Consolidated Kansas

[JosieChick]

lizzy- Here is a listing in Denison for friendly geese. It was a while ago but it looks like they have a lot of birds. http://topeka.craigslist.org/grd/3145854690.html

Or in Berryton http://topeka.craigslist.org/grd/3262153005.html

I know it is probably a haul for you but they sound like what you want and it might be worth looking into? I drove 10 hours to pick up my first pair of sebastopol geese so I know how hard it can be to find what you are looking for.

I've already checked the Salina Craigslist. There's nothing there... I realize that people are getting rid of what they don't want to keep over winter. That's why I was so optimistic about finding someone that wanted to get rid of a goose. I've found several birds for sale that MIGHT match what I want, but they're all in the Denver, and I rarely ever go to Denver. I've had an offer of an African gander that is only an hours' drive away, but I was really wanting to stay away from the larger birds.


My DH's grandmother MIGHT be willing to hatch for me. If not, she has all the supplies (incubator, etc) and would most likely allow me to borrow them so I could attempt to hatch for myself. She'd probably also be willing to give me advice on what to do as I know she's hatched geese before. I would definitely prefer to get a young goose, but so far have had a terrible time finding the kind I want that is also close enough to not make the cost of gas cost prohibitive in getting the bird.

 

[sunflowerparrot]

Yeah, I guess I didn't realize you didn't already have a brooder set up - it does make a difference to have a good area for them. When I built my coop I did intend to have an area for a brooder but have wound up brooding them in my house anyway, because I like the daily interaction with them, for them to be friendly. DD likes to have them in her bedroom and that works great for me as they get tons of attention that way. The last batch was only inside 2 1/2 weeks because it was so warm. This lot will probably be inside up to 3 1/2 weeks since it is cooler at night now.

Up until 3 months ago, I've lived my entire life in the city (born and raised in Washington, DC... moved to NY and lived most of my adult-life there.. lived in NJ and then back to DC before heading west to Wichita) - this entire lifestyle is brand new to me and I had never even eaten an egg from a real farm before - let alone held a chicken, fed a chicken, walked in a field... I have a lot of learning I'm doing... want to do it the right way... I'm loving every single minute of this new life and know I'm going to continue to have fun on this journey! (Also - I am doing this completely alone on 27 acres out in the boonies - I do have a bf, but he doesn't live with me and lives in Derby.)

 

[tazcat70]

Thanks everyone. It is nice. Heather I know exactly what you mean, I had the cringe all the time in Wichita.

 

[lizzyGSR]

lizzy- Here is a listing in Denison for friendly geese. It was a while ago but it looks like they have a lot of birds. http://topeka.craigslist.org/grd/3145854690.html

Or in Berryton http://topeka.craigslist.org/grd/3262153005.html

I know it is probably a haul for you but they sound like what you want and it might be worth looking into? I drove 10 hours to pick up my first pair of sebastopol geese so I know how hard it can be to find what you are looking for.

Thank you, but I've already tried the first seller. She's the one who thought ALL 30 of her chinese were males and then let them out of the barn and then couldn't catch them when I got there.

If I were going to drive far enough for the 2nd seller, I would just have Danz pick up a friendly chinese for me and then drive to her house. Sadly, my husband thinks that that is just too far to drive for a single bird. And, really, I agree with him. By the time I pay for gas to drive that far ANd pay for the bird, that bird will be worth well over $100. I just can't justify that kind of expense for a bird right now. I did find a seller in the Hays area (~2 hours from me) that had lots of birds. However, he never returned my phone calls/FB messages after the first phone call. A friend of his was willing to pick up a bird for me, but none of his birds were as friendly as I was wanting. So, right now, it's looking like I either compromise on my want list (namely, the friendliness of the bird and/or the breed) OR get my DH's grandma to hatch one for me).

I really do appreciate you looking those up for me, though...

 

[Trish44]

tazcat, those are some interesting Wyandottes in your photos, is that one of your projects? They're really pretty!

I want to move some birds around, but I don't feel like I can yet with some still being sick in the grow-out pen. I was observing them this morning & it appears that the imported birds are the ones that are suffering the worst. I guess they just haven't gotten the immunity built up to the diseases in this country yet, that would be my guess. The usual common birds like the Ameraucanas, Welsummers, & Orpingtons as well as the Salmon Favorelles seem to be fine, so that is the only thing I can think is that our birds here have better immunity. I guess I just will have to try to let it run it's course because I have given them so many antibiotics it's ridiculous & they're still not well. I'm just giving the two left in the garage vitamin water now & probably will do that next time I fill the waterer in the grow-out pen also.

Sunflowerparrot, if you have some scrap wood left after you build your nest boxes & you have enough I can help you build a brooder box for in your coop. I built the 2nd one I have after seeing how the one was made that I bought from someone, it wasn't really that hard. You will need something next spring if you intend to hatch chicks.

Hawkeye, Rusty was right by the run so he could have made a mad dash into there if he needed to & into the coop, so he must have felt fairly confident he could get there. We have lots of trees here & bushes for the chickens to hide under as well as rabbit coops & such, so they do have cover to run under if needed.

 

[JosieChick]

Thank you, but I've already tried the first seller. She's the one who thought ALL 30 of her chinese were males and then let them out of the barn and then couldn't catch them when I got there.

If I were going to drive far enough for the 2nd seller, I would just have Danz pick up a friendly chinese for me and then drive to her house. Sadly, my husband thinks that that is just too far to drive for a single bird. And, really, I agree with him. By the time I pay for gas to drive that far ANd pay for the bird, that bird will be worth well over $100. I just can't justify that kind of expense for a bird right now. I did find a seller in the Hays area (~2 hours from me) that had lots of birds. However, he never returned my phone calls/FB messages after the first phone call. A friend of his was willing to pick up a bird for me, but none of his birds were as friendly as I was wanting. So, right now, it's looking like I either compromise on my want list (namely, the friendliness of the bird and/or the breed) OR get my DH's grandma to hatch one for me).

I really do appreciate you looking those up for me, though...

Bummer, I can't believe ALL those geese are male! Could you give me an idea of where you are located so I can keep an eye out for you. We are just East of Ottawa, so about 40 minutes north of Danz. If I see something local I can give you a hollar.

 

[sharol]

I would agree about the netting. http://www.amazon.com/Netting-Bird-...&qid=1348006209&sr=8-12&keywords=bird+netting This is what I bought 2 years ago and it has been up 2 full years. It is still sound (even though the cording I used to tie it down fell apart recently). It is UV resistant and very nice. It is a bit of a deal to work with, but 2 people can handle it quite well. I needed 50 ft both ways for my basically triangular 30x40x50 run.

If you aren't getting the wire free or cheap I would recommend buying netting for over your runs. It's pricy but you can use one piece to do it all and it's so much easier to work with. Wire will rust but this stuff will last. Don't buy plastic bird netting. Get the regular knitted or knotted netting.
Lizzy I don't think I would attempt to hatch a goose egg unless you had several to try with. If you aren't going to be hatching chickens or anything else it certainly wouldn't be cost effective. And geese really do require some experienced hatching.
I suppose if you made your own incubator it might be okay but in the long run you would still be better off to look for a young goose. I do wish I could have figured out a way to get those from the auction to you. I'd watch the Salina craigslist or even put in an add under farm and garden looking for one if I were you. Or in whatever other area that will work for you.
I so love hatching. I hatched a fairly large group of chicks yesterday and have another batch that goes in the hatcher tomorrow.

 

[sunflowerparrot]

Sunflowerparrot, if you have some scrap wood left after you build your nest boxes & you have enough I can help you build a brooder box for in your coop. I built the 2nd one I have after seeing how the one was made that I bought from someone, it wasn't really that hard. You will need something next spring if you intend to hatch chicks.

Sure thing! I'll even go pick up more OSB if needed. I have a LOT of chicken wire and hardware cloth - so I can pick up some more 2x4 if needed too... I need to seriously get out there and start these nest boxes. Confession: I'm petrified of the power tools That is what is holding me back. I have all the materials... I just need to get out there and cut my pieces while Stephen is here (in case I cut something off my body I really need! )

 

[Trish44]

Sunflowerparrot, have him help you while he's there & then you will get more comfortable with doing it. I have had to learn to do things I never did before recently. It's a growing experience & you will be proud of yourself that you accomplished something. Look what I did building that hoop house, if you had told me I could do that I would have nah I can't, but I did. I also built my nest boxes & rabbit nest boxes as well as fixing rabbit hutches that were broken. So I know if you put your mind to it you can do it.

 

[JosieChick]

Sure thing! I'll even go pick up more OSB if needed. I have a LOT of chicken wire and hardware cloth - so I can pick up some more 2x4 if needed too... I need to seriously get out there and start these nest boxes. Confession: I'm petrified of the power tools That is what is holding me back. I have all the materials... I just need to get out there and cut my pieces while Stephen is here (in case I cut something off my body I really need! )

Don't be scared! Have him show you how to do things step by step and then you do it while he is there so he can give you pointers. I have assembled all kinds of things I never thought I could and have even whipped out the saw to cut wood with without DH around anymore. Once you learn how everything works it is a lot less scary and kind of fun!