Does Newborn Gosling Need Extra Heat?

[JRies]

I finally saw a little baby poop come out! So it seems like everything is good so far, lol. And yeah, we have duck starter/grower feed along with electrolyte water. I've seen her eat and drink (probably mostly eating grass though because Mama has them outside most of the day). Her poops are so tiny, haha. They're kind of a darker gray and more solid than I figured they'd be. At least the one I saw.

Its so cool when babies are truly mother raised. But we humans have control issues. I think its bred into us. My first experience with allowing the girls to raise there own was so eye opening. I had re-homed the Gander and 2 other girls. And the last 2 girls I kept for eating eggs, One went broody. the other one hovered and added eggs to the nest. Then the other one Precious and I spent the next 4 weeks as total friends through covid. Then the hatch it was incredible thought me what geese actually are. Daisy hatched 4 (my grandson named her) Here she is known as MaMa. Given name daisy Duck.... Anyway there were 3 eggs left and her and precious were torn who would sit the eggs who would raise the babies who were already ready to go. So i put the extra eggs in the incubator. They hatched. on day 3 I thought I would let the new hatch meet the older ones. so I took them out. Both moms grabbed the new babies. I will add a photo of them. But MaMa raised every hatch ling I had this year. Preciouse and her Boyfriend is Im Wyoming doing the same thing for a good friend. Geese are in every sense of the word family. The cool thing is they raise there babies with respect and limits. Makes them great geese. we humans want love a cuddles. You will do great If mom respects you she will teach every baby to do the same.

 

[The Dim Side]

Aww, so cute! And yeah, both the mom and dad are a lot more okay with me around than when my boyfriend is around them, lol. But I've spent more time with them generally as they grew up. So I can hold the baby and everything and hang out with them. They get a little more wary when Boyfriend is around though, haha. Sometimes yelling or hissing or Dad outright attacks. But sometimes they're nice to Boyfriend.

It started pouring rain suddenly today, I didn't expect it to happen or last so long. And I was worried about the mom (Tooey) having the baby out for so long. They spent a good amount out in the rain, but eventually they came back inside and are nestled together sleeping!

Here's a pic of Mom (left), Dad (right), and baby!


I'm relieved that the dad (Lemongrab) is so gentle with the baby. Wasn't sure how he'd be, since I've seen other posts about needing to separate ganders from goslings. But his gentleness with my runner duck who can't walk has been great, too (he attacks the Cayuga duck, the other young goose, and the chickens all the time though).

Oh, as I'm posting this, I see everyone is back outside in the rain again, lol.

 

[JRies]

Aww, so cute! And yeah, both the mom and dad are a lot more okay with me around than when my boyfriend is around them, lol. But I've spent more time with them generally as they grew up. So I can hold the baby and everything and hang out with them. They get a little more wary when Boyfriend is around though, haha. Sometimes yelling or hissing or Dad outright attacks. But sometimes they're nice to Boyfriend.

It started pouring rain suddenly today, I didn't expect it to happen or last so long. And I was worried about the mom (Tooey) having the baby out for so long. They spent a good amount out in the rain, but eventually they came back inside and are nestled together sleeping!

Here's a pic or Mom (left), Dad (right), and baby!
View attachment 3226714

I'm relieved that the dad (Lemongrab) is so gentle with the baby. Wasn't sure how he'd be, since I've seen other posts about needing to separate ganders from goslings. But his gentleness with my runner duck who can't walk has been great, too (he attacks the Cayuga duck, the other young goose, and the chickens all the time though).

Oh, as I'm posting this, I see everyone is back outside in the rain again, lol.

There really incredible have a happy tear in my eye right now. My boys this year have hung close to MaMa raising the babies. But the males I have are all trustworthy with the little ones. Sometimes even more protective. We just have to trust nature sometimes. Geese dont have internet social media just natural behavior. They have each other and the reward of passing that on. Soooo Cute....

 

[telandra2]

I was amazed to see my Spring feed store goslings out in the SNOW with their adoptive mom. I never saw her snuggling with them, except at night, but they didn't show any signs of being cold. I was checking on them eat least every hour . I read somewhere they pick up the oils off of mom's feathers which insulates them.