Part 1 Winter Pigs, Snowy Sheep and Cold Chickens Surviving Below Zero

Farm and ranch animals are well-adapted to overwintering. Pigs burrow, chickens fluff their feathers and sheep stay insulated in their wool. Providing shelter, fresh water and extra feed is key to keeping animals healthy and warm throughout the cold months.

Pigs don't hair up for winter but if their shelters have a low roof, plenty of clean straw and other pigs to nestle with they can burrow into the straw to stay protected from the cold and wind.

Potomac farmer and rancher Russell Hudson said the key to healthy pigs in subzero temperatures is to provide shelter and fresh straw.

"If the shelter is too tight [without airflow] there may not be adequate ventilation which can cause respiratory issues," Hudson said.

Good ventilation and smaller buildings can be beneficial for chickens as well. There is a balance of body heat and number of animals within a coop. The animals generate body heat which can warm up a smaller shelter. Fewer animals in a large shelter will not generate as much warmth because of the extra air space.

Within a coop, the chickens' waste creates ammonia that can make the birds sick. Ventilation and providing clean litter or bedding is important to keep a clean winter coop.

The chickens also dig, fluff and stay warm in deep litter.

Heat lamps are sometimes used as a heat source for chickens. If no heat source is used hardy bird breeds including Plymouth Rock and Rhode Island Reds can the best adapted because they have smaller combs that are less susceptible to frostbite.

"Keep birds in when wind chill or ambient air temperatures are hovering around zero degrees," said Laura DeNitto, who raises chickens in Missoula. She also recommends watching for frostbite both on combs and toes and providing fresh water and feed with extra carbohydrates.

Frostbitten combs become discolored and change from healthy red to grey/white and even black.

"Sheep are well-adapted to cold temperatures," said Potomac 4-Her Kyla Nelson who has raised sheep for her 4-H breeding project for the past three years. "I think their wool helps them a lot in keeping them warm," she said. "It is like having a wool blanket on at all times."

Nelson said sheep are supposed to be outside grazing and have adapted to surviving sub-zero temperatures. However, lambs are susceptible to hypothermia because they are born with a thin coat. According to Nelson, when sheep have hypothermia they "hunch up like a rainbow and their tongues are cold."

Nelson's ewes lamb in February. When the time is coming close, Nelson takes precautions. "I keep each ewe in her own pen with straw and shavings for more insulation."

Nelson's sheep are usually outside, but when it was minus 34 degrees Fahrenheit they were kept inside their shelter and fed inside because they wanted to keep them warmer.

"When we waited to let the ewes outside, the temperature was less of a shock to them," Nelson said. "Keeping them inside during extreme cold temperatures allows their bodies to use energy stores for the growing fetus(s) instead of using it to keep the ewe warm," said Nelson.

"Because they are pregnant we try to make their lives as easy for them as possible," Nelson added.

Cattle, horses and dogs also have special needs during subzero temperatures. Haired up Horses, Icy Dogs and Frosted Cattle Surviving Below Zero - Part 2 coming next week including species specific signs of hypothermia.