came home with a gosling today! give me a crash course!

[greytmommy]

we came home with a baby! it was a hatchery choice, but the guy thinks it is an African. he is really cuddly and friendly. very very loud when he cant see us. we only got one. we have a free range flock of chickens (about 15 ), and we thought a goose would help deter some preadors like hawks. plus, he was so cute!

so give me the crash course! what do i need to know? my husband isnplanning tonmake him an area next to the chicken coop (we assumed he wont fit in the chicken coop when full grown). any tips for his 'bedroom'? is he going to be crazy attached since we only have one? (he is asleep on my shoulder as i type this).

i will try to post pics soon so you can tell me what kind of breed you think he is. oh, and 'he' is straight run......so no idea if it is a she or a he.

thanks!

 

[The goose girl]

Goslings are adorable and so hard to resist.

As you mention, the first thing you should consider is getting one more gosling. Goslings crave constant company until they're 3-4 months old, and unless you're prepared to be with him 24-7 for that long, he'll be miserable when left to himself - even for the shortest period of time. And I assure you he won't be able to sleep on your shoulder in a couple of weeks - they grow really fast.

When he can't see you, he's loud. But that's his way of panicking and crying. Even at night, he'll call for you every so often and panic if you're not there. In nature, a gosling separated from his flock is bound to die, so their instinct is to find company or die trying.

Other than that, you'll need to feed him starter crumble (waterfowl or chicken) and later on grower feed. Grass, grit and clean, fresh water should always be available - water so deep he can dunk his head in it to rinse his bill and his eyes. Until he's about three weeks old, he needs to be kept warm (inside your house or under a lamp). Geese love bathing, but until he's fully feathered he needs to dry off completely after each bath. Depending on your climate, of course - if it's hot outside, he needs water and shade to be able to cool off.

I raised a lone gosling two years ago, and it is hard work. Even bathroom breaks have to fit the gosling's schedule - you can't just get up if it's eating, drinking, bathing, preening or sleeping. Which is what they do 95% of the time. It involves a lot of just sitting around, watching the gosling doing gosling stuff. If I hadn't been sick at the time, I would've gone bonkers. I don't think I'll ever want to do it again.

Two gosling will still seek your company, but they'll also be quite happy by themselves.

 

[CelticOaksFarm]

Goslings should be bought in 2's and 3's so they have their own kind to socialist with. Geese may or may not alarm when something makes them mad,or seems out of place. They WONT protect chickens from predators of any kind though.

 

[greytmommy]

good to know. i am a stay at home mom, but i do have to be parent taxi as well. i have some chicken diapers, can he wear those and foloow me around the house? i would rather not get another one if i can get away with it, b/c i dont want to be pushed for pen size, extra mess, ect.
would waddling around my house with us and the small dog as company suffice? what about when he grows up? will he still need a lot of attention?

 

[The goose girl]

You can easily get away with letting him run around after you, but unless you sit in the same place most of the day, he won't be a happy and thriving gosling.

Even Konrad Lorenz, the great ethologist, considered it a mistake when he raised his lone gosling, Martina. Although he took her everywhere, she was stressed out by being constantly disturbed. She never grew to full size and died after a few years. Which is very early for a goose - they easily reach 20-25 years, sometimes even 40 years.

 

[CelticOaksFarm]

If you are unprepared to keep two goslings itis best to not keep any goslings. You will need the same house for one as two, same pool, same yard ect. A small yapping dog in a house is not quality care. They need sun light, they need to be on grass and able to graze at will during daylight hours. A goose is oohing like a chicken when it comes to feed. The primary diet should be pasture/grazing with a small amount of feed offered.

Your children wouldn't enjoy being put in a room with no other children to play with, neither will a gosling enjoy being alone. You can not be 100% there 24/7 so do the gosling a favor and get a second or ask to bring the first back.

No the chicken diaper won't fit it, chickens and geese have completely different body structures.

 

[greytmommy]

You can easily get away with letting him run around after you, but unless you sit in the same place most of the day, he won't be a happy and thriving gosling.

Even Konrad Lorenz, the great ethologist, considered it a mistake when he raised his lone gosling, Martina. Although he took her everywhere, she was stressed out by being constantly disturbed. She never grew to full size and died after a few years. Which is very early for a goose - they easily reach 20-25 years, sometimes even 40 years.

Thank you for your information you have given me Goose Girl. We want the best for our little guy, so my husband is already on his way to get him a friend. What if we end up with 2 males? Will that create a problem later on? Any specifics that I need to know about building the outdoor pen? They will be free ranging most of the time.

To CelticFarm: I said "deter" not "protect". I did not appreciate your tone. I was just asking questions, trying to find out if there is a sutable surrogate for the goose. I had no plans to keep him inside as a pet. Of course I want to do what is best for my animals. I would "prefer" just one goose, but since that cant happen, we are off to get a second one. Normally I research things to death before I do it, but my husband has always said no to even my musings of a goose or duck. So I was suprised (and unprepared) when he suggested we bring one home today. I have been on BYF for a while now, and this is the first time where I felt attacked. I hope that was not your intention. If it was, I will be more than happy to start looking for support/information elsewhere.

 

[greytmommy]

here is what he looks like. Do you think he is an African? That is what the guy at the feed store said he thought he was:

 

[CelticOaksFarm]

That is deffinetly a utility African from a hatchery, we have a pair that live full time in our pasture. The vreed is known for being more vocal and aggressive than many others, thus the reason they stay in our pasture full time. They are good around the goats they live with, and tolerate the cull roosters we put out there. The gander, even though raised by us is very aggresive towards my husband, and he has to watch his backside with the gander in the pasture.

Two ganders growing up together should not give you any more trouble than one come next spring. I wouldn't introduce a goose to them, or they could fight and injure or kill one another.

No one attacked you, I just posted the facts on needed care and that a goose won't protect or even "deter" a predator. We have had hawks take our pasture roosters right out of the field with the African pair out there with them. You asked for a crash course on care.

 

[shober]

He is precious!! I want some, but can't have them!! Maybe someday!