2018 Hatchalong

[Serb]

Got 3 more goslings developing a dewlap already! This years goslings are interesting. Shows that the parents of these goslings have the proper dewlap gene.
My muscovy is now bonding with the goslings so at least he has buddies now.

 

[Serb]

So had an unfortunate site this morning to 2 dead goslings and my muscovy :/

3 of my other goslings are injured on the head and one has a broken wing tip.

It really baffled me since i didn't hear anything last night. The dead scovys breast is eaten away no head or neck damage. The 2 goslings have no external injurys but one had a blood coming out of the nose.

A fox would've killed all the babies and bit the head off and would've taken the bodies with him.

A mink/stoat would've gone for the head and neck but there's no visible injuries.

We don't have big enough hawk or owls. They would only kill one and would show visable injuries.

No feathers around the place either only a few near the bodies.

I'm thinking it's my 6 month old German shepherd. She always had a thing with the scovy but not the goslings. I let her out all night last night with my dog who guards the property. There are single tooth marks on the goslings head also a pred would rip skin and take at least one body. All bodies are there and there's no marks on the dead goslings. A dogs bite can injure a gosling without breaking the skin since they don't have sharp teeth unlike the predators!

She got my duck I'd say and got confused with the goslings as it was dark. She never has interest in any of my animals and allows the baby turkeys jump and sleep on her and the goslings chase her too. She only was interested in the scovy but never chased it and always sniffed it and walked away.

A predator would rip a bit of skin and make them bleed. All the attacked goslings had blood coming from their ears and some from the nose and only the heads are effected except the some feathers removed from the top wing area and the gosling with the broken wing tip. And have large tooth marks on the head. I'm guessing my got playful and bit the heads explaining the blood ears and nose and the holes on the heads.

Any suggestions? 98% of me says it was my dog.

 

[Sarkchick]

Got 3 more goslings developing a dewlap already! This years goslings are interesting. Shows that the parents of these goslings have the proper dewlap gene.
My muscovy is now bonding with the goslings so at least he has buddies now.

I would love to see pictures of your babies. When you have time, of cour

So had an unfortunate site this morning to 2 dead goslings and my muscovy :/

3 of my other goslings are injured on the head and one has a broken wing tip.

It really baffled me since i didn't hear anything last night. The dead scovys breast is eaten away no head or neck damage. The 2 goslings have no external injurys but one had a blood coming out of the nose.

A fox would've killed all the babies and bit the head off and would've taken the bodies with him.

A mink/stoat would've gone for the head and neck but there's no visible injuries.

We don't have big enough hawk or owls. They would only kill one and would show visable injuries.

No feathers around the place either only a few near the bodies.

I'm thinking it's my 6 month old German shepherd. She always had a thing with the scovy but not the goslings. I let her out all night last night with my dog who guards the property. There are single tooth marks on the goslings head also a pred would rip skin and take at least one body. All bodies are there and there's no marks on the dead goslings. A dogs bite can injure a gosling without breaking the skin since they don't have sharp teeth unlike the predators!

She got my duck I'd say and got confused with the goslings as it was dark. She never has interest in any of my animals and allows the baby turkeys jump and sleep on her and the goslings chase her too. She only was interested in the scovy but never chased it and always sniffed it and walked away.

A predator would rip a bit of skin and make them bleed. All the attacked goslings had blood coming from their ears and some from the nose and only the heads are effected except the some feathers removed from the top wing area and the gosling with the broken wing tip. And have large tooth marks on the head. I'm guessing my got playful and bit the heads explaining the blood ears and nose and the holes on the heads.

Any suggestions? 98% of me says it was my dog.

OH my gosh. That is horrible. I'm so sorry. But it does sound like a domestic animal attack to me. Mostly just playing to rough. I had a 2 year old kill 7 Muscovies years ago in Texas. She had been raised with them. So unknown reason. They were just dead all over the drive when we got home. Only reason we know it was the dog....she had feathers in her dog house and there is no way she would let another dog on her property

So very sad for you

 

[Ruralhideaway]

So had an unfortunate site this morning to 2 dead goslings and my muscovy :/

3 of my other goslings are injured on the head and one has a broken wing tip.

It really baffled me since i didn't hear anything last night. The dead scovys breast is eaten away no head or neck damage. The 2 goslings have no external injurys but one had a blood coming out of the nose.

A fox would've killed all the babies and bit the head off and would've taken the bodies with him.

A mink/stoat would've gone for the head and neck but there's no visible injuries.

We don't have big enough hawk or owls. They would only kill one and would show visable injuries.

No feathers around the place either only a few near the bodies.

I'm thinking it's my 6 month old German shepherd. She always had a thing with the scovy but not the goslings. I let her out all night last night with my dog who guards the property. There are single tooth marks on the goslings head also a pred would rip skin and take at least one body. All bodies are there and there's no marks on the dead goslings. A dogs bite can injure a gosling without breaking the skin since they don't have sharp teeth unlike the predators!

She got my duck I'd say and got confused with the goslings as it was dark. She never has interest in any of my animals and allows the baby turkeys jump and sleep on her and the goslings chase her too. She only was interested in the scovy but never chased it and always sniffed it and walked away.

A predator would rip a bit of skin and make them bleed. All the attacked goslings had blood coming from their ears and some from the nose and only the heads are effected except the some feathers removed from the top wing area and the gosling with the broken wing tip. And have large tooth marks on the head. I'm guessing my got playful and bit the heads explaining the blood ears and nose and the holes on the heads.

Any suggestions? 98% of me says it was my dog.

I'm so sorry, this is sad. I tend to agree, seems like a dog playing rather than true predation.

 

[Iain Utah]

What a bummer, Serv.

Since you do not have raccoons, my best guess is domestic dog. Surprised there was no evidence on your dog, though. Better keep the pup supervised until he can be trusted.

 

[Iain Utah]

Well, in other sad news... both of my eggs quit just prior to pipping. Our local power company was acquired and new company doing all sorts of repairs. As a result power is out a lot, so unable to maintain steady temps in bator. I'm guessing this is the problem. Only have a few left in bator that have also suffered fluctuating temps, so looking less likely I'll hatch any goslings this year. But then again, I did hatch a buff dewlap on Christmas Day two years ago, so you never know. Of course, there's always next year.

 

[Ruralhideaway]

Well, in other sad news... both of my eggs quit just prior to pipping. Our local power company was acquired and new company doing all sorts of repairs. As a result power is out a lot, so unable to maintain steady temps in bator. I'm guessing this is the problem. Only have a few left in bator that have also suffered fluctuating temps, so looking less likely I'll hatch any goslings this year. But then again, I did hatch a buff dewlap on Christmas Day two years ago, so you never know. Of course, there's always next year.

Rotten timing from the new power company. Sorry

 

[Sarkchick]

So sorry Iain. It's so hard when they wait that long to quite. It gives us so much hope that we will have babies soon.
Christmas hatch sounds good

 

[Iain Utah]

I finally have a pair of eggs in lockdown getting ready to externally pip.

 

[ronott1]

I hope they hatch!