Having livestock means that when the weather changes they sometimes need special care. In the south, we don't get too many extremely cold days but we still have to prepare for those days when it is cold if we have animals that depend on us for survival and good health. All animals are different but even so most of them big and small can still benefit from the same attention before and during cold weather.
When winter is approaching we always make sure that we have thoroughly cleaned the housing for the animals. Whether it is the goats or the chicken house all of the bedding gets removed and replaced with fresh. Any dust webs that accumulate in the ceilings also get swept away. The goats and pigs get fresh hay or straw and the chickens get fresh pine shavings on the floor of the coop. If there is any debris or leaves on the roof then that is raked off to prevent water or ice standing on the roof which can cause leaks.
Our rabbits are housed in wire floored hutches and actually do much better in the colder months rather then our hot southern summers but they too get their hutches and roofs swept clean. They don't get bedding in their hutches unless its going to be an especially cold spell. In that case they get nest boxes of hay to burrow into and keep warm. They also have canvas flaps on the front and sides of their hutches which are usually rolled and tied up during most of the year. When we have a bit of severe cold with windy blowing ice or snow we let those flaps down to protect them from the weather. We don't leave them down all winter though because all animals need fresh air and sunshine.
The goats also get a bit of attention that the rest of the animals don't get. We make sure that all of their hooves are trimmed and everyone is parasite free before winter. We usually have many cold rainy weeks and that is when hoof rot can start if they get muddy pens and it gets trapped in their hooves. Giving a good pedicure before winter seems to prevent winter hoof problems. We check them for worms and lice and sprinkle their houses with diatomaceous earth prior to putting their fresh bedding down to prevent lice infestations. All of their mineral feeders are filled as well. We free feed loose minerals for the goats and they help themselves to them whenever they want them. Winter is when the females are pregnant with the kids which will come in the spring so it is important that they remain in the best possible health while the little ones are growing and forming. They can't be allowed to get too skinny and poor during the cold months. On the other hand, they shouldn't be too fat either or that will cause serious problems at kidding time. Feeding and exercise are very important this time of year for us. They are not fed inside their houses so that they get out and walk around which helps keep them in shape.
When animals eat their bodies create heat during digestion. Knowing that means that we tend to feed them with that in mind. We always feed grain in the evening and hay in the morning. The reason we do that is because in the hot summer the animals, especially the goats, need to be cool in the daytime to prevent them from building up gases and bloating on grain. So they get light grain and hay in the evenings when it is cooling down in summer which seems to prevent that from happening. We feed the grain in the evening during the winter too but for a different reason. Eating grain which is high in energy helps keep them warm in the colder evenings. So during extremely cold weather they get a little extra grain with their hay in the evening to help them keep warm through the night as well as to feed the growing kids which they will deliver in late winter or early spring.
The pigs also get their extra grain at night to help them stay warm. They are housed in groups with deep hay because they make nests and sleep as a whole family which keeps them warm. The pigs are never bred to have their litters in the coldest months because piglets can't regulate their body heat well enough to keep warm in the winter. We do not have indoor housing or artificial heat for the animals. The pigs have three sided shelters which they sleep under in winter to retain heat and in summer for the shade.
The other important thing for animals is water. They drink an amazing amount of water and it has to be available at all times. In the summer the water temperature shouldn't be too hot or many of the animals won't want to drink it. They don't mind water that isn't ice cold but they don't like 100 degree water either. The rabbits especially won't drink in the heat of the day so their water is always dumped and filled with cool water at night when they tend to do most of their eating and drinking in summer. In the winter they prefer their water a bit warmer. If it is freezing outside then it is very important to make sure the animals water is not frozen as well. Many days the water will refreeze as soon as the ice is broken on water buckets or chicken waterers. It helps to add some extra water to make sure that there is time for everyone to get a drink before it freezes. The water also has to be checked several times a day and made available if it freezes over. The metal nipples on rabbit bottles freeze faster then the rest of the bottle which means that they can't drink even though it LOOKS like they have water. Its important to make sure the water is flowing so the rabbits can drink.
Just a couple other things to keep in mind when its cold out. Chickens with large combs can get frost bite in the winter. A rooster with frost bite can often become sterile from it. To help prevent frost bite a little Petroleum jelly on the combs and toes helps. It also helps to provide wooden perches rather then metal perches so that their feet will stay warm. Sometimes people make the mistake of completely closing up a chicken house, goat shelter or other animal house but that can be worse then the cold. Chickens and animals need fresh air. Its better to leave ventilation then to completely close everything tightly. Keeping them dry is more important then keeping them tightly sealed. That doesn't mean that a cold drafty house is good for them but a few small vents helps prevent illness and accumulation of ammonia and moisture from animal urine.
Just remember that whatever livestock you might be keeping on your homestead relies on you for all their needs. Those needs are usually pretty simple and similar to our own. They need proper shelter, food and plenty of water. They need a warm, dry place in the winter and shade in the summer. They need proper nutrition and feeding practices if you want them to produce well. Paying attention to all of those things and a few minutes a day is all it takes to have happy healthy animals.
Southern Wood Elf