Being 42 miles east of Atlanta means we don't get extremely cold here.....often...
We get plenty of heat though!
This week, we're preparing for what is the coldest weather since 2018.
I had a herd of registered Meishans then and we survived that just fine.
What did I do?
3 things...
- Provide a dry area with no direct wind hitting them.
- Deep Bedding....think deep enough for your hogs to burrow into and cover themselves with it.
- Powerade.....y'all know it's my go-to! If your hogs, or any livestock, seem stressed from any of this, put some powerade in their water.
Watering Stock can be another challenge.
Here, we are shutting down our hog water system for 3-4 days. Our water lines just aren't deep enough or made for this type of cold.
That means hauling water to 6 pastures in 5 gallon buckets daily.
Pro Tip: We're filling all the wallows up before we shut off the water.
The hogs certainly don't need to lay in them. But, those wallows are a water reservoir for an extreme situation like this!
.....
Other than that....we'll be hunkering down just like the hogs and staying warm......Thank God for insulated coveralls!
.....
Pic Below: Obviously taken here in summer here.....but a great image for what the hogs need right now!
....
What are your tips & tricks for surviving weather like this? Do you live in an area where you keep your stock in barns over winter anyway?
