Winter is often a challenging time for any domestic animal, and goats are no exception. Keeping goats warm in winter becomes most important when temperatures start to drop. Although goats are hardy creatures, they still need extra care to keep them comfortable during the cold season. In this article you will learn proven methods on how to keep goats warm in winter (without spending a lot of money or using electricity, which is important) so that your goats stay warm, healthy and in good spirits.
Understanding Your Goats’ Winter Needs
Every goat is unique, so winter can affect them differently. Understanding their needs will help you decide on methods on how to keep goats warm during the winter.
Goats generally feel comfortable in temperatures between 13°C and 24°C. They can tolerate lower temperatures, but being out in the cold for long periods without shelter or warmth can have a significant impact on their health.
Preparing for winter should begin with providing sufficiently strong shelter, quality bedding, and proper feeding. Then you’ll be well prepared for the onset of cold weather. And remember, goats can’t complain (well, maybe just a little bleating), so their comfort and well-being depend on us.
1. Creating a suitable shelter
If you are seriously thinking about ow to keep goats warm in the winter, the first step is to create a good shelter. You don’t need some extraordinary barn, just a sturdy shelter with no drafts will suffice. This room should have strong walls and a roof to protect from wind and snow and enough ventilation. At first glance, ventilation may seem counterintuitive in winter, but good airflow prevents moisture buildup, which can cause respiratory problems.
Tips from the professionals. It is advisable to consider installing a windbreak outside the shelter, using hay bales or a simple tarpaulin canopy. This will help to significantly reduce wind penetration and consequently the room will be warmer.
2. Bedding for warmth
Bedding is also a good insulator, not just a soft pillow for goats. Deep bedding is simply irreplaceable for keeping goats warm in winter. To build such a bedding, start with a thick layer of straw or wood shavings and add new layers during the season, without removing the old ones. The lower layers will begin to compost, thus creating natural warmth for the goats.
By the way, during the first winter on our farm we decided to try this method without much enthusiasm, but it really helped us out and did its job! The goats happily curled up on the bedding in the shelter even on the coldest nights.
3. Feeding Management
Proper feeding is another important factor in keeping goats warm in the winter. Goats, like most animals, use a lot of energy to stay warm, so the amount of calories in their diet should be increased. Feeding hay throughout the day is one of the best ways to help goats generate body heat. When they chew and digest hay, they generate internal energy, heat, which keeps them warm overall.
Here’s an interesting fact. Research shows that chewing (cudding) in ruminants generates a significant amount of internal heat. In addition, hay is not only a source of heat, but also a way to keep their digestive system healthy while they are forced to stay indoors.
4. Warming the shelter without electricity
Of course, the most frequently asked question is how to keep goats warm without electricity. Using electricity in a barn can be expensive, and heaters carry a fire hazard. Fortunately, there are many inexpensive alternatives available:
- Bubble wrap or polyethylene. Using bubble wrap or thick plastic sheets over windows or walls can help insulate a shelter. Yes, it’s not a perfect solution, but it does help keep the heat in and will protect from the wind.
- Hay bales. Place hay bales along the outside walls, or perhaps even inside the shelter. Hay makes a great insulator.
- Install a door or tarp. Some goat shelters have open fronts. Installing a door (even a tarp) can greatly reduce drafts.
If you’re interested in even more affordable ways to insulate your shelters, check out our guide to affordable farm insulation, which will help you keep your animals at a comfortable temperature without costing you a fortune
5. Goat clothes. Yes, it’s possible!
Of course, not all goats can tolerate clothing, and it can be a real experiment whether they like it or not. But if your goats are particularly sensitive to the cold, or you have older goats, it’s worth considering insulating them with blankets or coats. Goat coats can be homemade or bought; but the important thing is that they are properly fitted and don’t restrict movement.
When we first tried goat coats ourselves, it was quite a sight! Some goats accepted them immediately, others tried to twist and throw the clothes off. With time we realized which goats like clothes and which prefer to wrap themselves in a deep bed and we were selective in our approach.
6. Group warmth and socialization
Goats, as it turns out, are social creatures, and a large part of keeping goats warm in winter has to do with the ability to group together. From our experience, we have concluded that when goats sleep together, they keep each other warm. Therefore, if you have a small herd, allow the goats to spread out freely in shelter. These animals are very sociable and interact well with each other, which helps them stay calm and healthy.
Useful products for goat care in the winter
Here are a few products that have been incredibly useful and helpful to us:
- Insulating straw bales. Find on Amazon
- Coats for goats for cold weather. Find on Amazon
- Heated water buckets. If you don’t use electricity directly for heating, a heated bucket helps prevent water from freezing in extreme temperatures. Find on Amazon
A warm winter for your herd
With proper shelter, warm bedding, and some unusual methods of insulation, you will find that caring for goats in the winter is not such a difficult task. It will become clear that keeping goats warm in the winter doesn’t require complicated energy-consuming installations.
Remember! Comfortable conditions for these hardy animals depend only on us and a couple of simple decisions can make a difference in their lives.
