Wintering an LGD (pics added on page 2)

[Bear Foot Farm]

If you have small square bales of straw, you can build her a "cave" that will be warmer to her than being in the house

 

[Le Canard de Barbarie]

Quote:
I'll do that. Currently it has only getting to five or ten below at night, but there are times when it approaches thirty to forty below. Even the ducks put away their differences to all go inside the coop for additional warmth.

So far, she seems content to sleep on a bed of straw in the corner of the three sided lean-to. During the day, she sleeps on the snow.

 

[Le Canard de Barbarie]

A little off topic, but here she is when she was six weeks old:

Now she is six months old and about seventy pounds. She has a very heavy winter coat.

 

[Bear Foot Farm]

She's a beautiful girl!

 

[Le Canard de Barbarie]

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Thanks. Luck of the draw I guess. Neighbors have told me that they want to kidnap her because she is so cute. Easily done because she is a very friendly dog. One time she tried jumpimg into the pickup cab of a customer as they were getting ready to leave.

Here are her sleeping quarters for the winter. It's in the corner of a three sided lean-to off the coop. It's warm out tonight (mid 20s) so she is taking it easy.

 

[LyonFuzz]

Ideally she should have a closed in area like an actual dog house so she is able to generate body heat and keep herself warm. I would even put a flap over the door so the body heat can be contained. I would think her worst problem would be getting lonely. Dogs are pack animals and need that socialization if it's another dog, people, chickens, whatever. She is gorgeous.

 

[Le Canard de Barbarie]

Quote:
Yea, you're right. Like Bear Foot suggested, I plan to build her a dog house out of straw bales. The feedmill opens tomorrow and I'll get some more.

She has plenty of company. She has access during the day to these guys, whom she was raised with since she was six weeks old:

 

[snowydiamonds]

(Feeling very assured that you are "doing the right thing" after seeing the pics and hearing your plan) You're awesome! LOL
beautiful pup, too!

 

[Le Canard de Barbarie]

Quote:
Done.

 

[Cetawin]

Well done! She will be nice and cozy in her new "cave". She has such a beautiful face.