Broody goose question

[Finnie]

The first gosling is out!

This is the one whose egg was cracked by Agnes.

 

[Finnie]

Agnes lost one of her ducklings. No way to know how come. The other 5 are doing well and seem to be learning her signals on where to go and what to do. Fingers crossed that she is not trampling them and that she keeps them warm enough.

 

[Finnie]

All 5 of Agnes’ remaining ducklings are fine this morning. I think after 3 days penned up together, on Tuesday I will let her out to free range with them and see if she can handle that.
And, all 3 eggs in the incubator hatched!!
I’m not used to goslings, so I’m not sure if they are ok. They are wobblier than other hatchlings I’ve had. And 2 of the 3 look like their heads are smushed to the left. Their bills, left eyes and general head shapes are kind of skewed to the left. I kind of think it’s from being in the egg and they will straighten out in time. At least I hope so.

I put them in the same brooder as the 4 Khaki Campbells that I am not giving to Agnes. I’m thinking I might just sell them. After I’m sure they will be healthy.

 

[Miss Lydia]

Pictures?

 

[Finnie]

Pictures?

I think their heads have straightened out. And they are less wobbly now.
Agnes has had her 5 ducklings for 3 days now, so today I plan to do a test letting her free range with them. I’ll try to take pictures when I do that.

 

[Finnie]

More pictures.
Glam shots for Craigslist:

Agnes and her ducklings mingling with Gunther and Gisela:

Gunther has taken some pot shots at the ducklings, but Agnes warns him off. I think he’s figuring out to not bother them.

 

[Miss Lydia]

Aww they are precious! ❤

 

[Finnie]

At lockdown time tonight, Agnes had her family inside the chain link pen where the other two geese and my adult ducks live. The babies did well free ranging today, even in the heat. I decided that even though they can get through the chain link, I think I can trust them to stay inside with their mother. So I moved their food and water over from the coop they used to be in to this one This pen has plenty of food and water, but not easily accessible to tiny ducklings. Hopefully I will find them all safe and together with their mama in the morning.

 

[Finnie]

Oh, I forgot to mention, the duck egg that was abandoned by Agnes hatched this morning! He/she is on Craigslist too.