10 Cold Weather Tips for Sheep and Goats! 

I would say this is one of the most common mistakes people make with good intentions. We are glad you were able to watch our video. Thank you for your feedback and we hope it warms up there soon!

Thank you for watching our videos!

Thanks for watching our videos and thanks for the kind words. We appreciate it.

Thanks for watching our videos!

Wow! Thats a lot of snow! Thanks for sharing your experience and thanks for watching.

Thank you very much!

Hello and thanks for watching our videos. Respiratory disease in sheep is usually caused by bacteria or viruses. In most cases it is a bacteria that is allowed to grow due to poor ventilation or other stressors on the sheep. While keeping your sheep confined to a small warm area during the colder months might seem like the right thing to do, the added moisture in the are and warmer temps can put them at increased risk for respiratory diseases such as pneumonia. Fresh air and plenty of it, even when bitterly cold, is always better for the health of your sheep than being in confinement. Shearing your sheep prior to winter can significantly cut down on pneumonia as well as the wool tends to trap moisture.

ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-wiprw6FUYRA.html Sorry about your predator problems. You may end up having to invest in a livestock guardian dog. Keep us posted!

ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-uQyhteocjMY.html Here is a link for you about livestock guardian dogs as well.

Laryssa, thank you for the question. This is a complicated subject and a very common mistake in new and old sheep and goat breeders. If you have ever been to a closed barn before, walking in can take your breath away. Ammonia is a naturally occurring byproduct of animal waste and concentrations of the gas tend to be highest closer to the ground. In open air/well ventilated structures, the gas dissipates quickly and animals are exposed to very small amounts of the gas which usually causes few problems. In confined spaces, the ammonia gas can build up and cause respiratory issues for the animals. The danger in ammonia is not that it displaces oxygen like carbon monoxide or other gases, the danger is that is causes inflammation and irritation to the soft membranes of the lungs. Irritation and inflammation causes increased mucous production and then spirals out of control into issues like pneumonia. Sheep and goats have very sensitive respiratory systems as they are designed to be outside in fresh air. Most producers that make the mistake of confining their animals will run into recurring pneumonia. Also keep in mind, chronic pneumonia and bronchitis can lead to long term health consequences as well. Hopefully this answered your question. Remember, as along as you have good air circulation, you will be fine!