Need help preparing for winter!! Please!

[fowlmama98]

Hello All,
I'm a newbie to having geese. I have acquired one through a class project for my homeschooled children. We were given a couple of goose eggs from a lady but she wasn't sure of the breeds, as she own several kind. Anyway only one hatched and now I have fallen in love w my little "girl." Not sure if it is a girl or boy but I call her a "her" instead of "it." So my girl loves to go outside and come inside. She loves to sleep next to me and squawks loudly at the door to come in at night. I have no problem with her being in the house as long as she stays outside enough to graze and be healthy. HOWEVER, come winter can she handle going outside with the frozen ice and cold temps we get here? Will it make her sick going from warm house to cold outside? She doesn't like the barn and viciously picks on the chickens so I can't house her there. Also, will I need to increase her diet come winter with her grass being gone? She gets some goose/duck pellets and cracked corn 2x's a day. Sorry for this long post but I want to make sure I take proper care of my "girl." Thank you in advance.

 

[ralph a]

The feed is just fine. As for going in and out side treat her as you would a dog.Out side for awhile in for awhile.Some time my geese stay out all day in winter and in the barn at night. With up to 20 degrees warmer in the horse barn.They do just fine here. But if its down to 0 F. I leave them in.

 

[Miss Lydia]

Just keep this in mind a goose on it's own with out a group or gaggle of geese is a sitting target for predators so I hope you keep her inside a well fenced in area when she is outside. She may not really want to go outside because there won't be anything growing to eat come winter unless you live in the far south.But a nice walk for exercise would be nice with you along. Always make sure to bring her in way before dark preds begin moving at dusk. I'd keep out feed for her during daylight hrs come winter so she can eat as she needs too. with plenty of fresh water for drinking and washing her face.

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