Page 1 of 2
bedding issues cold weather
Posted: Sat Jan 04, 2014 9:00 pm
by rickhise
is there measureable difference's between straw an cedar chips for extreme cold, not on the ground?
Re: bedding issues cold weather
Posted: Sat Jan 04, 2014 9:05 pm
by billpapas
I think straw helps hold body heat a bit more than chips.
Re: bedding issues cold weather
Posted: Sat Jan 04, 2014 9:15 pm
by rickhise
I think ill go ahead an get a bulb over her, we got some near zero sunday night
Re: bedding issues cold weather
Posted: Sat Jan 04, 2014 9:31 pm
by Panther Creek
billpapas wrote:I think straw helps hold body heat a bit more than chips.
I'm thinkin that too. Good new straw they can get down into.
Re: bedding issues cold weather
Posted: Sat Jan 04, 2014 11:02 pm
by rackhntr
The best bedding Ive found is pure orchard grass. Its soft and fluffy and really holds the heat. Cedar chips do little for heat and straw is just mostly like hollow sticks which don't hold much heat either. JMO
Re: bedding issues cold weather
Posted: Sat Jan 04, 2014 11:45 pm
by rabbitearl
I would love to ask this. When the two weeks are coming up on the pups. Will the bright light of the bulb hurt the eyes on the new born pups?
Re: bedding issues cold weather
Posted: Sun Jan 05, 2014 1:59 am
by Hwy 30 kennels
I got the heated bulbs in my dog houses with straw and the heated water buckets for them too still thank ill keep a lot closer eye on them when it gets down near 0!!! If I see their getting to Cooled ill just bring them in the house till wormer weather.. It can't stay in the lower digits for ever!
Re: bedding issues cold weather
Posted: Sun Jan 05, 2014 6:11 pm
by rabbitatfarm
If they have a good, insulated house with straw I think having plenty of food and water is as important if not more so. Animals will stay hunkered down to keep warm rather than expending energy looking for food during cold spells.
Re: bedding issues cold weather
Posted: Sun Jan 05, 2014 6:15 pm
by mybeagles
I use the Lectro heat pad....just put little cedar chips to make dogs smell good. Even my puppies doing very well.
Straw is much warmer than cedar....just need to change straw out weekly because of the moisture that builds up. If dogs get damp they will freeze
Re: bedding issues cold weather
Posted: Sun Jan 05, 2014 6:22 pm
by Osborne's Beagles
I prefer straw in the winter and cedar chips in the summer. Be sure to change the straw during the winter often to keep moisture out of the box.
Re: bedding issues cold weather
Posted: Sun Jan 05, 2014 7:12 pm
by Newt
rabbitearl wrote:I would love to ask this. When the two weeks are coming up on the pups. Will the bright light of the bulb hurt the eyes on the new born pups?
I don't believe incandescent light will harm any animals eyes. The Sun doesn't bother them when they peek out at about three weeks.
Re: bedding issues cold weather
Posted: Sun Jan 05, 2014 7:56 pm
by Farm dog
Funny how we worry about dogs keeping warm. I've been to WI when it was -25, came outside the next morning and the dogs were sitting outside the box just hanging out.
Re: bedding issues cold weather
Posted: Sun Jan 05, 2014 9:45 pm
by Mhouse
I agree. Dogs hang out outside of the box, so they must not be to cold. Dry straw in a solid box and plenty of food and water and they are fine!! Wild animals don't have anything close to that and they live in the wild. I think it is also depending on how many cold days in a row. The more days the harder on them than if it's just a night or two. JMO
Re: bedding issues cold weather
Posted: Mon Jan 06, 2014 11:21 am
by BEAGLEBLUES
rabbitatfarm wrote:If they have a good, insulated house with straw I think having plenty of food and water is as important if not more so. Animals will stay hunkered down to keep warm rather than expending energy looking for food during cold spells.
Re: bedding issues cold weather
Posted: Mon Jan 06, 2014 12:36 pm
by east80kennels
straw is the best bedding, but if your dogs dont have water to drink it does not matter how much bedding u have they will die without water. the water keeps em warm, in the cold winter days.