Mais, I don't know bout y'all, but I'm cold yeah! Ooooohhhhhhh sha! Ma lips is chapped and I need me some o dat lotion fa ma dry hands beb!
If you didn't understand all of that, it's the dialect you hear on swamp people where they usually have to use subtitles. And yes there are lots of us that really sound this way. I've lost a lot of my accent over the years. I've had to adapt to somewhat proper English so I could carry on conversations with cow pokes, hillbillies, rednecks, city folks, and even the occasional Yankee....lol! I'll spare you the trauma of having to try to figure it out, and use all dem words dat dem teachas learned me in school sha!
As winter sets in and breeding season winds down, we find ourselves looking at the tasks of seasonal preparation.
Here in the south we are thankful that the prime conditions for parasites are gone, if only for a little while! Hay is in the loft. The goats are getting that wooly winter coat that can be such a pain when clipping for a show. The fall show season is just about over.
Now we have everyone bred and settled into their respective groups where everyone gets along and is fat and sassy! Or so we hope!
Shelter is probably just as important as nutrition in winter conditions. Goats can handle some pretty extreme cold conditions fairly well. They can handle being wet from rain storms. BUTT!!!!! Put the two together and it's a recipe for disaster! Every herd has a pecking order. Even if there is plenty of room under the barn or shelter doesn't mean that everyone is inside, warm, and cozy! Alpha does or bucks can be down right mean when it comes to who they will and won't let into "their" shelter. It's important to make sure that EVERYONE is safely tucked in out of the rain or snow! For all of you deep south folks like me, snow is that white stuff that falls from the sky that we only see on tv, or once or twice in a lifetime down here for a day or two. A cold, wet goat will soon be a cold, wet, dead goat if not properly tended to.
So as much as we want to stay snuggled up inside the warm house by the heater or fireplace, think about your 4 legged buddies out there with nothing but a fur coat and a friend to keep them warm. Here are a few things that can make things easier and safer for everyone.
Make sure everyone is getting along and under shelter. By the time a cold front has passed it may be too late for a poor goat. Make sure they can get out of the wind and rain/snow.
If you have kids on the ground pen them up inside if you can. I don't recommend heat lamps unless they're new born. They present a fire hazard. Especially if you've put down dry bedding that could catch should the heat lamp be knocked down. If you must use them I recommend hanging them securely from above where they can't chew the cords or pull them down. We mount them in barrels for the newborns to huddle in, and tuck the cords behind the stall wall so mama can't chew them.
Fresh water is also important. Dehydration can occur. Even in cold conditions!
If you have animals that have shown lately, especially wethers or dairy breeds as they are slick sheared, take special care of them as they have way less hair to protect them from the cold! Socks, blankets, extra bedding..etc...
All in all, take a little extra time to ensure these simple things get done! Make an extra trip or two out into that nasty weather to check on your goats. It could save a life or two! It only takes a few minutes and you'll be back inside that warm house soon enough! Keep em' under shelter, dry, well fed, and leave out lots of clean, fresh water.
That's all I have for now. Thanks for taking a few minutes to read an ol' Cajun swamp rat's babbling! Any questions or topics you would like me to cover, send them to my email here micky@goatgossip.com. I'd be happy to hear from you and answer any questions or cover topics you may think are important to our industry. See you at the shows!
Au revoir mes amis! Y'all pass a good time sha!
