Barn & Soul Podcast: Episode 34 - What Farm Animals Actually Need in a New England Cold Snap

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Bitter Cold Survival: What Farm Animals Actually Need in a New England Storm

What do farm animals actually need during a bitter New England cold snap?

After weeks of snow, ice, and forecasts hinting at more, this episode is a practical winter survival guide for animal care during extreme weather. We’re talking about what truly keeps animals safe in storms, what people often get wrong, and why winter care is less about gadgets and more about systems.

In this episode, we walk through the essentials of cold-weather animal care:

Why dry + wind protection + calories + unfrozen water matter more than heatThe real risks of heat lamps and why they can become dangerous in coops and barnsHow chickens, sheep, goats, and pigs actually handle cold temperaturesPractical winter strategies like deep bedding, ventilation, staging water, and storm preparationThe sustainable, low-tech “storm hacks” that make winter chores safer and more manageable

If you’re caring for animals during winter storms—or just curious about how farms operate when the world outside looks like a snow globe with consequences—this episode is for you.

Because winter animal care isn’t about perfection.
It’s about systems that work when conditions don’t.

Fast facts in this episode

Frostbite risk in poultry is driven by cold + moisture, not cold alone.Sheep and goats tolerate cold well but struggle with wet conditions and wind exposure.Fire safety organizations warn that heat lamps and heaters are major coop and barn fire risks.Extension guidance consistently emphasizes water access, dry bedding, wind protection, and monitoring as the foundations of cold-weather livestock care.

Resources & further reading

University of Maine Cooperative Extension & Maine Dept. of Agriculture — Cold weather livestock care guidanceUniversity of Minnesota Extension — Caring for chickens in cold weather (ventilation, moisture, frostbite)University of Maine Cooperative Extension — Winter Care of Laying Hens bulletinMichigan State University Extension — Preparing goats and sheep for winter weatherOhio State University Extension — Cold stress and shelter guidance for small ruminantsUSDA National Agroforestry Center — Windbreaks for livestock operationsNational Fire Protection Association — Chicken coop fire and electrical safetyPenn State Extension — Barn fire prevention resourcesNew Hampshire DOT — Salt brine anti-icing concept (for walkways and human safety)

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