What do you all do for your geese to keep them warm for winter?

[Cottage Rose]

Make sure if you have any bully geese the more timid geese are getting enough food and water.
I had a customer lose 3 Sebastopols one winter because her African Geese dominated the food and water buckets
and the Sebastopols died a slow death of starvation and hypothermia.

 

[The goose girl]

I was so worried about my goose starving with all the snow we have here and temperatures below freezing both day and night. He is fed inside the house, and he usually knocks (plays with the cat flap) when he wants in.

Well, I put him on the scales today, and he weighs 18 1/2 pounds. Two months ago at the vet he was only 11 pounds. So now I've stopped worrying - he's obviously doing fine!

 

[Jenifer Kraus]

I think he sounds and looks very happy. I usually feed mine right before they go to bed so they have are full and it always makes me feel better especially if it is going to be very cold.

 

[pips&peeps]

When it gets extreme, my sebastopols go into the alley way of my big building during the night.

They were actually waiting for me to let them in a couple weeks ago when the weather turned one day...............

 

[Annschooks]

Geese are built for cold weather. They are happier when its cold than when its hot. Here in the UK, we've just been through a cold snap of temps -14 and today max temp -1 and the only thing my geese needed was grain as everything is frozen so not much vegetation to nibble on and the ice breaking on their water, though they can eat snow to get water.

My geese go into their shed at night just as protection against foxes, although it would be a very unwise fox to tackle a flock of geese it would wait to catch one on it own.

They would appreciate a little fresh veg or apples once in a while as a supplement to dried feed.

The one thing geese don't seem to like is strong cold winds, then they will seek shelter.

 

[WildWoodsWoman]

My 3 Embdens are doing just fine out there with a heat light over the feeder and a water source with a birdbath heater in it. The -20 temp for 2 mornings this last week didn't seem to concern them at all. During last weekend's blizzard conditions they escaped and went over swiming in the duck's heated tank @ 2AM. They splashed, bathed and preened like it was summertime, and then walked back to their own pen through 3' drifts and snow blowing sideways. They go in and out as they please and wind seems the only thing they don't like.

 

[milkweeds]

I live in the northern half of Idaho....we get some real frigid weather here. I have 6 Canada geese that I bought from Stromberg hatchery, they are about 8 months and full grown. I also have 2 Toulouse geese couples that are 2. I notice they get real upset with me and all gather around the gate near my back door when it starts to get dark out. No matter if its summer or winter...they want to go in their barn stalls. They don't find it comfortable to sit under the rain in the evening or the heavy snow, so I let them out at 8 am and bring them 1 hour before dusk. I find they are happier and more content not to be left in the winds of weather. You folks who leave your geese out all year, they must be some tuff birds...because mine just wont tolerate anything but their hay filled stalls at night......I give them warm drinking water from nov to march so it doesn't just freeze up on them before they get a good drink. I have a mulcher to mulch the nice green hay bales I buy so they can munch of the short pieces of grass in the winter...make sure you get timothy and clover if you get it. Mulch it good to small pieces...plus I give mine dry cob which is barley wheat and rolled corn mix plus flock raiser during the winter. And mallards, yes we got them too....if anyone wants to know how they get along feel free to email me.jean

 

[Miss Lydia]

Mine like their cozy goose house too snuggled into their deep shavings they rest better and I do to knowing they are safe and out of the weather.

 

[Ryan Wiemken]

Geese are waterfowl so as long as there is pond to swim in, they will probably be in it. I have seen ponds almost completely froze over and ducks and geese will go to the open areas and swim in it. Mine where offered housing all winter, they preferred to sleep outside though. Nothern Ohio so we get some cold weather