I think I am going to clear a spot in the woods near the shed that is out of the wind and I can bed down when necessary in the winter.   This method worked well for my 3 bulls over the winter. Between them and me we made a little sheltered spot down in the woods. I put a bale of hay in the middle and spread some poor "ditch" hay for bedding and they have come through the winter remarkably well. Sort of their own sheltered bull man-cave. Next thing you know though is they will want a beer fridge and TV! ;-)

I think I will just scale that up for the cows for next winter and only allow access to the hay shed during the day, shut them out into the wooded, bedded clearing at night. This is a very sheltered heavily wooded low spot out of the N & W winds. In the background of pictures 3 & 4 above.

Maybe rotate the clearing location each winter to spread the manure and mulch in the woods.  They can come to the hay shed or Meyer wagon at chow time. Good exercise.

I may also look into doing something like those square hay feeders. Maybe use a flat panel across the ends or 3 panels between 8 ft posts and get the bales up on something like they do in those feeders...I already have the panels to try it. But I am really somewhat pleased at how things have gone with this winters setup. I think I mostly need to get the cows away from the shed at night...

Lots of potential projects.  I may also bale a few corn stalk bales to use for bedding the wooded clearing.  

Good to hear calving is going well and slowly may be better this year.

Jim