12/23/2022
Quick easy tips for our farm and equine friends as we approach a very cold snap that could be a record breaker that were common practice back in Ohio. Stay safe and warm everyone!!
- Unhook and drain hoses from all hydrants and spigots
- Put a bucket over your frost free hydrant to prevent it from having surface ice that won't allow you to turn it on
- Blankets are personal choice, make sure your horses have plenty of quality hay, open water and a wind block. Horses generate heat by eating!
- Add a little bit of table salt or pink Himalayan salt to your horses feed to encourage drinking. Hydration is key and essential to keeping their body temperature regulated
- Deep bedding below and fluffy bedding on top for your smaller animals such as goats, pigs, and other farm pets. The layer on the bottom is key! Straw insulated better than hay.
- Fill buckets, jugs, or your tub with water Incase of a power outage or water main break. HYDRATION!!
- Drastic changes to your horses environment and feed increase the chance of colic. If you don't normally confine your equine friends it's safer to allow them what they are used to and give them what they need to regulate their body and heat. If your adding additional hay you can soak beet pulp to help with hydration of the guy to help prevent colic.
Stay safe everyone! Merry Christmas 🎁⛄