Can’t leave my Gosling girls

[Dinosaur Village Keeper]

My two girls are 2 weeks old today. They cry so loud when I leave them and they don’t stop. It’s actually more like screaming. I am able to leave them only if they are in their cage, which they have outgrown (2’x3’), and then only for 2-3 hours, IF I already sat with them, out playing, for at least an hour. While this is very cute, it is really draining me. They are finally able to go through the night without any fits, but I think that is because it’s pretty dark in the room with only a couple of night lights. Poor little things cried hysterically when I tried to make it pitch dark. Will their bond to me lessen when they are able to live outside? We are going on vacation for 4 days in June. I’m so worried about how they will handle this at only 8 weeks old. Also, is it normal for goslings to dislike being held? They want to sit beside me and be petted, but want nothing to do with being picked up. If I do anyways, when I finally put them down, they shake their tiny wings and tail feathers as if to shake my “cooties” off!

 

[Callender Girl]

Your babies are adorable, and I think they will outgrow their need to have you with them all the time.

My adult geese -- who were hand-raised by me -- are happy to come up to me, but picking them up is never really a good time for any of us. One will begrudgingly allow it; the other will try to extend her wings and beat me with them (okay, maybe she's just trying to escape, not actually harm me).

As far as the pitch darkness, whenever I've brooded in the house -- geese, ducks or chickens -- I've never left them in complete darkness. I have an outdoor "farm light" on my property, so even in their coops, the adults are never in total darkness. Again, yours might get used to it, but anything new can be unsettling to babies.

Good luck with your gosling girls; they are well worth the effort and stress of getting them all grown up!

 

[Artizen Farm]

Are they warm enough?

 

[Dinosaur Village Keeper]

I had their crate at 90 degrees the first week and they always seemed too hot. They were in a 78 degree room with me most of the day anyways. At 7 days old, I lowered the crate temp to 85, but when out of their crate, they always crowded by the crack in the bottom of the door where 70 degree temps blew in. I finally made a decision to take the heat lamp away and continue to maintain the room at 78-80. Based on their behaviors, this seemed to make them very comfortable. Now that they are 2 weeks old, I have lowered the room temp to 75-77. They still sit half on the colder linoleum and half on the blanket when out of the crate. These lower temps are contrary to what I have read, but I’m still going with what feels and looks right for my girls. So yes, I would say they are warm!

 

[Miss Lydia]

Waterfowl do not have to have brooder temps as high as other poultry. I have always started my waterfowl babies T 85 for the first week then lowered it by 5* each week there after. They tell us what is comfortable if we watch them. You’ve done a good job!