You made it through the summer and now the weather has started to get a bit colder. You may have noticed your goats' coats (ha ha) have started to get thicker. They are not out grazing as often as usual. And they are eating A LOT of hay. It should be pretty clear they are preparing for Winter. Now you too can prepare and learn how to care for goats in Winter.
Can goats handle cold weather? Goats are outdoor animals, and because of that, they are pretty good at surviving outside. You can, however, learn some tips about caring for goats, and use a few goat supplies, in the winter that will make their lives much more comfortable.
How To Care For Your Goats In Winter
Everyone needs a nice cozy place to call their home. Goats are no different and providing a comfortable home is your first step in how to care for goats in winter.
Goat Shelter During Winter
Essentially, you want to keep their living space draft free but with plenty of ventilation. The easiest way to winterize your goat shelter is simply provide a place that is fully enclosed or with three sides away from the wind. We used an older drafty barn stall as a fully enclosed shelter but put up a piece of particle board to block the gaps in between the barn's old planks.
This technique adds plenty of ventilation to the stall and also blocks any cold Winter chills from coming through.
Hay plays double duty in caring for goats in winter
Well, actually hay and straw, but often times, your goats will use their hay for their own warming purposes. First, as your goats stop going out into their field to eat, they will stay inside their stall and eat as much hay as they can.
By filling their bellies up with hay, their rumen stays super active. The more active their rumen stays, the warmer their body stays. Your goat is sorta like a little mini goat warming, hay burning furnace (only cuter than a regular furnace).
You will want to be sure you are choosing hay that is high quality so that they get all the nutrients that they need.
Need some help to keep your goats healthy and maintained? The G.O.A.T Herd Management Binder has you covered from supplies to routine care reminders.
Our goats eat almost double the amount of hay during the winter than they do the rest of the year. Combine that appetite with pregnant goats and you could have a huge bill! Make sure you know how much it costs to feed goats.
We combat that by planning a bigger hay budget in the Winter and also by supplementing them with Chaffhaye.
The second role hay plays when learning how to care for goats in Winter is in their bedding. It seems that any hay they do not eat, will end up on the floor of their stall. Don't get too upset at them for this. It is another part of their natural ability to keep themselves warm in the Winter.
Over the Winter, the hay on the floor soaks up all of their waste (that's poop and pee, if we're not being technical) and starts to decompose. The decomposition process basically turns their bedding into a compost pile and becomes a self generating heat source.
Give them plenty of straw and it will cut down on the amount of hay they use for their own bedding.
Need some help to keep your goats healthy and maintained? The G.O.A.T Herd Management Binder has you covered from supplies to routine care reminders.
Heated Water Buckets
Just like you and me, goats need water. When temperatures drop below freezing, your goats' water supply is cut off.
Sometimes, you may have enough goats in the stall combined with the heat of the composting bedding and it will keep their shelter warm enough that their water won't completely freeze.
But this isn't how to get lucky with goat care. This is how to care for goats in Winter. You do not want to count on that happening.
The easiest and most effective way to keep water available for your goats at all times is by using a water heating device. Depending on the size of your herd, you have a few options for keeping your waters from freezing. If you have a smaller herd you can pick up a couple of heated buckets from your local farm store or online.
If you happen to have a larger herd and they all use a large water trough, you can get a heater that actually sits in the bottom of the trough and keeps the water just above freezing temperature. You can also find these at your local farm store or online.
Most importantly, DO NOT USE A HEAT LAMP!!!
I don't think I can use enough excessive punctuation to get this point across. In no way, shape, or form is using an unmonitored heat lamp a safe way to care for your goats in Winter.
They can burst and send shards of glass raining onto your goats. They can spark and create an extreme hazard for your entire herd.
I cannot tell you how many times I have heard of someone losing some or all of their herd due to an awful fire. If you take nothing else away from learning how to care for goats in Winter, please take this; DO NOT USE A HEAT LAMP that is unmonitored!!!
Of course, sometimes goat kidding season hits in the middle of the coldest time of year. And newborn, wet kids may need a little extra heat. If you need to use a heat lamp for baby goats in that circumstance, that should be fine as long as you keep an eye on it at all times.
These are a few of the methods we use for how to care for goats in Winter.
Do you have any tips we didn't mention above? Let us know in the comment section below.
If you need more help keeping your goats healthy and well taken care of, check out the G.O.A.T. Herd Management System - worksheets, calculators, supply management and more to keep your goats in tip top shape while cutting down on time.
Tammy Tergliafera says
I have 2 goats(pets) that have a stall, constant hay availablity, grain 2X a day and hot water 3x a day , they have negative decals yet they still shiver , 𝐇𝐚𝐫𝐝 in the winter. I am heartbroken when this happens. Any suggestions. Thank you
MrAnimal Farm says
I would look at a few things - how cold is it where you are? On our coldest days here, sometimes some of ours will shiver a bit especially if there's a wind - but they do not do that once they are tucked into their shelter. Are they shivering even in their shelter? If so, be sure there aren't drafts/wind coming in. Try adding some additional bedding (straw preferably) to provide additional insulation for them. It sounds like they are well fed, but also be sure that their body condition is not too skinny.
Best,
Kristin
vicky lee says
How soon after kidding does mom bread again? I just want to make sure that she doesn't. Thank you so much
MrAnimal Farm says
We usually only breed once a year. Depending on the goat breed you have, some can come into heat and technically get pregnant again fairly soon after kidding. So, I would keep her separate from any bucks.
Linda Blakemore says
What are your thoughts on using shavings for a winter bedding.
MrAnimal Farm says
They work OK. However, straw helps to hold in the heat MUCH better.
PAM Hutson says
Just bought 2 baby goats ! 4 weeks old !
I’m worried about leaving them outside ! Was thinking about housing them in the garage during winter ? My first goats !
MrAnimal Farm says
As long as they have a draft free enclosure they shouldn't need to be in the garage. Make sure to add straw or some bedding in their enclosure so they can stay warm.
Rebecca says
How do you feel about heat lamps just used at night? We have done those techniques you mentioned during the day, but when it is single digits at night, I worry. We have one suspended high in their shelter, and only use it at night. I know you said NO, but have you heard of people doing what we are doing and it turns out fine? Thanks
MrAnimal Farm says
Sure, some people do use heat lamps without issues. But they really don't need one and the fire risk is high.
Emily says
Might u have any suggestion on making goat treat without using gains. Our dwarf Nigerian goat (Oliver) is a weather and has had his pizzle sniped and now had a prosedure done call a PU( which is where he now pees like a girl) the vet doesn't want him to have any grain at all in his diet. We are to give him grass hay and veggies and fruits as well as grazing grass. He is on bio chlor which is a powder and we are having a hard time getting him to eat it we tryed apple sauce and puree pumpkin any thoughts?
MrAnimal Farm says
Hi Emily,
We haven't had any situations like this. But our goats like bananas and marshmallows also - could you try adding the bio chlor powder to one of those?
Best,
Kristin
Lynne says
My goat had surgery too and was also told no more grain and minimal treats. Would you mind telling me more about the bio chlor? I will research online but oftentimes find helpful hints from goat people like ourselves far more valuable than what I can find online.
Jennifer says
Hello!
Take the powder and mix in molasses but just enough to be able to form a ball and it stick together. Then roll your mixture in flour as you form the ball. The flour keeps it frdeom sticking to everything. You can make these up well in advance and freeze them as well just make sure they have flour on them good so they don’t stick to each other. Hope this helps!
Tracy says
Our goats LOVE animal crackers for treats. We buy big bags of them from Walmart for under $3. 🙂
Kei says
I have babies due in March we’re in. Info is. Is there anything extra I should do to keep them warm?
MrAnimal Farm says
Hi Kei,
Depends on what your weather is like. I wouldn't ever recommend heat lamps as they are a fire hazard. At birth, if it is cold, it is very important to get the kids dry and warm right away to be sure their temperature is normal and they don't get chilled. We always have a blow dryer on hand at kiddings in case we need to get them dry/warm quickly.
Otherwise, we usually add extra straw to their stall area, and make sure the babies have a cozy/warm corner to all snuggle in. Making sure that there are no drafts coming in on them.
Best,
Kristin
Lynn says
We have some neighbors that have 2 little goats and say they don't need anything but the field to eat even in the winter! Help I don't know what to say my heart breaks for them. I wrote a letter but didn't sign it and I don't know what else to do!
MrAnimal Farm says
Hi Lynn,
If they have shelter, hay and fresh (unfrozen) water they should do fine. The draft-free shelter is important so that they can get in away from any weather - rain, snow, wind and bitter cold. The hay is important so they get enough nutrition - some pastures do have sufficient browse (particularly if they are not pregnant, milking or in rut). However, they should typically have hay available at night - being able to eat hay keeps their rumens active and helps to generate heat.
Hope this helps!