Winter Care for Goats

Ensuring the well-being of your goats is a top priority as winter weather approaches. Cold temperatures and harsh conditions bring unique challenges that can impact your goats’ health and comfort. By covering the basics—shelter, water, and nutrition—you can help your herd thrive all season long.

Shelter: Protection from the Elements

Goats don’t need elaborate housing, but they do require protection from wind, snow, and rain. At a minimum, provide a three-sided shelter that blocks cold north winds while still allowing ventilation. In barns, consider using a door flap to keep wind and snow out while letting goats move freely. To maintain comfort and insulation, keep plenty of clean, dry straw or shavings available for bedding.

Ventilation Matters:
Avoid sealing the barn too tightly. While drafts should be minimized, airflow is essential to prevent moisture buildup, which can lead to pneumonia and other respiratory issues. Proper ventilation reduces humidity and keeps your goats healthy.

Keep It Dry

Moisture is the enemy in winter.

• Location: Avoid low-lying areas where water collects.
• Maintenance: Regularly refresh bedding and keep loafing areas dry to prevent hoof problems like rot or scald, and udder issues such as mastitis.

Do Goats Need Heat?

Surprisingly, goats do not need supplemental heat in most cases. Heat lamps and jackets can interfere with their natural ability to acclimate. As temperatures drop, goats grow a thick winter coat for insulation.
Tip: If snow sits on their coat without melting, their insulation is working!

Typically only newborn kids or a sick goat require extra warmth—use heat lamps with extreme caution due to fire risk and cord chewing.

Water: Fresh and Unfrozen

Goats need constant access to fresh water, even more so in winter when hay replaces moisture-rich pasture. Without water, goats eat less and lose body condition. To prevent freezing, use heated water bowls or change water frequently.

Nutrition: Fuel for Warmth

Winter feeding isn’t just about calories—it’s about heat production.

• Hay is Key: Offer free-choice hay 24/7. Goats are ruminants, and the fermentation process in their rumen generates internal heat.
• Extra Energy: Consider adding alfalfa for protein and energy, but use caution with bucks and wethers to avoid urinary calculi.
• Minerals: Provide salt and mineral supplements year-round.

Helping Goats Adjust

Gradual acclimation is important. Keep goats outdoors as long as possible in fall so they develop thick coats before moving to winter housing. Goats generally handle snow well if they have dry shelter and clear paths to water and feeders. Plowed snow can even serve as a windbreak.