Geese swimming in frozen slush?

Rumple Slunkskin

In the Brooder
Dec 22, 2022
3
19
29
I'm new to geese, got a pair of goslings (a Toulouse and a buff) with my chicks in April. We're in eastern Missouri and it can get cold but today it's supposed to have -35 wind chills and is snowing pretty good. So far they've been enjoying winter but it hasn't been this bad. They have a shelter they don't really use, I set up a heat lamp just in case...
I went out a little bit ago and they sat on their pool until it melted and are dipping and flapping in the slush. They seem fine and are running around doing goose stuff but they do have some ice on the feathers now. Should I be worried or is this just normal goose winter behavior? I assume if they get cold they go in the shelter but it's hard to tell with them sometimes.
 
Well I figured this one out already, if anyone else wonders... It's too cold for all that. They were shivering in the snow and had some frozen feathers when I went back out and seemed just slightly lethargic. They weren't even sassy when I picked them up. No frostbite or anything, but they were only out a short time thankfully. They are now cozy with a heat lamp, although not too thrilled being shut in.
 
Well I figured this one out already, if anyone else wonders... It's too cold for all that. They were shivering in the snow and had some frozen feathers when I went back out and seemed just slightly lethargic. They weren't even sassy when I picked them up. No frostbite or anything, but they were only out a short time thankfully. They are now cozy with a heat lamp, although not too thrilled being shut in.
Sounds like they were hypothermic.
they’re still technically peabrained babies, mine took until they were 2 to figure out not to take a bath when it’s freezing out, even as adults they can be a little daft like that so I have to make sure they don’t bathe unless I know they can get dry before bedtime or of I know it’s going to be below freezing. 😑 little stinkers are like toddlers sometimes.
 

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