If the pond is small you could purchase a fish tank heater to keep the temperatures at least a slight bit warmer.
Goldfish do not hibernate, but do go into a kind of stasis. Can they survive, yes and they have for years. Is it the best for them? You have one dead on to say that is probably isn't ideal.
My goldies are in a greenhouse for the winter. Not everyone can do that, but most everyone can put a small greenhouse over their pond in winter. The solar gain in a greenhouse is substantial even when it's cloudy out.
I noticed driving down the road in a light fog the other day...the areas that were in the "shade" from trees didn't thaw as quickly as areas that were in the "sun" that I couldn't see
I am hoping I can greenhouse cover my big pond next year, and if I can do that all the goldies may get to join the koi for the winter
Goldfish do not hibernate, but do go into a kind of stasis. Can they survive, yes and they have for years. Is it the best for them? You have one dead on to say that is probably isn't ideal.
My goldies are in a greenhouse for the winter. Not everyone can do that, but most everyone can put a small greenhouse over their pond in winter. The solar gain in a greenhouse is substantial even when it's cloudy out.
I noticed driving down the road in a light fog the other day...the areas that were in the "shade" from trees didn't thaw as quickly as areas that were in the "sun" that I couldn't see

I am hoping I can greenhouse cover my big pond next year, and if I can do that all the goldies may get to join the koi for the winter