Looks Like I'm Getting a Goose!

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Pyxis

Pyxis

Hatchi Wan Kenobi
13 Years
Mar 27, 2012
22,272
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My Coop
My Coop
A female roman tufted gosling, to be exact. I was ordering some chicks from Ideal, and I just gave in. I've been wanting geese for a while now and I decided to go ahead and try them out. I wanted a female, since I didn't want any bad tempered ganders around come mating season next year, since I like to keep all my poultry (chickens and ducks) together. The roosters protect the ducks, I get food they can all eat, and it's just easier. I didn't want to risk a hormonal gander killing any of my other birds, which I heard happens.

I picked roman tufted because they're comparatively small, and I've read that they have very sweet temperaments and are gentle. I hope that's true! She should be arriving the week of the 20th and I can't wait.

Anyway, I've raised ducks for years now so I understand messy, and my experience with jumbo pekins showed me just how fast little birds can grow, so I'm ready for that too. Is there anything I should do differently for her than I would ducklings, or is it pretty much the same? Any tips for keeping the mess to a minimum?
 
Pyxis said:
A female roman tufted gosling, to be exact. I was ordering some chicks from Ideal, and I just gave in. I've been wanting geese for a while now and I decided to go ahead and try them out. I wanted a female, since I didn't want any bad tempered ganders around come mating season next year, since I like to keep all my poultry (chickens and ducks) together. The roosters protect the ducks, I get food they can all eat, and it's just easier. I didn't want to risk a hormonal gander killing any of my other birds, which I heard happens.

I picked roman tufted because they're comparatively small, and I've read that they have very sweet temperaments and are gentle. I hope that's true! She should be arriving the week of the 20th and I can't wait.

Anyway, I've raised ducks for years now so I understand messy, and my experience with jumbo pekins showed me just how fast little birds can grow, so I'm ready for that too. Is there anything I should do differently for her than I would ducklings, or is it pretty much the same? Any tips for keeping the mess to a minimum?
Click to expand...
Geese really love to be with their own kind, I hope you'll consider 2 goslings instead of 1.
 
I have no problem adding another goose - in fact, I've been thinking I should since last night. Do you think I'll have aggression problems next spring if I add a gander? I'd love to be able to have goslings but if there's a chance a gander will harm my other birds I think I'd better just get another goose.
 
If you don't want to chance a gander, you can just get another girl and purchase fertile eggs. I have found that my ganders don't care much about the chickens or ducks until its their 2nd breeding season, and said chickens or ducks must be near the goose nest for them to care much about it.
I have lost a couple chickens that got caught in the goose house, but I have a large flock, and the chicken was really outnumbered.
 
Okay, I think I'll just order another one straight run and let fate decide, since I'm undecided :) Does anyone have any tips for keeping the mess in the brooder down? I expect they're at least as bad as ducks.
 
Pyxis said:
Okay, I think I'll just order another one straight run and let fate decide, since I'm undecided
smile.png
Does anyone have any tips for keeping the mess in the brooder down? I expect they're at least as bad as ducks.
Click to expand...

Give them the biggest brooder you can right off that cuts down on cleaning a little, and when giving water place it inside somekind of tray to catch excess water. lots of soft shavings and your set to go, oh and those butter bowl with lids where you can cut a hole just large enough for the gosling to put it's head into for cleaning and drinking are nice, then all you have to do is cut the hole larger as they grow so they can continue to be able to wash their heads. I bought a pack of 3 plastic bowls at the grocery store for around 2.50 then just cut the hole in the lid they worked great till they can be moved out side.

Don't you dare forget pics.
 
Thanks for the tips guys! Although I'm getting nervous - I keep reading these posts this time of year where people are talking about their aggressive ganders and how they chase people, etc. Maybe I'll change my order to two females? It's not that I'm afraid of getting chased by a gander (my aunt has some really horrible ones that are aggressive to people all year round so I'm used to that) - I don't want my other birds injured.


Miss Lydia said:
Give them the biggest brooder you can right off that cuts down on cleaning a little, and when giving water place it inside somekind of tray to catch excess water. lots of soft shavings and your set to go, oh and those butter bowl with lids where you can cut a hole just large enough for the gosling to put it's head into for cleaning and drinking are nice, then all you have to do is cut the hole larger as they grow so they can continue to be able to wash their heads. I bought a pack of 3 plastic bowls at the grocery store for around 2.50 then just cut the hole in the lid they worked great till they can be moved out side.


Don't you dare forget pics.
Click to expand...


I won't forget pics! Do you maybe have a picture of the water thing? I'm having a hard time picturing what you're talking about, sorry :oops:
 
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