Winterizing goose coop

[starrymutt]

It's been in the 30s here with rain lately and a heavy frost this morning, which made me think about winter. I have 5 geese, two are going through their first molt, and I'm probably mother henning them a little but their coop is made of pallets and plywood with a rubber roof.

There are three (four if you count the 'window' in the door) long cut outs on each side except the left wall for ventilation with hardwire cloth. They have pine shavings, hay and straw for bedding and the last couple nights I mixed cracked corn with their feed for some extra warmth.

I see where they nest and it's mainly in the corner away from the 'windows' so I'm worried maybe they're too cold but I'm also concerned if I close it (mainly the one facing the wind) there won't be enough ventilation. I also wouldn't want to board it up completely.

Tips?

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

Geese are very winter hardy. 30 degrees is not cold to a goose. Mine will sit out on the snow most of the winter. Definitely don't close them up too tightly. They will thicken their down. There's a reason we use it in our own products to stay warm. I make sure they bedding is thick, and the prevail winds are blocked. Also a heated bucket for water, and they are happy.

 

[DoodlesDuckies]

I have 2 geese with an insulated playhouse 4x6 approx area with windows and a door. I do have a lot of shavings in there for them and some of the windows lightly boarded up. Our coldest night so far is 25 deg but in a couple months we will be in the negatives for night temps. I do not keep food or water in their hut.

Nice place out of the wind I feel is best.

 

[Tweeza]

I have 2 geese with an insulated playhouse 4x6 approx area with windows and a door. I do have a lot of shavings in there for them and some of the windows lightly boarded up. Our coldest night so far is 25 deg but in a couple months we will be in the negatives for night temps. I do not keep food or water in their hut.

Nice place out of the wind I feel is best.

I've been researching geese in winter and you're reply is the closest I've come to getting my question answered.

I also live in a cold climate and was wondering how often a geese coop needs to be cleaned in winter? I'm planning on ordering some geese and just want all my questions answered before I dive in. I know they prefer to be outside even in the snow but they will need to be locked up at night. I'm planning on 2, 3 at most. Thanks for the help

 

[DoodlesDuckies]

I've been researching geese in winter and you're reply is the closest I've come to getting my question answered.

I also live in a cold climate and was wondering how often a geese coop needs to be cleaned in winter? I'm planning on ordering some geese and just want all my questions answered before I dive in. I know they prefer to be outside even in the snow but they will need to be locked up at night. I'm planning on 2, 3 at most. Thanks for the help

I ended up using a lot of straw all winter. We got to -30 deg some days this past winter. Warm, sunny days (15-20 deg) I cleaned it out and added fresh. I went a good month or two with just adding thin layers to keep them clean and dry. Some weeks in winter got rough. BUT I will say, they are easier than ducks. LOL! They were outside even on -30 deg days. I bought a couple heated dog bowls and they stayed thawed. I took advantage of "warm" days to clean and road out the very cold days by just adding straw along the way.

O and have fun when the gander matures in spring. My male chases me all over the place, bites me, hisses and is a monster right now. BUT I didn't raise him either so...we are figuring it out. He is lucky I love him.

Renee

 

[Tweeza]

I ended up using a lot of straw all winter. We got to -30 deg some days this past winter. Warm, sunny days (15-20 deg) I cleaned it out and added fresh. I went a good month or two with just adding thin layers to keep them clean and dry. Some weeks in winter got rough. BUT I will say, they are easier than ducks. LOL! They were outside even on -30 deg days. I bought a couple heated dog bowls and they stayed thawed. I took advantage of "warm" days to clean and road out the very cold days by just adding straw along the way.

O and have fun when the gander matures in spring. My male chases me all over the place, bites me, hisses and is a monster right now. BUT I didn't raise him either so...we are figuring it out. He is lucky I love him.

Renee

Thanks for getting back to me.

Just had another question pop up. I know they need to clean their nares/nostrils. When I had ducks I just gave them water in the mornings and evenings with their food. Will that be enough for geese? The ducks seemed fine with it or at least they made it a number of years that way. I didn't have an electrical source anywhere near their coop. They had a dog house and unfortunately I can't remember cleaning in the winter months. I must have but don't remember it. Thank you so much for answering my questions. I sure do appreciate it!

 

[DoodlesDuckies]

Thanks for getting back to me.

Just had another question pop up. I know they need to clean their nares/nostrils. When I had ducks I just gave them water in the mornings and evenings with their food. Will that be enough for geese? The ducks seemed fine with it or at least they made it a number of years that way. I didn't have an electrical source anywhere near their coop. They had a dog house and unfortunately I can't remember cleaning in the winter months. I must have but don't remember it. Thank you so much fo

answering my questions. I sure do appreciate it!

I run an extension cord probably 100 ft to a couple heated bowls. I clean/refill sometimes 2-3 times a day. I only put food/water out in the fenced area, I do not have food/water in their huts. In winter we have daylight from 630am (I have to go to work then and I let them out)-5pm when I get home from work they go in and have no water or food till morning. I stop home mid day if I can and check on water/food. They seem to do fine with the heated bowls and rubber tubs. Winter sucks period with our climates. It is a lot of breaking ice out of tubs and refilling. It is a vicious cycle in winter. Although with spring now it is more work cleaning and filling pools, spraying down rock ect...LOL!