Too cold for my goslings still????????

[missionsix]

It is still getting around freezing here in Central Oregon, but, things are starting to look better. It is my understanding that waterfowl can tolerate colder temperatures and sooner?????? I also came across some reading that suggested toulouse geese are very tolerable of colder temperatures. They are roughly 5 weeks. Here are some pics of them and their temporary run. Temporary because I probably won't keep them in there at night when they get stronger/older(OK idea?).
They haven't used the dogloo yet. Will they?

I have become pretty attached and care for their wellbeing. Thank you kindly for your help

........
Casey

 

[missionsix]

Looks like the low will be 33 tonight.

 

[crazy cat lady]

Wish I could help you. I too am going to be a first time goose raiser. I will be getting 5 goslings (toulouse) 4 females and a male. Would like to know the answer myself.

 

[Bec]

If it were me, I would keep them in. I don;t know how well they tolerate the cold, but I would rather know they were fine rather than wonder all night and possibly have them spend a chilly night outside.


I miss having goslings! I love that stage!

 

[shelleyd2008]

They would probably be fine, but if you want you could keep them inside somewhere, like a garage or something. They don't need to be in the house where it is warm, but I don't know how well they would take the cold. Anyway to put a light of some sort in their dogloo? I put my 4 week old ducklings outside when it was still getting into the 30's and 40's (sometimes lower) at night with a 100w light bulb in their 'house'. They were just fine, and exploded with feathers almost overnight! A friend of mine has her goslings that she hatches outside right now, after about a week or two. All she does is cover their pen to keep any drafts out. They have no light at all. It is still getting into the 40's most nights, sometimes colder.

I would recommend getting your goslings used to going into their run every night, even when they are bigger, just to keep them safe.

 

[Luvducks]

Just Beautiful!

 

[missionsix]

Well, they have miraculously taken to the dogloo. They have been using this run during the daylight hours for the last couple of weeks. Even on a couple of nasty/cold days. They never used the doghouse. They have been in it for the last hour or so. I still haven't decided if they will stay out tonight or not. My gut is telling me they will be just fine. They will definitely be out of wind/weather if they use the dog house. I also attached a rug door to keep the breeze out. I don't have a garage to keep them in and I don't want to give them a light. I'm in need of their space inside to move my (growing quickly) mallards into.

 

[shelleyd2008]

Quote:
Just leave them out there and check on them all night long like the rest of us do. They'll probably be fine! If you have a feed sack or something to cover the door, that would make sure they don't get any drafts, but the should be all right either way. I had my ducks right outside my bedroom window, and went running out there everytime I heard the slightest peep! Of course my checking bothered them more than being outside did.

 

[missionsix]

Quote:
lol!!!!! I have been out there a couple of times already. Admittedly once using the "red light" function on my headlamp. The doghouse does have a door I made for it out of a throw rug. My wife is also a bit concerned. I think I'm going for it. With a couple/few more flashlight checks from the front porch.

 

[missionsix]

All is well for their first night sleeping outside. I checked on them a couple of time throughout the night. They stayed in the doghouse.