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 Elite Veteran
Posts: 824
 
Location: Duvall, WA | I have always lived in the fairly mild NW but know how worried I get about the animals when it gets much below freezing. How in the world are people in the mid-west and east dealing with these horrible sub-zero temperatures? What do you do with your horses and dogs? Thinking of you all. . . |
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Gettin Jiggy Wit It
Posts: 2734
 
| NipntuckLR - 2018-01-02 8:33 PM
I have always lived in the fairly mild NW but know how worried I get about the animals when it gets much below freezing. How in the world are people in the mid-west and east dealing with these horrible sub-zero temperatures? What do you do with your horses and dogs? Thinking of you all. . .
Horses actually survive out in the cold rather easily. I've heard cold weather is actually easier on horses then hot weather. The most important things is for them to have wind break. I don't baby my horses. They are not stall babies with blankets. My horses are allowed to get full winter coats.The average Temps by me have been - 6 below over the the last 11 days. My 24 and 25 year old horses have blankets on. I'll take a them off after it stays above zero. They do fine with out them in anything above zero. The younger ones are just fine with their fluffy winter coat. They also get a lot more hay then they do on warmer days since horses stay warm by digesting forage. So with extra food, a run in shed and access to heated water tanks they do fine. It's harder on me then them! Today it was 9 degrees and I actually went on a little trail ride. It was nice to get to ride! |
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Go Get Em!
Posts: 13503
 
Location: OH. IO | Im in Ohio and it has been brutal cold.its 6degrees with a wind chill in the negatives.my dogs are in the house..to cold out there for them.my Romeo and Juliet are bedded down deep and are inside the barn.my kitties are in attached garage with three big fuzzy blankets in there kitty house:)we have new laws in Ohio and people are getting nailed for not taking care of pets properly.as for me.its cold,im staying in.those brutal temps in the west are crazy! |
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 380
| I just keep hay out 24x7. As long as they are healthy they should have no issue with the cold. Horses coming up north from the south might need the coats but I do not normally blanket a horse unless it is older and doesn't handle the cold. Just give lots of hay and they will generate enough heat to keep themselves warm. |
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 Expert
Posts: 1718
Location: Southeast Louisiana | I always hear about how tough horses are and the temps they can tolerate. I avoided blanketing as long into the winter as I could. But, the first afternoon that it got below forty, my mare met me at the fence, ears pinned, full-body shivering, lol. The other two didn’t start to complain until it got to about 35 degrees. My horses are just spoiled, I guess. |
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 Take a Picture
Posts: 12841
| i am not doing so well. I am about to freeze my butt off |
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Industrial Srength Barrel Racer
Posts: 7268
| Today will be the first time in a while that it will get to freezing here in Ks where I am. I give extra hay, use tank heaters and my horses are in stalls and run pens, so plenty of wind break. It's the wind that makes it seem really awful here, to me.
Blanketing depends on the horse. I am happy that none of mine now need blankets - WAY less hassle! My Streakin La Jolla that I did have, came from Louisiana and he was cold at 50 degrees!
When I chore in the evenings, I measure out all the morning's grain and hay and top off the water tanks if need be, so in the morning, when it's the coldest, it takes me longer to get dressed than to actually do my chores! |
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 Expert
Posts: 1367
Location: mi | The horses are fine. Mine are out all day. and by day I mean they are out at 5:30 am so hitting the coldest point of the day. and come in at night. I did blanket when the bitter cold hit, as I have one old, one that is from Alabama so this is his first northern winter and one that doesn't get much coat and also is in the pasture with no run in or wind block. We are just now headed into the worst with daytime highs in the single digits but so far they are happy as can be with a feeder full of hay and heater water tanks. Me on the other hand is ready to move south this is bull caca.
I have also heard the same thing as above. Horses handle cold way better then extreme heat. I have actually heard 35 degrees is about their ideal. Of course that might be different for a horse that has lived its entire life down south. But I know mine get babied more in the brutal heat of July and August then they do in the bitter cold of January and Feb. |
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 Shelter Dog Lover
Posts: 10277
| Nita - 2018-01-02 9:59 PM I always hear about how tough horses are and the temps they can tolerate. I avoided blanketing as long into the winter as I could. But, the first afternoon that it got below forty, my mare met me at the fence, ears pinned, full-body shivering, lol. The other two didn’t start to complain until it got to about 35 degrees. My horses are just spoiled, I guess.
Same here, last winter I read so many articles about blanketing not necessary etc. so I thought I won’t blanket. That lasted about 5 minutes when I saw 2 shivering, blankets went back on quick. I live in the Houston area, my animals are not use to cold either. I spoil mine too. 21 this morning, I hauled hot water and fed everyone a warm soupy mash for breakfast. |
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Shelter Dog Lover
Posts: 10277
| ajs2002 - 2018-01-03 6:23 AM The horses are fine. Mine are out all day. and by day I mean they are out at 5:30 am so hitting the coldest point of the day. and come in at night. I did blanket when the bitter cold hit, as I have one old, one that is from Alabama so this is his first northern winter and one that doesn't get much coat and also is in the pasture with no run in or wind block. We are just now headed into the worst with daytime highs in the single digits but so far they are happy as can be with a feeder full of hay and heater water tanks. Me on the other hand is ready to move south this is bull caca.
I have also heard the same thing as above. Horses handle cold way better then extreme heat. I have actually heard 35 degrees is about their ideal. Of course that might be different for a horse that has lived its entire life down south. But I know mine get babied more in the brutal heat of July and August then they do in the bitter cold of January and Feb. My vet said 17 degrees is ideal for horses and if not for people bringing them here, there would be no horses down south. I think you are right about the heat being harder on them. I put mine up under fans during the heat of the day all summer, if for some rare reason they miss getting put up they just looked drained and zapped of energy. I certainly don’t see them running and playing like I do in the cold weather.
Edited by rodeomom3 2018-01-03 7:02 AM
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"Heck's Coming With Me"
Posts: 10797
Location: Kansas | With plenty of feed and water the horses do great. Kitties have very expensive heater in the tack room. They haven't been out for days....run out the door occasionally, then run right back in. Dogs are in the garage at night with a heat lamp. I am dreading my electric bill let alone the propane. Ski bibs are great for going outside as far as us poor old people.
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Married to a Louie Lover
Posts: 3303
| We’ve been -10 to -20 here in Iowa. We have grass hay out in slow feed nets so they can eat all they want and they are wooly mammoths.
Dogs are in the house or in the heated shop, cats are in the garage or the heated shop if they want to be, they’ve also been hunkering down in the hayloft.
We don’t blanket, these temps are unusually cold for us but negatives aren’t unusual at all so they are use to it. Not surprised at all that the Deep South is struggling with it! It suuuuucks! |
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Expert
Posts: 1314
Location: North Central Iowa Land of white frozen grass | Here in northern Iowa we have been at -17 to -25f for the past 7 days and it looks like we have about 4 more days like this. Our highs have been about -4f. Mine are in the pasture plus have hay 24/7. No buildings, just wind breaks. They do get about 2# a day of a oat,corn, bean meal mix a day plus other stuff in it. Horses are temperature neutral at 38*. If you leave them outside year round they will grow their hair coat to servive just fine. When its cold they need all the forage they can eat as that is what generates their body heat. A lot of how well they stand the cold is a lot on body condition. That is why you see a lot of horses in the northern climats carry more finish on them normally. Mother nature knows what she is doing.
Edited by BS Hauler 2018-01-03 8:33 AM
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 Undercover Amish Mafia Member
Posts: 9992
Location: Kansas | Dog stays inside, along with kitties. Horses have two round bales of brome set out for them to constantly munch on. I do start to add grain once it gets cold |
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 Extreme Veteran
Posts: 595
Location: North Dakota | Our temps dropped to -28 actual temp and -45 windchill and yes it’s cold but we get this cold every year for many week of the year.. Our horses are accustomed to it. They get one heck of a coat and eat hay like crazy. We have several at my barn who are not blanketed and are not shivering even in this cold. It just depends on the horse.
My two French Bulldogs do not do well in this cold. They struggle to even go out and go potty without freezing but we make it through.
I won’t say that I like this cold but it happens every year. I can’t stand the heat so here in ND I will stay.  |
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Regular
Posts: 72
| I feel for EVERYONE in the south and humidity with this cold. I grew up in southwest Louisiana and the coldest I've ever been in winter is down there. I live in northeast Oklahoma now and we have gotten to -20 actual air temp and I was not as miserable as in the cold where I grew up. It was like having your bones wet and going out in it there. I would put a blanket on my horses sooner (temperature wise) and leave it on longer there. I'm not saying it doesn't get dangerous cold here, but the humidity in the air is a game changer there. Blessings and warmth to all!
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Expert
Posts: 1718
Location: Southeast Louisiana | The cold, humid air seems to cut through any clothing I put on. Plus, I think I sweat faster than when it’s less humid. So, that doesn’t help any. I just layer my clothes because I don’t even own a thick coat. (Well, I have one for work, but i’m not wearing that around.)
The cat and dog are inside and horses are blanketed with a fresh round bale in their shelter. I keep the solid wall of the shelter to the north and it does make a difference. I have a heating element hanging in the chicken coop. I think it was a reptile heating element. It doesn’t give off any light, just heat. I can’t imagine leaving any domestic animals unprotected in this cold. I’m sure many of them don’t have a clue how to protect themselves. |
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 Too Skinny
Posts: 8009
Location: LA Lower Alabama | The issue is that we were in Tshirts the week before Christmas and then freezing temps over night. One horse got a full winter coat and the other didn't. I blanket below 40 if it is windy or rainy and leave a light waterproof sheet on until it gets above 50 during the day. The dogs have heat lamps/ houses and come inside in kennels under 40. I don't mind cold but rain and wind with cold stinks! |
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  That's White "Man" to You
Posts: 5515
| I'm sorry to hear you guys are cold...we have been having the mildest winter I can remeber. It was almost 60 here yesterday. |
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Gettin Jiggy Wit It
Posts: 2734
| This cold weather snap in the Midwest is pretty normal. It came about two weeks earlier this year but every year we get a week or two of -25 to -30 wind chill and -10 air temp. It's not really much of a struggle since it's common. Like I said before It's harder on us humans hands and toes then the animals.
Edited by WetSaddleBlankets 2018-01-03 12:02 PM
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 Warrior Mom
Posts: 4400
| rodeomom3 - 2018-01-03 6:53 AM
Nita - 2018-01-02 9:59 PM I always hear about how tough horses are and the temps they can tolerate. I avoided blanketing as long into the winter as I could. But, the first afternoon that it got below forty, my mare met me at the fence, ears pinned, full-body shivering, lol. The other two didn’t start to complain until it got to about 35 degrees. My horses are just spoiled, I guess.
Same here, last winter I read so many articles about blanketing not necessary etc. so I thought I won’t blanket. That lasted about 5 minutes when I saw 2 shivering, blankets went back on quick. I live in the Houston area, my animals are not use to cold either. I spoil mine too. 21 this morning, I hauled hot water and fed everyone a warm soupy mash for breakfast.
I blanket mine if it's under 40... they get extra hay and a little more alfalfa thrown in at night.. it was the coldest it's been here last night ... 15 I think it was.. I have heated buckets in their stalls too.. my outside cats get extra blankets and I have a large tote we put out we cut a hole in it and I put some hay and another fuzzy blanket it in.. I really spoil them and they get a can of warmed up wet food lol! Try explaining that smell to your family. They also get a heated water bowl along with my chickens. My dogs are of course inside our house.. today is actually the first day they've been outside in their pen for a week! The sun is out and there's no wind so they are good to go.
However, our power decided to go out at about 3:30 this morning, it didn't come back on till a little after 7. My house got so cold! I put extra blankets on Jacobs bed and I put some long pajamas on for myself and hid under my blankets! Of course all my heated goodies outside frooze without the electric on.. finally just got the hose and spigot to run free and watered my horses.. I hope we don't see any more of those crazy Temps! I couldn't live where this is a normal way of life in winter lol! |
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 Good Grief!
Posts: 6343
Location: Cap'n Joan Rotgut.....alberta | We had a nasty cold spell...-39 without the wind...horses are all outside..pig stays in his straw pile in the barn and the big dog has a house full of straw...the bare minimum gets done...but now its warmed up considerably -8 today...m |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 672
| mruggles - 2018-01-03 1:07 PM
We had a nasty cold spell...-39 without the wind...horses are all outside..pig stays in his straw pile in the barn and the big dog has a house full of straw...the bare minimum gets done...but now its warmed up considerably -8 today...m
We didn't get that cold, -30 air temp was the lowest so far here, but yeah the bare minimum gets done. Make sure everyone has hay, gets a chance at water, and can get out of the wind. Our biggest tank doesn't have a water heater so I chop ice 2x a day and clean it out. Not fun chopping thru 4" ice! |
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Good Grief!
Posts: 6343
Location: Cap'n Joan Rotgut.....alberta | The one thing im glad i had put in was a water bowl (but when they freeze up look out...lol)..no more luging water hose in and out of the tack room and no more extension cords....m |
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 The Bling Princess
Posts: 3411
Location: North Dakota | We just went through a cold spell...-45 windchill and our livestock is fine. I don't blanket my horses, nor did we stall them. They have their lean that they can get under and get out of the wind. We feed extra hay and instead of feeding alfalfa once per day they got it morning and night. We have a heated Ritchie, so the water is tepid and they all get dosed with Zesterra to keep them drinking. The horses, during the coldest part of the stretch, were actually out on the hill grazing. Every once in a while they'd run and buck and bite at one another; I'm sure just to keep warm. In my opinion, this really cold stuff isn't the hardest to get throug, it's when they don't have a good thick coat and we get freezing rain or really wet snow, combined with wind. That's when they all go inside.
As for the dogs and cats mine are all indoor, but my mother in law spreads extra straw in their barn and gives them extra food. They seem to do fine.
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 Am I really the Weirdo?
Posts: 11181
Location: Kansas | I'm near Kansas City and over the weekend our temps were between 0 and -10 before wind chill. We had a 3-day rodeo series the 29th-31st and yes it was misreably cold loading up to go there and to come home, plus walking across the driveway to the warm up barn, but the rodeo arena and stall barn were heated so it wasn't totally unbearable.
My 4 geldings have blankets and generally stay out in the 20 acre pasture 24/7, but the nights of 30th and 31st, we brought them into the lean-to on the south side of the barn and put Matt's 3 horses in the stalls because we can't mix the groups or all hell would break loose. If we hadn't had that nasty north wind, mine would have stayed out.
I blanket mine if it's below 28ish, but that's mainly because I haul them at least part of the winter. Chance ran at the 3 rodeos and now will get a vacation until about March, but I'll be hauling the other 3 over the next couple months and I refuse to try and cool out a wooly mammoth! I also like that the blankets help cut the wind while they're in the pasture. The guys also have a round bale in the pasture and a smaller feeder with hay thrown into it so they are not going to go hungry at all.
As for me, I have been wearing fleece-lined tights, jeans or sweatpants, tall boots, a pair of Matt's old coveralls, a heavy chore coat, gloves, a headband, a hoodie, and a fleece scarf. It got up into the 20s today and I'm actually thinking I won't need all those clothes to go outside tomorrow. |
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The Bling Princess
Posts: 3411
Location: North Dakota | rodeowithjoker - 2018-01-03 2:26 PM I'm near Kansas City and over the weekend our temps were between 0 and -10 before wind chill. We had a 3-day rodeo series the 29th-31st and yes it was misreably cold loading up to go there and to come home, plus walking across the driveway to the warm up barn, but the rodeo arena and stall barn were heated so it wasn't totally unbearable.
My 4 geldings have blankets and generally stay out in the 20 acre pasture 24/7, but the nights of 30th and 31st, we brought them into the lean-to on the south side of the barn and put Matt's 3 horses in the stalls because we can't mix the groups or all hell would break loose. If we hadn't had that nasty north wind, mine would have stayed out.
I blanket mine if it's below 28ish, but that's mainly because I haul them at least part of the winter. Chance ran at the 3 rodeos and now will get a vacation until about March, but I'll be hauling the other 3 over the next couple months and I refuse to try and cool out a wooly mammoth! I also like that the blankets help cut the wind while they're in the pasture. The guys also have a round bale in the pasture and a smaller feeder with hay thrown into it so they are not going to go hungry at all.
As for me, I have been wearing fleece-lined tights, jeans or sweatpants, tall boots, a pair of Matt's old coveralls, a heavy chore coat, gloves, a headband, a hoodie, and a fleece scarf. It got up into the 20s today and I'm actually thinking I won't need all those clothes to go outside tomorrow.
20 above probably feels like a heat wave!!LOL I hauled a couple head to the farrier last night and when I went out to hook the trailer on, even though it was super windy, the temp was like 22 above and I was thinkin it was heaven!! |
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 Expert
Posts: 2128
| Our horses have plenty of hay and all have a roof to get under. Two are blanketed. They are the "special ones". The dog and cat share an electric blanket under the roof of our porch.
What about you folks that live places with harsh winters..how do you keep your pipes from freezing all winter? |
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 Miss Laundry Misshap
Posts: 5271
| WYOTurn-n-Burn - 2018-01-03 2:20 PM We just went through a cold spell...-45 windchill and our livestock is fine. I don't blanket my horses, nor did we stall them. They have their lean that they can get under and get out of the wind. We feed extra hay and instead of feeding alfalfa once per day they got it morning and night. We have a heated Ritchie, so the water is tepid and they all get dosed with Zesterra to keep them drinking. The horses, during the coldest part of the stretch, were actually out on the hill grazing. Every once in a while they'd run and buck and bite at one another; I'm sure just to keep warm. In my opinion, this really cold stuff isn't the hardest to get throug, it's when they don't have a good thick coat and we get freezing rain or really wet snow, combined with wind. That's when they all go inside.
As for the dogs and cats mine are all indoor, but my mother in law spreads extra straw in their barn and gives them extra food. They seem to do fine.
This is exactly what I did. We had -30 wind chills. |
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Am I really the Weirdo?
Posts: 11181
Location: Kansas | WYOTurn-n-Burn - 2018-01-03 2:28 PM rodeowithjoker - 2018-01-03 2:26 PM I'm near Kansas City and over the weekend our temps were between 0 and -10 before wind chill. We had a 3-day rodeo series the 29th-31st and yes it was misreably cold loading up to go there and to come home, plus walking across the driveway to the warm up barn, but the rodeo arena and stall barn were heated so it wasn't totally unbearable.
My 4 geldings have blankets and generally stay out in the 20 acre pasture 24/7, but the nights of 30th and 31st, we brought them into the lean-to on the south side of the barn and put Matt's 3 horses in the stalls because we can't mix the groups or all hell would break loose. If we hadn't had that nasty north wind, mine would have stayed out.
I blanket mine if it's below 28ish, but that's mainly because I haul them at least part of the winter. Chance ran at the 3 rodeos and now will get a vacation until about March, but I'll be hauling the other 3 over the next couple months and I refuse to try and cool out a wooly mammoth! I also like that the blankets help cut the wind while they're in the pasture. The guys also have a round bale in the pasture and a smaller feeder with hay thrown into it so they are not going to go hungry at all.
As for me, I have been wearing fleece-lined tights, jeans or sweatpants, tall boots, a pair of Matt's old coveralls, a heavy chore coat, gloves, a headband, a hoodie, and a fleece scarf. It got up into the 20s today and I'm actually thinking I won't need all those clothes to go outside tomorrow. 20 above probably feels like a heat wave!!LOL I hauled a couple head to the farrier last night and when I went out to hook the trailer on, even though it was super windy, the temp was like 22 above and I was thinkin it was heaven!!
That's what we were saying when it got up to 14 yesterday! I kept telling Matt, "I don't know when we got so tough!" LOL
My horses were out on the hill playing almost every day even when it was below zero. I wouldn't have worried about them as much if I hadn't been entered in those New Year's rodeos. I darn sure tried to pamper Chance for those few days! We stayed in the heated barn except for unloading, warming up, and loading up to go home and I made sure he was breathing completely normally before we left the warm up barn to go across the driveway and wait for our run. Thankfully he has Soft Rides since the stall barn was all concrete....normally we don't do concrete with him but it was the lesser of the evils Sunday night. |
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 It's not my fault I'm perfect
Posts: 13739
Location: Where the long tails flow, ND | How do we deal? We all just eat, all day. HAHA But really, we do. Because -45 windchill, why is that even a thing?!
One of my horses has zero hair, shes wearing a slinky and 3 blankets. My others that are all being ridden through out winter have 2 blankets. We've all been on a break since this insane cold snap.
My dogs are all inside dogs, and the 2 barn cats sneak inside when possible. Otherwise, they can be found eating.....like the rest of us. |
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The Bling Princess
Posts: 3411
Location: North Dakota | SmokinGirlie - 2018-01-03 3:28 PM How do we deal? We all just eat, all day. HAHA But really, we do. Because -45 windchill, why is that even a thing?!
One of my horses has zero hair, shes wearing a slinky and 3 blankets. My others that are all being ridden through out winter have 2 blankets. We've all been on a break since this insane cold snap.
My dogs are all inside dogs, and the 2 barn cats sneak inside when possible. Otherwise, they can be found eating.....like the rest of us. OMG I'M CRYING!!!! This is so true! Like we need to fatten ourselves up like squirrels in time for winter!  I bet Jillian's sales spike every March when it's time to lose the 10lbs we all gained from "grazing."
Edited by WYOTurn-n-Burn 2018-01-03 3:41 PM
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 1079
| WYOTurn-n-Burn - 2018-01-03 3:40 PM SmokinGirlie - 2018-01-03 3:28 PM How do we deal? We all just eat, all day. HAHA But really, we do. Because -45 windchill, why is that even a thing?!
One of my horses has zero hair, shes wearing a slinky and 3 blankets. My others that are all being ridden through out winter have 2 blankets. We've all been on a break since this insane cold snap.
My dogs are all inside dogs, and the 2 barn cats sneak inside when possible. Otherwise, they can be found eating.....like the rest of us. OMG I'M CRYING!!!! This is so true! Like we need to fatten ourselves up like squirrels in time for winter! I bet Jillian's sales spike every March when it's time to lose the 10lbs we all gained from "grazing."
Yup 
We just eat and eat and sprint to the barn for chores and sprint back in and eat some more.
Seriously -45 to -50.. what even IS THAT! Long as my horses have a full bale, open water and a deeply bedded stall - they are good. In at night, out all day with a lean available. |
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 Accident Prone
Posts: 22277
Location: 100 miles from Nowhere, AR | We just spent 90 consecutive hours below freezing with windchills around zero, which really isn't normal for us. Old horses were blanketed, everyone got extra hay, one tank is an insulated auto-waterer that stayed thawed, the other has a drain plug heater and stayed steamy. Cats had hay tunnels and a heated bed in the feed room, rabbits had a heat lamp and their nesting box was bedded extra deep. The rabbit water froze and we didn't know it for day because the tank was liquid from the heat lamp, but the spout had an ice plug in it, but that was the only animal problem we had. They handled it way better than I did...my fingers got wet one morning and I was touching metal latches with exposed fingertips. PAIN, and now my fingertips feel burned and 2 cracked open. Oops. I bet I'll remember to wear latex gloves under my insulated ones next time. |
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Nut Case Expert
Posts: 9305
Location: Tulsa, Ok | Oklahoma has been having a few days of single digit temps at night and teens during the day. My horses apparently think it is great as they have spent several hours daily running, bucking playing. All except the geriatric two are on 24/7 turn out with a round bale and access to run-in sheds. I wish I was enjoying it like they seem to. |
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"Heck's Coming With Me"
Posts: 10797
Location: Kansas | Wow, look out Eastern Seaboard, they appear to be in the midst of a Hurricane Sandy with snow.
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Am I really the Weirdo?
Posts: 11181
Location: Kansas | Three 4 Luck - 2018-01-03 4:49 PM We just spent 90 consecutive hours below freezing with windchills around zero, which really isn't normal for us.
The news was saying this morning that Kansas City is at 313 hours of consecutive below freezing temperatures. That goes back to December 22nd. YUCK!!! We are supposed to hit 40 on Sunday, but it's looking like an 80% chance of rain that day. Of course. |
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It's not my fault I'm perfect
Posts: 13739
Location: Where the long tails flow, ND | WYOTurn-n-Burn - 2018-01-03 3:40 PM SmokinGirlie - 2018-01-03 3:28 PM How do we deal? We all just eat, all day. HAHA But really, we do. Because -45 windchill, why is that even a thing?!
One of my horses has zero hair, shes wearing a slinky and 3 blankets. My others that are all being ridden through out winter have 2 blankets. We've all been on a break since this insane cold snap.
My dogs are all inside dogs, and the 2 barn cats sneak inside when possible. Otherwise, they can be found eating.....like the rest of us. OMG I'M CRYING!!!! This is so true! Like we need to fatten ourselves up like squirrels in time for winter! I bet Jillian's sales spike every March when it's time to lose the 10lbs we all gained from "grazing."
Yeah and I'm really screwed since I had my little girl in October, then jumped right into Winter. Bad news bears for this girl! lol |
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Expert
Posts: 1367
Location: mi | rodeowithjoker - 2018-01-04 9:03 AM Three 4 Luck - 2018-01-03 4:49 PM We just spent 90 consecutive hours below freezing with windchills around zero, which really isn't normal for us. The news was saying this morning that Kansas City is at 313 hours of consecutive below freezing temperatures. That goes back to December 22nd. YUCK!!! We are supposed to hit 40 on Sunday, but it's looking like an 80% chance of rain that day. Of course.
On Saturday Detroit will be 12 days of below 20 for a high temp. that is a record for us. |
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Miss Laundry Misshap
Posts: 5271
| West Point, IOWA --
It got below 32 degrees (obviously freezing) on Dec 22. It has been below freezing since then, with record lows (-16) set over the New Year's weekend. That's currently below freezing for 13/14 days depending on if you count the 22nd since the high got to 35 that day.
Sunday it's supposed to get to 34.
This weather can kiss my cold pattootie! |
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Industrial Srength Barrel Racer
Posts: 7268
| rodeowithjoker - 2018-01-04 8:03 AM
Three 4 Luck - 2018-01-03 4:49 PM We just spent 90 consecutive hours below freezing with windchills around zero, which really isn't normal for us.
The news was saying this morning that Kansas City is at 313 hours of consecutive below freezing temperatures. That goes back to December 22nd. YUCK!!! We are supposed to hit 40 on Sunday, but it's looking like an 80% chance of rain that day. Of course.
But OH MY GOD, we need rain SO badly! We haven't had any measurable precip since last September. |
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 Veteran
Posts: 239
| scwebster - 2018-01-03 1:54 PM Our horses have plenty of hay and all have a roof to get under. Two are blanketed. They are the "special ones". The dog and cat share an electric blanket under the roof of our porch.
What about you folks that live places with harsh winters..how do you keep your pipes from freezing all winter?
Like water supply pipes?
All pipes are installed below the frost line. It doesnt freeze below there .... water bowl fills up when needed and then the water drains back to below that line. I think for us it is about 8 feet....when we installed our waterer we went 10 ft deep just to be safe.
Then all the lines are within another PVC pipe so they don't touch the edges of the hole (they could freeze to it).
We don't really need it, but we also put in heat tape on where the water line comes up to about 2 feet deep.
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 Elite Veteran
Posts: 1079
Location: MN | scwebster - 2018-01-03 2:54 PM Our horses have plenty of hay and all have a roof to get under. Two are blanketed. They are the "special ones". The dog and cat share an electric blanket under the roof of our porch.
What about you folks that live places with harsh winters..how do you keep your pipes from freezing all winter?
The pipes are dug much deeper up here, well below the frost line. My pipes above ground all have heat tape on them so that helps tremendously keeping them thawed in these sub 0 temps. This morning was -32 actual temp and everything was working just as it should! |
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 Dancing in my Mind
Posts: 3062
Location: Eastern OH but my heart is in WV | I live in northern Ohio and it has been single digits to negatives for over a week now. Calling for a low of -22 tonight and not out of the negatives tomorrow. As a rule of thumb, I only really worry about the horses when they are going to get wet and the temps are really low. This is the only time they get stalled, however, once the snow or rain stops they are back out. We do blanket but more for my daughter's worrying nature. The most important things are good, available hay, fresh water (tank heater is a must) and a good quality grain. Luckily, maintaining those three things has worked well for many years and the worst part is going out to feed in these temperatures.  |
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Expert
Posts: 2128
| 2H~QH - 2018-01-04 11:09 AM scwebster - 2018-01-03 1:54 PM Our horses have plenty of hay and all have a roof to get under. Two are blanketed. They are the "special ones". The dog and cat share an electric blanket under the roof of our porch.
What about you folks that live places with harsh winters..how do you keep your pipes from freezing all winter? Like water supply pipes?
All pipes are installed below the frost line. It doesnt freeze below there .... water bowl fills up when needed and then the water drains back to below that line. I think for us it is about 8 feet....when we installed our waterer we went 10 ft deep just to be safe.
Then all the lines are within another PVC pipe so they don't touch the edges of the hole (they could freeze to it).
We don't really need it, but we also put in heat tape on where the water line comes up to about 2 feet deep.
Edited by scwebster 2018-01-04 11:29 AM
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Expert
Posts: 2128
| Kay-DRacing. - 2018-01-04 11:18 AM scwebster - 2018-01-03 2:54 PM Our horses have plenty of hay and all have a roof to get under. Two are blanketed. They are the "special ones". The dog and cat share an electric blanket under the roof of our porch.
What about you folks that live places with harsh winters..how do you keep your pipes from freezing all winter? The pipes are dug much deeper up here, well below the frost line. My pipes above ground all have heat tape on them so that helps tremendously keeping them thawed in these sub 0 temps. This morning was -32 actual temp and everything was working just as it should!
Very cool! |
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 The best bad guy on the internet
Posts: 3519
Location: Arizona | I don't even know what a "frost line" is. Here in AZ our pipes are buried no more than 18" below the ground...haha. It's been super nice here. We have been about 10 degrees above our normal temps. We have been in the high 70's. I love it!!  |
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 No Tune in a Bucket
Posts: 2935
Location: Texas | As a southern girl, we had 2 or 3 days below 32 degrees. We complain, complain, complain. Had to haul water because the hoses or pipes are frozen. Thank goodness that crazy cold weather (rolling my eyes) is gone and it was mid 40s today and supposed to be 50 or 60 next week. Don't know how you northern folks handle it. |
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 To the Left
Posts: 1865
Location: Florida | It is 32 again this morning, that's 3 days in a row. My answer; hibernation. Made sure I was well stocked with the essentials of animal feed, hay, pizza and beer. Now I am binge watching Dr. Phil. That always makes my life seem perfect. |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 897
| It's -10 here now, high today is 0. Looks like we have a few more days of cold weather, days and nights around -15 to -30. Ducks have a heat lamp and their coop filled with shavings and hay. They also have a heated waterer. Dogs have cabin fever as they've been inside for almost two weeks. My older dog with arthritis has a hard time even spending a few min outside to go to the bathroom. He goes out real quick and comes inside to lay on his temperpedic dog bed. Horse is inside in extreme temps. I do my chores pretty quickly and stay inside. I've been telling my husband for years that I want to move to AZ or TX!! I hate the cold, falling on the ice!! |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 1079
Location: MN | RocketPilot - 2018-01-04 10:38 PM As a southern girl, we had 2 or 3 days below 32 degrees. We complain, complain, complain. Had to haul water because the hoses or pipes are frozen. Thank goodness that crazy cold weather (rolling my eyes) is gone and it was mid 40s today and supposed to be 50 or 60 next week. Don't know how you northern folks handle it.
I'm from middle GA and I seriously considered packing my things this morning. My truck read -36 below this morning, actual temp. I want to go HOME where it's 28 ABOVE. This is my 4th winter up here and I think I'm getting less tolerable of this nasty cold weather every year. |
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 Elite Veteran
Posts: 911
Location: Northern Ontario | It was minus 45 with the wind chill here for almost two weeks. Best to stay in and keep the horses in til it passes. Did get some snowmobiling done though, but I cant ride with a bulky suit |
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No Tune in a Bucket
Posts: 2935
Location: Texas | Kay-DRacing. - 2018-01-05 9:43 AM RocketPilot - 2018-01-04 10:38 PM As a southern girl, we had 2 or 3 days below 32 degrees. We complain, complain, complain. Had to haul water because the hoses or pipes are frozen. Thank goodness that crazy cold weather (rolling my eyes) is gone and it was mid 40s today and supposed to be 50 or 60 next week. Don't know how you northern folks handle it. I'm from middle GA and I seriously considered packing my things this morning. My truck read -36 below this morning, actual temp. I want to go HOME where it's 28 ABOVE. This is my 4th winter up here and I think I'm getting less tolerable of this nasty cold weather every year.
I honestly did not know it got that cold in Georgia. I know that we complain when it gets hot too but that is what arena lights are for. I don't mind visiting more northern locations during the summer but I would never, never, never, never live there during the winter. If I had been raised there, I would definitely be a snow bird and migrate during the winter. |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 824
Location: Duvall, WA | So the NW seems to have missed all this extreme weather, we are close to 50 this week with some rain. People make fun of Seattle rain but I will take it ANY day over freezing weather. You can do anything in the rain if you really want to, just put on the rain coat and muck boots, frozen makes everything hard. I always tell my husband--animals don't die from rain. I worry like crazy about them when it is cold. What I really want is to head south a couple months a year. Wouldn't that be nice. . .
Edited by NipntuckLR 2018-01-06 9:18 PM
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Gettin Jiggy Wit It
Posts: 2734
| It's supposed to be 25 degrees tomorrow (Sunday). I'm so excited! It was - 16 below Friday night.... So it'll be almost 40 degrees warmer on Sunday. It's crazy today think that. |
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How do people deal with this cold?