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make-em-squeel
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« on: February 12, 2021, 10:11:42 am » |
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So probably a stupid ??, but, in the part of Tx I live in we have never in my life had 1* weather with a -10* wind chill, for a few days like were about to this weekend into next week. Usually our winter will get in the teens maybe single digits but warms up in the day to the 20's or 30's. So are cur dogs ok in 18 weather with nothing but a blue drum stuffed with straw facing east out of the bad wind? I hope so, bc not sure what else I can do.
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t-dog
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« Reply #1 on: February 12, 2021, 11:09:45 am » |
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I will tell you a couple things I’ve done. One I used sheet metal or plywood to make a wind block for the dog house. I drive in Tposts and fixed it to them. The other thing is I soak my feed in boiling water. Last night I put 2 cups of powdered goats milk on it then poured the hot water on it and soaked it. As soon as it was cool enough that they could eat it I fed. They tend not to drink as much in the cold because of their water being colder. The soaked feed helps with hydration and the warm food of course helps too. I also fed after dark but I almost always do that. The reason being is I think it lasts them a little longer through the colder part of the night and early morning. During the heat it’s cooler at that time so they seem to eat better. I let all my dogs run together after I feed so they huddle up and stay warm too. I know everyone isn’t able to do that but maybe you have dogs in pens that you can pair up.
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t-dog
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« Reply #2 on: February 12, 2021, 11:53:03 am » |
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 One more option lol Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk |
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The Old Man
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« Reply #3 on: February 12, 2021, 12:33:39 pm » |
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I've shown pictures of the barrel houses we use and we bed them with straw or straw and shavings they do fine for staying warm. Keeping them water is another issue, when it is this cold for several days and the water is freezing solid we get a half bucket of dogfood and cover it with hot water and let it soak 2-3 hrs then go back and stir more hot water in it until it is a slurry then feed. I use the same dipper that I do for dry feed to each dog but give 2-2 1/2 times as much as the dog food is swollen to about twice it normal size with water and some of the slurry is water volume this will get them hydrated quite well, (it's the only time in the year they eat until their belly is visibly full) I have fed dogs this way in cold weather as long as 2 weeks and they would not take a drink of water if offered them in that time.
I don't feel like they get enough water by just giving them water to drink as they won't drink enough before it freezes too hard for them to use, especially if you are feeding them dry food.
Has worked for me for many years when it is bad cold.
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Northstar
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« Reply #5 on: February 13, 2021, 02:43:56 pm » |
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Keep in mind they burn a lot more calories keeping warm too. Free feed them if you normally don’t. Give them soaked food with table scraps mixed in if you can right before sun down. If you see drastic dips crate them and bring the ones you can’t lose in at night.
Pack the barrels full of straw so they have to dig out some to get in.
Old rugs hung over the holes or wind breaks too.
I think you will be okay.
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GOODEN
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« Reply #6 on: February 15, 2021, 08:40:41 pm » |
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Got my fingers ours will be ok. Got their houses full of hay and shavings. Also have a tarp and plywood blocking wind on few of em plus a moving blanket blocking wind off another. Got heat lamp on our 7 weeks old pups. Gonna get up first thing in the morn and feed em some warm food. If I had me a shop I’d have em all in it tonight.
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Lake Haven Kennels
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make-em-squeel
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« Reply #7 on: February 18, 2021, 01:02:43 pm » |
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One thing that really helped was feeding them in hot water, I was able to mix some chicken broth and salt into flavor it fill it up with hot water and they ate all quick. Then I didnt have to bust up ice twice a day, just gave them hot water at night after feeding in the watered down food in morning. Much less hassle, since my cd is potty trained etc I just kenneled him inside which I will continue to do until the snow melts and gets muddy then was able to let all 3 of my curs loose to sleep together. Have to feed separate which is why i did in the morning, then turn loose in evening give hot water and they would run around and pile in together all in the same dog house like sardines lol. Im sure they would have been ok by themselves but since my 3 curs are friendly with each other I figured body heat would help...
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The Old Man
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« Reply #8 on: February 19, 2021, 04:56:58 pm » |
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All of ours weathered it just fine, didn't do anything special except feed wet slurry twice a day, Lisa offered several of them a drink of water today and didn't have any takers.
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t-dog
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« Reply #9 on: February 19, 2021, 05:51:41 pm » |
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Glad to hear it old man. Today has been a turning point here. It’s really melted off fast today.
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