Project Deep Dive
Keeping your animals cool is very important on those hot summer days. Ways to keep your animals cool throughout the day are making sure they ALWAYS have fresh cold water, keeping fans on them, or hosing them off during the day. For small animals like rabbits or guinea pigs, freezing a water bottle and putting it on their side can help keep them comfortable. For chickens, providing a dust bath and ensuring there is shade for them will help keep your flock nice and cool. Larger livestock like goats, sheep, pigs, cattle, and horses take a little more attention. Goats and sheep need fresh cold water, shade, and even sometimes a fan. If they become overheated, hosing them down in their flank will cool them instantly. You should also think about getting your sheep sheared to take off that extra layer of heat. Pigs are incapable of sweating; this means they can become overheated very quickly. Providing them with mud, a kiddie pool, or a mister will help keep them relaxed on those hot days. Cattle and horses love to be hosed off on hot days, however you need to brush the water off of them or else it can sit on their hide and become hot. Overall, ensuring your animals are cool and comfortable will help you succeed at fair! For more information check out this website: https://extension.oregonstate.edu/animals-livestock/beef/tips-livestock-care-high-temperatures
