Cold Weather Animal Care: Keeping Your Homestead Animals Comfortable in Winter
As part of a blog series all about “Homesteading in the Winter,” I’m excited to share this week’s focus: Cold Weather Animal Care. I’m teaming up with some fantastic bloggers to bring you helpful tips on how to care for animals during the colder months. You can check out other posts on this topic from:
- The Homesteading Hippy
- Timber Creek Farm
- House Barn Farm
- Whistle Pig Hollow
- The Not-So-Modern Housewife
- Fresh Eggs Daily
- Homegrown on the Hill
- Schneider Peeps
- Blue Yurt Farms
- Five Little Homesteaders
- The Browning Homestead at Red Fox
After reading my post, take a moment to explore their blogs and get even more insights on how they handle animal care in their regions.
Understanding Our Winter Weather (Or Lack Thereof)
Here in South Texas, our winters are a bit unpredictable. For instance, this November, the temperatures have dropped early, and we’ve seen wind chills in the 30s, which is much earlier than usual! Typically, we don’t expect this kind of chill until around Thanksgiving. Yesterday, the high was a chilly 57°F, but by Sunday, we’re expecting the low to be around 64°F with a high near 83°F. Then, another cold front will hit, dropping temps back into the 40s and 60s. So, as you can imagine, our winter prep is a bit on and off—constantly covering and uncovering, heating and un-heating.
Caring for Rascal, Our Outdoor Dog
Meet Rascal! He’s about 8 years old and has been with us since he was a puppy. Rascal’s an outdoor dog, so we built him a wooden doghouse out of a large crate. We lined the floor with leftover carpet from when the previous homeowners replaced theirs and added thrift-store blankets to keep him warm. It’s a cozy setup, and when the temperature drops even further, we bring him into the garage at night. Rascal certainly lives up to his name, but he’s also a wonderful dog.
Keeping the Chickens Warm
Our flock consists of around 45 hens and 3 roosters, though we’re not quite sure how many chicks we have just yet, since four new ones are still growing. Our winters are mild enough that we don’t need to worry about frozen water, and the chickens keep the coop warm enough with their body heat, combined with hay or pine shavings. For smaller coops with fewer birds, this setup works just fine.
In the winter, we make sure to feed them extra. Since they can’t forage as much and burn more calories to stay warm, we give them hot oatmeal on especially cold mornings—a great tip I learned from Lisa at Fresh Eggs Daily. I might not go so far as to sew curtains for the coop, but oatmeal is a quick and easy way to help them stay cozy!
Our Bees: Winterizing and Honey Harvesting
We also keep bees, though technically, they’re insects! Bees are pretty amazing at winterizing themselves. They seal up cracks in the hive with propolis, keeping the cold out. During the winter, they don’t forage much; instead, they huddle together, keeping warm with their collective body heat.
This year, we didn’t harvest any honey. Gabriel (though I say “ours”) thought the colonies weren’t strong enough, so he decided to let them keep all their honey for the winter. If we had harvested honey, we would have needed to monitor the hives and possibly feed the bees, something Gabriel did last year. But for now, we’re letting the bees take care of themselves.
FAQ: How to Care for Animals in Cold Weather
1. How do I keep my animals warm in winter?
- In mild climates, most outdoor animals, like dogs and chickens, can stay warm with a little extra food and a cozy shelter. Adding hay or pine shavings in the coop helps keep warmth in, and for dogs, providing a well-insulated doghouse or bringing them into a garage or barn on the coldest nights can keep them safe.
2. How do I know if my bees need additional care in the winter?
- Bees are quite self-sufficient during winter, but it’s a good idea to check on them regularly to ensure they have enough honey stored to get them through the cold months. If you’re harvesting honey, make sure to monitor the hive closely and supplement their diet if needed.
3. What should I feed my chickens in winter?
- Chickens need extra calories during winter to maintain their body heat. Provide them with supplemental food like grains and hot oatmeal on cold mornings to keep their energy up. This is especially helpful when they can’t forage as much.
Conclusion: Keeping Animals Happy and Healthy in Winter
While our winter weather in South Texas doesn’t get as extreme as other places, we still take precautions to keep our animals comfortable and healthy. From cozy doghouses and extra feed for our chickens to ensuring our bees are properly cared for, there’s a lot we do to prepare for the colder months. If you’re in a colder climate, you may need to take additional steps, but the main goal is always to make sure our animals are safe, warm, and well-fed during the winter.
