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Most of us get into homesteading because we have a dream of getting back to the land, growing our own food and providing authentic experiences for our children. We want animals and a garden and a cozy home with pets. Does this sound familiar?
For many of us, living the dream of homesteading is the best decision we have ever made. For others, the dream can quickly turn into a bit of a nightmare when winter cold arrives. There are so many things to do; caring for livestock is not the least of these.
If you’re new to homesteading, getting everything up and running and in working order is difficult and challenging under the best circumstances. Add in cold weather to the equation and it can get downright hard, especially if you are unaccustomed to living in a cold climate. We hope to give you some insight to help you know what to expect and what you and your family need to do to prepare now for winter cold and the best ways of caring for livestock in cold climates.
Timing And The Change Of Seasons
Anyone who has been homesteading for any length of time will tell you that it’s no good to try to fight the inevitable. Resisting the natural rhythms and changes of season is an exercise in futility. You’re much better putting yourself in nature’s timing and planning ahead for what you know will be coming soon. Of course it matters where you live. Some places will begin to have wintery conditions well before the calendar calls for it.
If you know that snow is coming in October while it’s still technically Autumn, you can be prepared and not be taken by surprise when you wake up to snow and ice covering your homestead. It might take a couple of years on the homestead to really get into the rhythms of the seasons, but if you learn to pay attention to changes in your surroundings that signal the end of Autumn, you won’t need to rely on a calendar to know when to prepare for winter conditions.
The time to get ready is mid-summer, not late Autumn. Even though no two years are alike, and weather is unpredictable, you know it is coming eventually, so why not begin now?
Preparation And Planning
What does this mean for you and caring for your livestock? It means planning your winter housing for your animals, making sure that shelters are in good repair, and you have enough feed and hay to get you through the winter. If not, now is the time to stock up. It’s going to be difficult in cold climates to find clear days without icy conditions to haul hay or feed.
If your livestock are out on grass pastures, keep in mind that soon that grass will go dormant and be covered in snow and you will need to begin feeding hay and grain for the winter. It’s best to overestimate how much you will need for the winter and store it in a weather and rodent- proof area. Now is the time to plan your fall and winter breeding schedules for your livestock as well. You probably don’t want babies born in the dead of winter, so you need to time your breeding so that babies are born later in the spring or early summer.
All of those small projects you’ve been putting off all summer need to be re-prioritized with cold weather preparations. Make sure your farm vehicles are up and running, have fuel and antifreeze, that you have block heaters and/ or covered areas to park them out of the weather. Each vehicle should have a blanket, a coat, water and snacks packed into it, in case of an emergency where you might be stranded in bad weather.
You may need to switch to studded tires on your street vehicles, and carry chains. An investment in all-weather tires is always worthwhile, but the studs work well. Get your tractor chains out. Inspect everything you will need in the winter weather such as snow plows or snow blowers. Make sure they are all in good working order and standing ready for when you need them. Make sure you have snow shovels and salt/deicer on hand.
Your Routines Will Change
As you become attuned to the changes in the season, the timing of sunrise and sunset, your routines will have to change. In some places, winter twilight can come as early as 3PM. You wake up in the dark, and you come in after dark. This is a good time to mention that some timed lighting or a floodlight in the yard can be helpful for the shortest days of the year.
This type of floodlight can cost between $50 -$160 LED Dusk to Dawn Light with Photocell – Super Bright – Up to 120W and 15,000 Lumens (superiorlighting.com)
At the very least, you’re going to want to have a few headlamps on hand like this one
GoGreen Power 3W LED Head Light with Strobe, Black (GG-113-3HLBK) | Quill.com. They retail anywhere from around $20 – $100.
Feeding In The Cold
The best advice we can give you on feeding in the cold is this: If you can, set everything up in the afternoon or evening for the next morning. Feeding cows in a field is much easier than caring for smaller livestock, as long as your vehicle is in good working order, and the snow doesn’t impede you from being able to drive out to feed them.
You can invest in a feed trailer that you can fill with enough hay for your cattle to eat for several days at a time.
Small livestock should have a clean, dry, place to eat that is sheltered from the wind. Sheep and goats waste a lot of feed so it’s a good idea to set up your winter feeding areas so that they can be easily cleaned out.
Some homesteaders use a “deep bedding” method where they let the wasted hay, bedding and manure pile up through the worst of the winter weather, then use a tractor to scrape it all down in the spring. This means adding more fresh bedding materials (straw or shavings) on top of what is already there. Or, you can scoop it out regularly and keep it shallow and dry. It’s certainly a matter of personal choice. Read about the pros and cons of deep vs. shallow bedding for goats here. Goat Bedding: Shallow vs. Deep Bedding Methods – Goat Journal (iamcountryside.com)
Animal Feed Requirements
When caring for livestock on the homestead, you’ll find that your animals’ feed requirements will change. If they’ve had pasture, you’re going to be switching them over to hay to replace the amount of grass they were getting. If you are caring for livestock in a heated barn, for example, you will need to feed them less hay than if they are housed in a pen with a shelter that is not heated.
Be mindful of the amounts that you are feeding, as it is easy to overfeed during the winter. This is dangerous to all livestock. Overweight sheep, goats and cows will have trouble getting pregnant or carrying their babies to term. Horses can colic or founder if overfed or given too much grain. You can learn what percentage of the animals’ body weight they need to eat daily, and weigh your hay to feed them more accurately. For supplements, follow the directions on the bag for portion sizes.
Your animals should have ready access to feed and water throughout the day, but not be fed so much that they are wasting their feed. It’s a good rule of thumb to have them cleaning up the portion you feed within three to four hours. Bear in mind that both sheep and goats throw feed onto the ground then urinate or defecate on it and waste it. The type of feeder you use can minimize this waste. You can get this one on Amazon for about $70. Amazon.com: Hay Feeder Goat, 36″x 21″x12″ Goat Hay Rack 1 Pack, Heavy Duty Iron Wall Hay Rack for Sheep, Horses, Effortless Installation in Farms, Stables, Goat Barns, and Yards : Pet Supplies
Water
Access to fresh water is just as important as access to feed when you’re caring for livestock in cold climates. It’s usually the most challenging issue we face on a winter homestead. Frozen hoses, burst pipes, frozen stock tanks and leaks are all part and parcel of dealing with water in the wintertime. What can you do? For starters, plan ahead and be proactive. Have a heated hose on standby, just in case.
Drain your hoses after every use. Keep in mind that in the bitter cold, the hoses can freeze up as you’re draining them. Sometimes, you’ll end up having to carry water in buckets anyway, but draining and hanging up your hoses can help ensure you have a way to get water to your animals. Look into installing frost-free hydrants near your animals shelters.
Breaking Ice vs. Tank Heaters
There are two schools of thought when it comes to breaking ice in your animals’ water troughs. As long as you do it when it is first forming, and it’s not sub-zero weather, your animals can have water. Placing your water source under cover in a shelter with a board over most of the surface area can also help to keep it from freezing as quickly. Have an ax or hammer handy as you go through your pens to break ice so that your animals can drink freely.
On the other hand, installing a tank heater (if you have a source of electricity), is a guarantee that your animal’s water will not freeze. These are pretty reliable, but some of them do pull quite a bit of power, and you’re going to see that reflected in your electricity bill. You can get small solar chargers to run them, but if you’re in the dark of winter with little sunshine, they’re not too practical. You will have to weigh the pros and cons of each type of watering system, to find what will work best for your homestead and your budget.
This one is about $30 on Amazon. K&H Pet Products Ultimate Stock Tank Deicer w/ Cord Clip, Water Trough Heater for Horses, Cattle and Livestock, Floating and Submersible Tank Heater, Red 500 Watts
Shelters And Feeding Areas
Your shelters should be situated so that animals can get out of the wind and underneath cover to avoid rain and snowfall. The roof should be sturdy so the snow load won’t break them down, corrugated metal is a great material to use, and you can slant the roof back at an angle away from the entrance so that the melting snow and rain will drain off the roof.
Set up feeding stations in elevated areas if possible where water and mud don’t accumulate, and bed your shelters with hay, straw or shavings. You can also get moss or pelleted bedding.
As mentioned above, you should design your shelters so that they are accessible to enter and clean to minimize waste.
Your animals are likely to spend a lot of time in their shelters during the worst of the winter weather, so make sure that they have enough room so all of them can fit in comfortably, to avoid conflict.
If you are lucky enough to have a barn, be sure to keep it aired out through the season to avoid problems like mold and mildew or wood rot from the damp. Condensation can form with all those bodies locked inside and give rise to disease and illness. To avoid this, air out your stalls and keep them clean and free of standing water, wet hay and straw. All of your animals should have a dry place to stand if at all possible.
Fencing And Gates
Make certain that your fencing and gates are in good repair. When snow gets deep, will your animals be able to escape? If you’re not sure, then it’s something you need to consider. Gates might need to be raised up so they will swing freely on top of snow. Otherwise, you will be digging out your gates with a shovel when they are frozen shut. This is definitely something you need to do ahead of time to be ready for winter weather on the homestead.
Gear For You
Now we come to you. What is it you need to care for your livestock on the winter homestead? The proper clothes make all the difference. Having insulated coveralls, boots and gloves, and a warm hat or earmuffs will allow you to do your work outside without freezing your you know what off.
Long underwear or some kind of base layer is a must in cold climates, and warm socks and insulated boots are your best friends on the homestead.
Gloves can be tricky. It is hard to do anything that requires dexterity with gloves on, but you can’t really be without them, so you’ll probably end up taking them off and on throughout your day. The most recommended for warmth and dexterity are these $75Uline Durarmor Ice thermal gloves that are coated with nitrile. Uline Durarmor™ Ice Thermal Nitrile Coated Cut Resistant Gloves – Lime, Medium S-M – Uline
Another thing we recommend is ice cleats for your boots if you live in icy conditions. One slip and fall can put you out of commission for the season or forever. It’s not a joke.
For a mere $25, these Stableicers are cheap insurance to help keep you on your feet while you’re caring for your livestock on the homestead. STABILicers Walk Traction Cleat for Walking on Snow and Ice (1 Pair)
There are many other varieties and designs, some with spikes for more traction. You can choose the one that best fits your boots and lifestyle.
The thinner you can make your layers, the more mobility you have and you won’t feel like that kid from A Christmas Story when you waddle out the door to do your chores. Silk is a great material for a base layer, as it wicks sweat and helps insulate you. Wool for socks, and a durable fabric on the outside will allow you to work through the winter without having to replace your clothes. Invest in a good coat and good boots for winter. This man’s coat from The North Face is on Amazon for about $150.
It makes sense to spend a little more on these items. After all, you only need them for a few months out of the year, then they can go back to the closet until next winter. Having the right gear makes all the difference to your time outdoors caring for livestock on the homestead.
With proper planning and time management, winter can be a beautiful season on the homestead. Everything is hushed and sleeping and when the snow comes, it all sparkles. Get your homestead ready now, so that you can enjoy the winter season fully with all the special joys it brings.
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