A Few Tips for Keeping your Animals Happy this Winter

 It's another blistering cold day in Wisconsin.  The temperature outside is -2 degrees and the alpacas are loving it!  Not sure about everyone else though.   I can tell by looking out the window they are standing next to the metal "barn" to stay warm.  Thankfully, the sun is shining and heating up the metal.

When it gets this cold there are a few things I do to keep them happy.  Number one, I bring out a pail or really really warm drinking water.  The goats, chickens, and ducks absolutely love it.  For the goats in particular, this is a treat.  The will drink it down so fast.  Number two, I provide shelter from the wind.  All the animals can go in and out as they please.  All my animals will do fine, as long as they are dry and out of the wind.  Number three, feed them at night when it is the coldest.  Goats, cows, and alpacas all have rumens and they will eat to keep themselves warm.  The temperatures at night are the coldest, so it only makes sense to feed them at night.  Last, but not least, make sure you have plenty of water.  I don't know about you, but it seems like my animals drink a lot more in the winter.  And to make your life a lot easier, use a tank heater.  If you don't have electricity in your barn, see about finding a few extention cords or find a solar tank heater.  Make sure you read the information on the tank heater box before you buy it.  You want to make sure you get a heater that can handle your size tank.

As I was researching some things to do to help my animals in the cold months, I ran across an article on the farmandranchguide.com.  The article mainly discusses cattle, but goats, alpacas, and other ruminate animals can benefit from this information.