Preparing for the colder months

lauren123

Well-Known Member
Feb 3, 2007
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East Yorkshire
Well the temp has certainly dropped here! I am already preparing for the colder months including:
  • Ordering vet wrap in bulk (the theory being if i have them he wont have a abscess!)
  • Got some WD40 stocked up
  • Bought more headtorches
  • Shall be buying more gloves
  • Along with a gas stove and kettle
  • I will be sorting through my things and stocking up on more vet supplies.
I am already planning on doing my haynets in one day for the week. I can make up around 3 possibly 4 days worth of sugar beet.
I have changed my bins so the rats cant nibble their way through (steel bins!!)
I am also going to stock up on hot quick food for me and get the cheapest phone i can get. So i can have emergency numbers in :vets transport etx. As knowing my luck if i ever need a vet on a cold night my phone will die!!!
 
I’m planning away but I have a lot of stuff accumulated over the years so it’s not so bad. Also out YM and YO live on site and right next door so always someone to do horses if we can’t get down the roads.
 
I have 14 large bales of haylage coming.
Will be topping up the bedding supplies next month.
I have ordered my self some long sleeve t shirts as I seem to have none :oops:
I just 2 days ago want through my rugs and had clipper blades sent away to be sharpened.
Have sorted fencing in the bottom paddocks ready.
Dug my light out as started to need it early morning already.
New batteries in the head torches.
Feed and supplements ordered to come this week.
Sorted my winter clothes out and popped alot of summer stuff away.
New gas canisters for the stove at the field came and a new large flask to fill for going so I have some ready for any frozen pipes/hoses.
 
Just had my rugs collected for cleaning. They don't get done every year but after last year's neverending winter they were minging!

Bought a round hay feeder for the new field.

Um.... that's it so far!!
 
Saw a news article last night that said we are going to have sub zero temperatures by the end of October. But I looked at the long range forecast and it said September is going to be above average temperatures. So if October does drop to sub zero we are going to get a shock to our systems. So we all better prepare now.
I do wonder if these news articles are just a load of hype to make up a story. Guess we will find out in the next six weeks.
 
:eek: still 32 degrees here and no rain since june:( however have just organised our wood delivery for October- 8 square metres of oak to keep us cosy. As for cocaine she's still hoping for slight breeze to come along at some point soon!
 
I am pretty well prepared already, they have all the rugs they need and I gave the barn a autumn clean a few weeks ago, I'm not buying in loads of hay/haylage as my hay suppler said he has loads and the haylage people are holding enough to see me through the year. I am going to install a big water bucket in my winter muck heap once I can get to it, so hopefully there will be at least one water source that won't freeze :)
 
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I am pretty well prepared already, they have all the rugs they need and I gave the barn a autumn clean a few weeks ago, I'm not buying in loads of hay/haylage as my hay suppler said he has loads and the haylage people are holding enough to see me through the year. I am going to install a big water bucket in my winter muck heap once I can get to it, so hopefully there will be at least one water source that won't freeze :)
Jessey that’s a great idea re the muck heap, I also found last winter that if I packed straw under and all around Belles water bucket in the corner of her field shelter that stayed pretty much ice free too.
 
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I’m not making any special winter preparations, I’ve got a pallet load of bedding coming early October, hay is provided at the new place and their hay barn is full, Belle only wears a rug if it gets really bad and I’ve got plenty, feed, well again the amount she had is tiny and I’ve just bought a new bag so that will last all winter.
 
Jessey that’s a great idea re the muck heap, I also found last winter that if I packed straw under and all around Belles water bucket in the corner of her field shelter that stayed pretty much ice free too.
I've used straw in stables for years, so did it during the beast from the east in the shelter but it still froze solid so I'm hoping the heat generating muck heap will keep the ice off if it gets that cold again, or at least keep it thin enough that its possible to break it.
 
Definitely ferments in the summer after 24hrs. But on cold days I would make soaked beet last 2 days, occasionally 3.
I bought some speedi beet the other day as there is a shortage of the normal sugar beet nuts as the harvest hasn't started yet. I mixed some up the other day and then didn't use it. The next day it had gone off. I feed it to the cows instead. And even they weren't keen.
 
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