Breeders Questions: Ways to TAG waterfowl

[texascowboy1979]

Ok, I would like to see what you all suggest for keeping track of which is a male and which is a female goose. I called the hatchery and they recommened I cut off the Dew Claw on the Right foot of the male.

how is this done? The geese are only like 3 days old, so if I decide to do it, it has to be NOW so that its easer to heal. ONce they grow up... I wont know whos who until someone lays an egg. the reason for having them identifyable is in the even one gets killed, Ill know if I lost my male or female... Helps solve the problem in knowing which one to buy to replace...

Again.. Dont hate me. Im asking for advice and help. Thanks

 

[Baymule]

I don't have geese, but that makes sense to me. If done properly, It should heal right up.

 

[texascowboy1979]

I looking on line and the only thing I can come up with is using nail clippers, and then clean and disinfect the cut. Put a drop of liquid bandaide...

 

[Shiloh Acres]

Can't you band them with different color bands ... That way if one comes off, you'll still know what both are and can replace the missing band.

 

[The goose girl]

As I read your post, you only have two goslings - one pair? If that is correct, you could just put a bird ring/band on the leg of one of them. Once they're grown, you can easily tell the difference between them in size, shape and behaviour.

Cutting off the claw seems like an unnecessary risk - it could get infected. And oh, it must really hurt the gosling. I realize you're just asking, but I really think it's cruel. I sit here looking at my own toes, imagining someone cutting off the nail part of one of them. I'm sure I would survive, but OUCH!

It's probably no worse than pinioning, but that is actually considered animal cruelty in my country and it is illegal.

 

[texascowboy1979]

Quote:
Nope.. I have 2 Large Dewlap Toulose Pairs goslings...

and I have one 1 year old female Large Dewlap Toulose.

I also have 1.2 Buff Toulose, who will be sold to my handy man as he wants to raise Toulose too. The male Buff Toulouse is actually Pinioned, he was pinioned out of an accident he had and we had to pinion his wing... I was supprised that the goose we pinioned turned out to be the male, so Now its really easy to see which is the male and which is the female.

As far as telling them apart... I cant... All my Toulouse look the same, same body, same frame, same personallity. Its only during mateings that we can tell them apart.

 

[DuckLover179]

I don't have Geese, so I don't know if this idea works for them too, but with ducks we get colored zip ties, and ties them on their legs to tell them apart... Just an idea

 

[3dogs]

Some people use something called a toe punch, I think. You use it to make a hole in the webbing of one or both feet for identification purposes. Making V shaped cuts in the webbing is another way. The first goslings I bought had these types if ID, but the areas closed up so were useless. Apparently it works for some folks. If you use some type of banding method, watch that their legs don't get too big for them before you can switch to a larger size.

I must be lucky. The toulouse goslings I bought last year each has something slightly different making it fairly easy to tell them apart. Sometimes I have to look closely, but telling the males and females apart is no problem.

 

[texascowboy1979]

Quote:
Wow.. toe punch... that seems worse than the clipping of the dew claw. Ill look into other identification mark

 

[chickensducks&agoose]

I don't think that cutting the geese is the answer. If you come into contact with them pretty often, how about a few drops of food coloring on the boys... like Blue. on their backs... or wherever is palest? i agree with the colored zip tie idea too.