any ideas on how to help my goats keep cool?....

[redhen]

this weather is horriable..and i'm worried about my goats outside all day long..they do have a shaded pen..but still...there is no relief from the heat....it was 99 here today, with high humidity. thanks, Wendy

 

[jessica117]

I don't know how well this would work for goats, but when I raised angora rabbits I would take empty 2 liters, fill them with water and freeze them. I'd put them in the pens for the rabbits to curl up with. They loved them. You might do better with 3 liters since they're bigger. You'll want to have enough in the freezer so that you'll have extras (I've got a deep freeze.) I'm about to try the same thing with my sheep. They find a shady spot and just lie around all day.

Hope this helps!

Jess

 

[hcammack]

If their shelter has electricity put a fan out or the frozen water will work also. Try spraying them to use evaporation cooling that is what I did to my hens with a spray bottle they did not like it very much.

Henry

 

[MissPrissy]

Goats don't like water, Henry. Mine hate getting wet. Mine lay under the trees on the ground to stay cool. We had a problem with them wanting to stay in the barn most of the day which has much higher temps than outside under the trees. I have started locking them out of the barn every morning.

 

[redhen]

thanks guys....i'll try all of those..i hope tommorow isnt worse than today..the school called and said the kids were getting out at 10 a.m. tommorow, because of the hot weather....thanks again for the info, Wendy

 

[redhen]

miss prissy..i have noticed the same thing..and it is hot as heck in the barn....i think i will try that tommorow...they have a big shade tree to lie under..but no dirt to keep them cool.(and i think thats the problem)...i have pea gravel in the pen..when we built it i thought it would help to keep them cleaner...didnt work so well...Wendy

 

[Chatychick]

Yes redhen ...goats hate getting wet, mine like to lay under the shade trees with a little breeze and then I have some that like being in their shelter. Its because flys dont like the dark and they are less bothered by them in there. I dont do anything really different when its hot or cold but I do make sure they have plenty of fresh cool water to drink. I skrub the water tanks and buckets 2 x a week to make sure there isnt any algae in them as it makes the water bitter and they dont drionk as much. Also you can add kool-aid ...some like it and will drink more.

 

[redhen]

thanks chatychhick...i can add kool-aid??..really?..what a good idea...the un-sweetned packets?....thanks, Wendy

 

[helmstead]

LOL Yeah and if you use RED kool aid...you get goats with lipstick on

I keep a barn fan on high in the barn with the battery operated fly sprayer to help keep the flies down. Same as Chaty, I make sure all the waterers are sparkling clean.

 

[redhen]

thanks helmstead,...battery operated fly sprayer...going to look for one of those this week!!....since i have only 2 goats...i use a a big dowl bowl for thier water...we change it twice a day(morning and night)when we check thier food and feed them...and when my foster son comes home from school in the afternoon he tops it off also..(checking all the animals water after school is one of his chores)..i do have a mister type of fan...and the other day i tried it on them and my pig...they wouldnt come out fo barn..till i turned it off....stinkers!...i'm just worried there is NO relief for them in this heat!..i may put them in my basement...if it gets too bad again tommorow...dont know how that will work out...:|...what are the signs of heat stress in goats?...thanks, Wendy