Getting Goats and Sheep Ready for the First Hard Freeze

Shelter that blocks wind, not air

Every animal needs a way to get out of the wind, and Michigan State University Extension is flexible about what counts: a building, a three-sided shed, even a good tree line. Ideally the herd gets free-choice access to a roofed shelter so they can escape rain and snow on their own schedule.

The tempting mistake is sealing the shelter tight. MSU warns against completely enclosing it, because poor ventilation lets ammonia from urine build up, and that causes respiratory problems in both species. One more species note: sheep generally handle cold better than goats do, with the exception of hair sheep or wool sheep that were sheared late in the year.

Feed the furnace

Cold animals burn more calories just holding their body temperature. MSU's advice is to keep plenty of hay in front of them, because digestion in the rumen generates heat from the inside. In very cold stretches a concentrate such as cracked corn, oats, sweet feed or a complete pelleted feed can top up calories, and late-pregnancy females need the extra most, since multiple growing fetuses can shrink how much they eat.

Oregon State's small farms program adds two refinements: roughage releases more heat during digestion and is generally the safer, cheaper choice, and if you do feed grain, frequent small feedings are safer than one large daily one. Feeding rates vary by species, so confirm them with your Extension educator.

Water is the chore that doubles

Frozen water is the quietest winter problem. MSU recommends checking every water source at least twice a day once temperatures drop below freezing and breaking any ice layer that forms, and a submersible water heater can take the edge off the routine.

Do not count on snow. Oregon State is blunt about the myth that animals can eat snow or lick ice instead of drinking: a sheep needs around three gallons a day, which no animal can lick its way to, and eating snow lowers body temperature and raises energy needs. Water intake improves when the water is at or above 37 degrees, and if you use a tank heater, follow the manufacturer's directions exactly to avoid fires and electric shock.

If a birth lands in a cold snap

Kids and lambs born into sub-freezing weather need faster help. MSU's checklist: check birthing animals at regular intervals, dry newborns quickly to prevent frostbite (the ears go first), and get colostrum into them as soon as possible so they have the calories to make their own heat. Extra bedding helps the smallest ones hold warmth.

Be cautious with heat lamps: MSU says use them sparingly, carefully, and never within reach of any animal.

Put the first freeze on the calendar

Winter prep is a list of dates as much as a list of tasks: when the shelter got checked, when the tank heater went in, how the water routine is holding up. In the PawLine app you can keep a dated note per pen or herd, so the week the cold arrives you are reading a checklist instead of building one.