NEWS you can USE
Members with Animal Projects…
Winter is coming!!! Actually, it’s here!! Now is the time to prepare…making sure your hay/feed/straw/bedding for the winter is in the barn, make sure salt blocks, vitamins, and any other supplements are ready to go…and for you horse people, hopefully you already cleaned and repaired your blankets last Spring…but if not…Just Do It…your horse will Thank You! The weathermen have been talking about this being a La Nina year…which means it will be a cold, wet winter…so don’ t wait until it sets in to get ready…do it now!
Prepare your stalls/shelter/run areas, by making sure gates/doors are able to latch securely, nails/screws aren’t protruding from walls to catch skin or eyes as the animals rub and scratch spots, knock down any cobwebs before the dust causes coughing to you or your critters and most important…make sure your water supply lines and containers are prepared for freezing temperatures! It may be cold, but all animals need to AND will drink a substantial amount of water, even when it’s cold out! And don’t forget…even in winter…water buckets and troughs still get gross…so make sure you clean them and remember, if you wouldn’t drink out of it , don’t expect your animals to do so either…this goes for
ALL animals, large and small, indoors or out!
Don’t forget either that fresh air is good for your animals…if they’re in a barn all day and you can’t or don’t turn them out to pasture, try to leave doors/windows open for circulation. And if possible, even if just for a little bit while you’re mucking the barn, don’t be afraid to turn them out to run a bit if they’ve been cooped up, as they not only need circulation in their bodies to stay warm, but it will also help alleviate issues with standing in a confined space…and it will help their demeanor when you do work with them! Just think about how we feel when we’re cooped up in the house for long periods of times…we can get grumpy, restless and ― cabin fever!
And remember to check and clean your animals feet when they do come in from being out…get the mud hosed off their hoofs and legs if possible, (but if you’re not able to hose them, once it dries, brush off the dirt), remove rocks out of crevices and check for any issues that can cause pain or infections, and feel for swelling/heat issues in the legs, which could be the first sign of something happening that you need to address! And remember…if you can’t do it by

yourself, due to the size of the animal or you’re not quite comfort able doing it…please ask an adult or another youth to help you out…and not necessarily to do it for you, but just to be there with you and help guide you on the proper method of doing it! We all had to learn how this is done, so don’ t be afraid to ask someone for help to learn a safe, correct method of doing it …you’ll be happy and so will your critter!
Borrowed from The Clatsop Courier, Nov/Dec 2011