The goats do not much like the cold weather. As a matter of fact, they would prefer never to step on the snow at all. Daphne, the pure Nigerian Dwarf doe, is the shiest of all when it comes to cold, followed by Weezie and then Sarah, but Sarah is making new friends with the new goats. She is still going to be the largest goat of all when she is a full grown Alpine, three times the size of the miniature Nigerians that just arrived. She used to fit in a dog igloo house along with Weezie and Daphne, but now she can barely fit by herself. Sometimes she puts her head and forequarters in with her butt sticking out and sleeps that way. I can't imagine it is very warm. Now that the other goats use the shelter, she has been using it too, something a lot more her size.
Weezie and Daphne have not been out very much the last three days. This is serious business. If the goats do not eat and drink enough during the cold spells, they will suffer dehydration and become weak, then then , then they die. They die easily and are very picky eaters and very finicky to deal with, not at all like most people think they are. After the blizzard, the snow had blown and drifted two to three feet high in some places. There is a bale windblock in front of any south facing entrances, including to the dog igloo goat house. So, I went to look for Weezie or Daphne in one of the houses.
Weezie poked her head out but it was quite clear that she was "snowed" in. The drift had completely covered half of the entrance. She could have gotten out if she was desperate,though I suspect it was warm and toasty in there after being covered by snow, which is a good insulator. I brought some fresh hay to entice Weezie out after I cleared her doorway. She began to eat and so did some one else! There were two goaties in the house, Weezie and Daphne!
Weezie and Daphne have not been out very much the last three days. This is serious business. If the goats do not eat and drink enough during the cold spells, they will suffer dehydration and become weak, then then , then they die. They die easily and are very picky eaters and very finicky to deal with, not at all like most people think they are. After the blizzard, the snow had blown and drifted two to three feet high in some places. There is a bale windblock in front of any south facing entrances, including to the dog igloo goat house. So, I went to look for Weezie or Daphne in one of the houses.
Weezie poked her head out but it was quite clear that she was "snowed" in. The drift had completely covered half of the entrance. She could have gotten out if she was desperate,though I suspect it was warm and toasty in there after being covered by snow, which is a good insulator. I brought some fresh hay to entice Weezie out after I cleared her doorway. She began to eat and so did some one else! There were two goaties in the house, Weezie and Daphne!
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