are storing your feed over the winter. Outside pests are also looking for ways to stay warm and dry this winter. Don’t allow them to sneak inside and get a free meal! Make sure that containers are feed grade and secure and bags are kept off the ground. Any inviting opportunity needs to be addressed before your feed room, barn, storage area is over run with unwanted visitors. These pests can also eat into your profits by consuming your feed and potentially spreading disease.
With a few easy steps, you can ensure that your facilities are ready for the cold nights and unpredictable weather during the winter. In the long run, this will allow your animals to thrive until they can get out and enjoy the sun again.
