Farm & Flock— presented by Chicken Whisperer Magazine“ Hope For The Best, Plan For The Worst”
Expect the Unexpected
Preparing Our Small Livestock for an Unpredictable Winter
By Steve Sniff
The winter of 2025 to 26 was a study in contrasts, weatherwise. Here in Eastern Oregon / Western Idaho, along with the rest of the Pacific Northwest, it was warm and dry. Influenced by a slow-developing La Niña, the western half of the North American continent experienced record-breaking warmth and a sluggish start to its mountain snowpack.
In stark contrast, the eastern seaboard and adjacent states were slammed with severe, frigid weather. The National Weather Service reports that they endured 21 significant weather events and multiple major storms that blanketed the region with heavy snow and bitter, persistent cold.
Of course, our livestock know nothing about weather events, global warming, or La Niña. They simply trust us to take care of them and keep them warm and well-fed. And so they should.
Therefore, it is incumbent on us as their caretakers to get the barnyard and our animals’ personal space fully prepared for whatever winter we may experience this year. That includes the structures where they will reside, their dietary needs, and their biological care. Let’ s look at some recommendations and thoughts by experts in the field.
Universal Guidelines for Winter Care
While different species have unique physical traits and specialized needs, there are some fundamental guidelines that apply to all small livestock. According to the North Carolina Cooperative Extension, the three core pillars of winter management across all species are shelter, feed, and water.
So, to prepare the property, farmers must inspect all barn and coop structures before the first freeze and make whatever repairs are necessary. This includes sealing structural cracks with caulk or expandable foam to block chilling drafts at ground level, clearing debris from gutters to prevent ice dams, and checking roofs for potential leaks.
Animals require extra calories to maintain their internal body temperatures when fighting off ambient cold, meaning owners must adjust nutritional rations before severe weather hits to prepare them for the potential weather to come. Additionally, water resources must be protected from freezing. Without a constant supply of water in winter, rapid dehydration and fatal digestive blockages can result.
Preparing your utilities by wrapping outdoor pipes with heat tape and installing automated de-icers or heated buckets will ensure they get the life-sustaining liquid throughout the frigid months. Finally, every housing area requires clean, dry bedding such as straw or wood shavings to insulate the animals from the frozen ground and help trap their body heat.
Now, let’ s look at some species-specific recommendations to consider.
Sheep & Goats
Sheep and goats are often grouped as small ruminants, but they have drastically different tolerances for winter weather.
Sheep possess dense, oily wool coats that naturally repel moisture and trap body heat, allowing them to happily graze outside even in minor storms. However, they still require proactive winter property preparation.
Landowners should inspect all winter pastures before the first freeze, clearing out toxic weeds and repairing low fence lines that could easily become buried by drifting snow. Make sure that they have access to clean, dry shelter because a completely waterlogged fleece can eventually chill a sheep to its skin.
Conversely, goats have thinner hair coats, less body fat, and a deep aversion to getting wet. As the Oregon State University Small Farms Program puts it, " most goats [ would ] prefer to stay dry than [ to ] eat."
Consequently, a three-sided run-in shelter that blocks
10 AcreageLife October 2026 AcreageLife. com