First I have to talk about my hens - I was losing quite a lot of feed due to rooks and magpies taking it, so I bought a treadle feeder. After the hens got used to the "clang" they happily ate from it, and I saved so much food, it was so good.
Now, about 6 weeks ago, I was given 2 adult Embden's with their 3 goslings as the farmer owner was worried about their 2 daughters (1 year and 2 years old) straying and getting attacked by the "on guard" gander. So now I have them and they are grand - I have had no problems with Mr, as long as you respect their signals all is fine and I even think they are beginning to trust me a little, as they now come running if I call them when putting fresh salad and apples into their water bucket, they come to about 2 feet from me without hissing!
BUT - now the pesky critters have worked out how the treadle feeder works! I was under the impression that the geese would graze away, and I have about 3 acres of natural land surrounded by about 70 acres of private forest which then impedes into the wild forest and mountains, so I have plenty of good and wild grasses. But they also take from the treadle feeder, and now, instead of saving food (from the magpie's and rooks) I am using twice as much!!
I guess they need to eat it, and at €10 for 20kg it is not the end of the world - I just wish they did not do this.
First pic, shortly after I first had them; 2nd pic, about 4 weeks later (present day, in fact).
Now, about 6 weeks ago, I was given 2 adult Embden's with their 3 goslings as the farmer owner was worried about their 2 daughters (1 year and 2 years old) straying and getting attacked by the "on guard" gander. So now I have them and they are grand - I have had no problems with Mr, as long as you respect their signals all is fine and I even think they are beginning to trust me a little, as they now come running if I call them when putting fresh salad and apples into their water bucket, they come to about 2 feet from me without hissing!
BUT - now the pesky critters have worked out how the treadle feeder works! I was under the impression that the geese would graze away, and I have about 3 acres of natural land surrounded by about 70 acres of private forest which then impedes into the wild forest and mountains, so I have plenty of good and wild grasses. But they also take from the treadle feeder, and now, instead of saving food (from the magpie's and rooks) I am using twice as much!!
I guess they need to eat it, and at €10 for 20kg it is not the end of the world - I just wish they did not do this.
First pic, shortly after I first had them; 2nd pic, about 4 weeks later (present day, in fact).
