Glad you live in the real world Baxter, not only would your calves freeze to death in a matter of hours if born here without doing anything but you probably would too.. :roll:
Our "pole barn" is not closed ever and cows can come and go as they please (they as well as the calves have to go outside if they want to eat or drink), in fact they love to calve in it ..It is a given, even the most standoffish cow will go in it to calve. They have been "trained" from day one to want to go in it. The pole barn is aprox. 1500 square feet and has green house siding on the south side which makes it nice and bright with some heat coming through on a sunny day. And I put in new bedding all the time when needed. We have gates set up to enclose pens if necessary ,for what ever could occur, all around as well as electricity and lights. It is a one man/woman operation or there would be no way I could pull it off. It works well , the cows that are do to calve are moved into this area and sent out to the post area with their babies after a few days. We also purchased 2 more calf shelters 16x12x6 for more shelter for the babies, they get new bedding all the time and are easily moved. After the temps and wind chill last year I am taking no chances.
Like I said earlier the same as Angie, RR and Jeanne, get groceries in them asap and get their little baby bodies warm and dried off asap. Should be smooth sailing from then on with shelter and bedding..
Maybe it is the dairy background in me but I like having total control, and the key to this is management..