How to Care for Goats in Sub-zero Weather

Goats are hardy animals and can generally tolerate extremely cold temperatures. However, goats can be susceptible to respiratory problems and illnesses when not cared for properly, especially in extreme weather. It is important to prepare for sub-zero temperatures months in advance to ensure your goats' health and survival.

Things You'll Need

  • Goat shelter
  • Udder balm
  • Straw
  • Wood shavings
  • Wood pallets
  • Hay
  • Grain
  • Alfalfa
  • Salt-mineral blocks
  • Clean, warm water
  • Heated tank
  • Goat electrolytes
  • Goat coat
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Instructions

  1. Cold Weather Goat Care

    • 1

      Monitor your goats consistently, watching for any distress or discomfort. Check for cuts caused by ice. Look out for chaffed and cracked udders that may cause your goats discomfort. Sometimes goats' udders can become chapped and irritated in cold weather. This can be solved by applying an udder balm.

    • 2

      Provide extra shelter bedding, like straw and wood shavings, to keep goats warm and protected from the cold ground. Keep bedding clean and dry. Change soiled bedding to avoid bacteria, parasites, ammonia smells and moisture that can make goats sick. Wood pallets can also be used to keep bedding off the cold floor.

    • 3

      Feed goats good-quality, clean, fresh hay, including grass and peanut hay, in addition to grains. Feed goats more hay than grain, giving them unlimited access to the hay. Hay is essential to keeping goats nourished and warm, especially overnight. You can also give goats a small amount of alfalfa for protein and calcium, and provide salt-mineral blocks. Always gradually ease goats into a new feeding plan to help the goats' digestive systems adapt. Also make sure to keep feed away from bedding to ensure your goats' food stays clean.

    • 4

      Keep goats well hydrated. Make sure water troughs are clean and free of ice. Provide warm or room temperature water to goats. Water can shock a goat's system when it is too cold. One effective option is to use heated water tanks that keep temperatures above freezing. When choosing this option, protect any cords to prevent goats from chewing. You can add electrolytes to water to keep goats hydrated as well.

    • 5

      Check your goat's undercoat. A good undercoat of about 2 inches thick will naturally help keep your goat warm. You can also purchase a goat coat or have one custom made for extra warmth. Goat coats can be made of fleece or other warm fabrics and are specially made to fit and fasten around goats' bodies. Some goat owners use heat lamps; however, this can be dangerous and cause fires.

    • 6

      Protect goats from wind and precipitation with a good shelter that allows light. Keep shelter ventilated, well drained and dry. Also, make sure it is not drafty. Before using any materials for your goat shelter, make sure they are not harmful to your animals. Materials such as insulation or foam can be poisonous, so keep these out of reach as the goats may be tempted to eat them.