Cold on the Farm
According to the Duluth News Tribune, it was -39 here this morning with a windchill of -55. Probably the most asked question I get in the winter is "how do your animals do in this cold? Do you have to heat the barn?"
Fortunately, God has given animals many features for cold weather. The less man has meddled with the animal, the better those features work. Take, for example, a timber wolf. Timbers do just fine in this extreme cold. Their domestic cousins, however, not so much. Man has bred many of the features out of the domestic canine.
The trick is to provide what enhances these features.
For the ponies and goats, free access to roughage (hay), water, shelter and plenty of room to move around is what keeps them comfortable. I do not blanket my ponies. This just inhibits the fine adjustable (via pili-erector muscles) loft insulation of the winter coat. I do not shut them inside, as this hinders their ability to produce muscle heat by moving around. I do provide them 24/7 access to hay. Most of the body's heat is produced by metabolism. Feed fuels the cells for this important process. So does water. They can seek shelter in the barn at any time. There are three stalls altogether that they have free access to, giving them a draft free spot to rest no matter what direction the wind is coming from. The goats usually pick a draft free corner and lay together chewing their cuds, sharing body heat.
For the chickens, a non heated coop is what they need. Heat can lead to respiratory illness and even death for them. Their coop is small enough to be warm, and they have 24/7 access to layer mash. I add shavings when needed to their bedding. On bitter cold days like today, I put some hay in there and some scraps. They love digging through the hay and pecking the seed heads and scraps. Their little bodies give off alot of warmth when scratching. At night, they roost side by side, keeping their vulnerable feet tucked up into their feathered bodies.
The ducks actually do really good in the cold. Today, I added some extra hay to their nest box and some straw around their food and water dish so they don't have to stand on the cold snow to eat and drink. But, they have a favorite little sun spot in their pen that they spend time at. They have a little trail tromped down to it and there is a roll-in-the-snow grooming spot along the way. They love to flop around grooming, then sun themselves.
Last of all are the rabbits. When we keep rabbits in wire cages, we have to do more for them than we would if they are living more naturally. My three does went in a dirt floor horse stall this winter. They have dug themselves a fine deep burrow that they sleep cuddled in together. It is really warm !! They also used the dirt from the burrow to bank up the sides of their box that sits over the burrow, making it draft free. I just make sure to give them free choice hay and water every day and they are pretty happy. My buck is in a cage, so needs more care. In addition to his food and water, I have his cage bedded deep with straw and covered with blankets.
For the farmer herself, I don't know what to tell you. I think it is my Finnish blood, but I handle the cold really well myself. I realized this back when I was young and got into sled dogs. I would work outside from sun-up to sun-down without getting cold. I also like to keep moving outside. The heat generated by exercise is far better than any man made clothing you can buy !!!
