Pretty maids all in a row at the fence/feeder. This is day three of minus 30 weather and the animals are starting to feel it. One of the Blue Faced Leicester lambs that just arrived has pneumonia and is shivering. I know what it is like to have a fever and feel cold, but when it is minus 30, it must be awful. I gave her a shot of antibiotics today and will give her another tomorrow. Hopefully she will recover without too much discomfort and the other two with her won't get it.
The little ewe lambs are faring quite well. They have never been fed grain except a few kernels as a treat for training purposes, so the grass hay is managing to keep them warm, that and their wool of course. The two Cotswold ewes do not have the same thick wool coats and they feel the cold much more. All of the ewe lambs have been spending more time in their shelter to stay warm.
The two baby goats in the ram lamb pen have their own little shelter and they do use it, but today, one of the Icelandic lambs was inside. He was shivering a little too. Once he lays down and gets warm, he will be fine. Icelandics have a long wool and a short downy wool to keep them warm. The llamas are shivering too, and have only come out to eat a little, then retreat to their shelter.
It is hard to stay warm when there is no reprieve in the frigid temperature. The weak succumb and simply cannot continue. So far, only Captain Morgan, the chicken whose feet froze last winter, has died. The other chickens are able to roost and they put their downy bellies over their feet. Numbers together also help them stay warm, but I did notice a few spots of frostbite on one of the little rooster's combs. He will be fine though, as it was very little. The ducks and geese are possibly they least cold, with their down covering under the feathers, but even they are tucking their feet up under their wings and sleeping more.
After the chores today, even though I had more layers on than usual, I could not warm up. It felt as though the cold had permeated my being, but when I was outside working, I did not feel cold. It took several hours to feel normal again. Tomorrow is supposed to be just as cold. I am thankful we do not have to deal with this weather all winter long and that it only comes for a few days and then it is much warmer. Brrrr.
The little ewe lambs are faring quite well. They have never been fed grain except a few kernels as a treat for training purposes, so the grass hay is managing to keep them warm, that and their wool of course. The two Cotswold ewes do not have the same thick wool coats and they feel the cold much more. All of the ewe lambs have been spending more time in their shelter to stay warm.
The two baby goats in the ram lamb pen have their own little shelter and they do use it, but today, one of the Icelandic lambs was inside. He was shivering a little too. Once he lays down and gets warm, he will be fine. Icelandics have a long wool and a short downy wool to keep them warm. The llamas are shivering too, and have only come out to eat a little, then retreat to their shelter.
It is hard to stay warm when there is no reprieve in the frigid temperature. The weak succumb and simply cannot continue. So far, only Captain Morgan, the chicken whose feet froze last winter, has died. The other chickens are able to roost and they put their downy bellies over their feet. Numbers together also help them stay warm, but I did notice a few spots of frostbite on one of the little rooster's combs. He will be fine though, as it was very little. The ducks and geese are possibly they least cold, with their down covering under the feathers, but even they are tucking their feet up under their wings and sleeping more.
After the chores today, even though I had more layers on than usual, I could not warm up. It felt as though the cold had permeated my being, but when I was outside working, I did not feel cold. It took several hours to feel normal again. Tomorrow is supposed to be just as cold. I am thankful we do not have to deal with this weather all winter long and that it only comes for a few days and then it is much warmer. Brrrr.
Because this ewe is black, you can see the frost all over her.
One of the little Southdown Babydoll ram lambs has found a little spot that feels more sheltered.
The young Icelandic ram lamb was shivering and went inside the goat shelter, which is actually quite a few degrees warmer than outside.
Snowy duck, this Muscovy has had a bath and instantly the water froze to her feathers. She will spend quite a bit of time preening now and that will help spread the oil from her glands through her feathers, which in turn helps to keep the ducks warm. The Muscovy ducks are from South America and do not do as well as the North American ducks in winter.
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