Baby it's cold outside!
But, it's nice and warm laying in the hay, out of the wind, soaking up the late afternoon sun. Better get all the warmth I can while I can, 'cause it's going down to -22°C tonight with a wind chill on top of that!
@jantan We feed them all extra - they do burn more calories to keep warm than they would with moderate temperatures. They also have a south facing shelter to get out o the elements - just not a closed in barn.
But again, they do fine if they can stay dry and out of the wind.
@jantan And, as for the water, we have water trough heaters - de-icers - that are kept plugged in from freeze up straight through to mild weather.
Our power bills are horrendous at this time of the year. They are so very expensive to run.
@jantan We do not have any outside pipes. We get our water from a water hydrant where the water drops back down to our underground spring that we tap into for water. We do cover the hydrant with a barrel in which we hang a heat lamp to keep the tap from freezing at the tap.
We have quick connect adapters on hoses, which is what we use to fill the troughs, and then roll up the hose when we are finished filling troughs
Hose is kept in our heated shop.
@farmreporter@jantan Wow water trough heaters...do you hear that Jan! That is the height of luxury.... essential in your continued frost & cold but for me & Jan would be just bliss. So many times de-icing water troughs!! Lovely soft photo & so cosy!
But again, they do fine if they can stay dry and out of the wind.
Our power bills are horrendous at this time of the year. They are so very expensive to run.
We have quick connect adapters on hoses, which is what we use to fill the troughs, and then roll up the hose when we are finished filling troughs
Hose is kept in our heated shop.