Sebastopol Geese Thread !!!!!!!!!! SHOW YOUR PICS !!!!!!!!!!

[daze333]

Cochin, I haven't experienced those types of temps ever! Sorry I am no help. I would personally lock them inside the barn with plenty of bedding. Hopefully someone else will come along that has more experience with cold weather like that.

 

[cochins1088]

I'm worried about all my poultry. The only pen I'm able to get heat to is my juvenile pen. I don't normally use the 250 watt bulbs but I have to for the next few days and I worry about using them around bedding. I have it very secure and It won't fall in the wood shavings but I worry about a faulty bulb and it bursting. That would be a big problem. It's gonna make it down to 2 degrees here by morning and the highest is gonna be 6 then back down to 2 at night. But wednesday it's going back up to a more manageable temp. I have 1 sebbie and it's with a pilgrim goose. They have a thick bedding but I can't get heat to them either.

If it makes you feel any better, all of my poultry have done fine at those temperatures. It's the - 60 degree wind chill that worries me.

I moved the chickens into the garage for the next couple of days, but I didn't have enough room to add another pen for the geese and ducks. I wish I could simply put the two groups together, but my Sebastopol gander has something against chickens. I'm fairly certain that he would kill one if he had the chance.

 

[cochins1088]

Cochin, I haven't experienced those types of temps ever! Sorry I am no help. I would personally lock them inside the barn with plenty of bedding. Hopefully someone else will come along that has more experience with cold weather like that.

Thanks, that's exactly what I did. They're locked up with tons of fresh hay. All I can do is pray for the best.

It'd be different if I was home, but I'm currently in another state...

 

[daze333]

Thanks, that's exactly what I did. They're locked up with tons of fresh hay. All I can do is pray for the best.

It'd be different if I was home, but I'm currently in another state...

I think they should be fine with what you did. I think keeping the wind away from them and shelter and lots of bedding is about all you can do. Please let us know how they do.

 

[daze333]

I just found this on another thread: Ducks and geese are very cold hardy animals. They don't really have any body parts like chickens to freeze off. When it starts to get into double digit negatives then you should try and keep them locked up in a shelter. Just make sure they have to option of going inside if they want with lots of straw

 

[daze333]

And this from Vickey Thompson; I find that too many people put human needs on their animals and worry needlessly. Did you ever wonder how a little Chickadee can survive sub zero temps? Because they were created to be able to withstand the elements so lets not forget waterfowl have a very nice down jacket. As long as you provide your livestock with food, fresh water daily and shelter from the wind they will be just fine. And don't forget about circulation. If you have condensation forming inside your coops its not good and you do not need to use heat lamps for waterfowl. My birds shed windows are open year round...sometimes snow even blows in through them. My geese enjoy daily dips in ice water during the winter months. I know some people who keep their Sebastopols outside year round in cold mid west states and they survive just fine. Hope this helps to ease some fears.

 

[cochins1088]

Quote:

And this from Vickey Thompson; I find that too many people put human needs on their animals and worry needlessly. Did you ever wonder how a little Chickadee can survive sub zero temps? Because they were created to be able to withstand the elements so lets not forget waterfowl have a very nice down jacket. As long as you provide your livestock with food, fresh water daily and shelter from the wind they will be just fine. And don't forget about circulation. If you have condensation forming inside your coops its not good and you do not need to use heat lamps for waterfowl. My birds shed windows are open year round...sometimes snow even blows in through them. My geese enjoy daily dips in ice water during the winter months. I know some people who keep their Sebastopols outside year round in cold mid west states and they survive just fine. Hope this helps to ease some fears.

I had just read her comment in the Sebastopol geese facebook group before coming back on this thread. It definitely eases some of my worries.

My neighbor is going to check on them in the morning. I'll be sure to let you know how they do. Tonight is supposed to be the worst.

I'm praying for the best. They are my babies and I love them dearly.

 

[RURU]

I have feed my Sebastopol's well today with their feed and shell less nuts in the mixture. They have straw down and cedar chip on top of that. The temp is getting to -11 degrees tonight here in MO. Tomorrow will be the same. I have never been in this cold of weather it will be the coldest in 20 years!!!

It is hard for me to function out there due to being on dialysis but I do it for them to keep them in comfort. They can group together to keep warm with each other. Each of my pens are big dog kennels and we have tarps on top, back and both sides to keep the wind down. So I pray all will be well with the sebs tonight and tomorrow.
Plus I will not let them out to walk in the snow to help keep them from getting frostbite on their feet.....

 

[cochins1088]

I have feed my Sebastopol's well today with their feed and shell less nuts in the mixture. They have straw down and cedar chip on top of that. The temp is getting to -11 degrees tonight here in MO. Tomorrow will be the same. I have never been in this cold of weather it will be the coldest in 20 years!!!

It is hard for me to function out there due to being on dialysis but I do it for them to keep them in comfort. They can group together to keep warm with each other. Each of my pens are big dog kennels and we have tarps on top, back and both sides to keep the wind down. So I pray all will be well with the sebs tonight and tomorrow.
Plus I will not let them out to walk in the snow to help keep them from getting frostbite on their feet.....

Stay safe in this nasty weather.

My pens are also made up of dog kennel panels. On Saturday, I spent the entire day dismantling their outdoor set up so that I could put it inside the barn. It's currently 6 ft by 36 ft and has fresh hay 1 ft. deep.

It sounds like they'll be ok, but they're my babies so I won't stop worrying until I know they're safe.

 

[RURU]

Stay safe in this nasty weather.

My pens are also made up of dog kennel panels. On Saturday, I spent the entire day dismantling their outdoor set up so that I could put it inside the barn. It's currently 6 ft by 36 ft and has fresh hay 1 ft. deep.

It sounds like they'll be ok, but they're my babies so I won't stop worrying until I know they're safe.

You as well keep warm.

I too will worry about my geese because they will not be in a barn or shed........