Ducks shunning former Toulouse Goose leader

[Miss Lydia]

How old is your Goosy? Did she lay any eggs this year if old enough, over a year is old enough. Will be waiting to hear from you.

RURU didn't even think to ask about laying any eggs but I think they would have mentioned that don't you think? LOL

 

[RURU]

RURU didn't even think to ask about laying any eggs but I think they would have mentioned that don't you think? LOL

I hope they would have mentioned egg laying. But when new to geese you do not always think about that!

 

[newduckmama]

I hope they would have mentioned egg laying. But when new to geese you do not always think about that!

True, true. I actually wasn't with my partner when he picked the ducks and the goose up and he can't remember what the breeder said about egg laying. Aaargh! I can't imagine she would have said anything because Goosy was no more than 2 months old when we got her and she's done most of her growing up with us. I'd say she's about 7 months old now so -- she isn't old enough to help us out with a clue there.

What we've decided to do is bring her to the breeder we're picking up the gander from this afternoon and have him take a look at Goosy baby making parts. We're hoping with his experience with Toulouse (and other goose breeds) he'll be able to tell us definitively if Goosy is indeed a goose or - SURPRISE - a gander, rather than the two of us newbies traumatizing her further by trying to sex her ourselves. Ha ha - I imagine that would be some kind of disaster! If Goosy is a gander we can pick out a female goose for her on the spot.

We're very fortunate the breeder we're going to see is not too far from us so hopefully Goosy will be okay for the short ride in the truck.

Any suggestions for us in keeping the ride comfortable and safe for the goose and the gander on the ride home?

Thanks so much for everyone's help with this!

 

[Miss Lydia]

True, true. I actually wasn't with my partner when he picked the ducks and the goose up and he can't remember what the breeder said about egg laying. Aaargh! I can't imagine she would have said anything because Goosy was no more than 2 months old when we got her and she's done most of her growing up with us. I'd say she's about 7 months old now so -- she isn't old enough to help us out with a clue there.

What we've decided to do is bring her to the breeder we're picking up the gander from this afternoon and have him take a look at Goosy baby making parts. We're hoping with his experience with Toulouse (and other goose breeds) he'll be able to tell us definitively if Goosy is indeed a goose or - SURPRISE - a gander, rather than the two of us newbies traumatizing her further by trying to sex her ourselves. Ha ha - I imagine that would be some kind of disaster! If Goosy is a gander we can pick out a female goose for her on the spot.

We're very fortunate the breeder we're going to see is not too far from us so hopefully Goosy will be okay for the short ride in the truck.

Any suggestions for us in keeping the ride comfortable and safe for the goose and the gander on the ride home?

Thanks so much for everyone's help with this!

2 large dog crates for ride there and back with clean old towels on the bottom for traction. and what a great idea. Hope it all works out and Goosy soon has a friend to hang with.

when you say ride in truck do you mean in cab or in back? I really don't think you want 2 large geese riding in the cab of your truck. lol when you get the new goose or gander home I have a feeling these drakes are going to give them a hard time, do you have a way to keep the ducks/geese separate for a time? that will give the geese time to get to know each other without interference from the bad boy drakes.

 

[newduckmama]

2 large dog crates for ride there and back with clean old towels on the bottom for traction. and what a great idea. Hope it all works out and Goosy soon has a friend to hang with.

when you say ride in truck do you mean in cab or in back? I really don't think you want 2 large geese riding in the cab of your truck. lol when you get the new goose or gander home I have a feeling these drakes are going to give them a hard time, do you have a way to keep the ducks/geese separate for a time? that will give the geese time to get to know each other without interference from the bad boy drakes.

Thank you for suggesting the towels on the bottom. We have a large rubber mat (originally bought for exercising which I never got around to doing - haha) in the back of the truck laid out with large crates but the old towels will provide extra traction for them so another great suggestion! And yes, we can separate the ducks from the geese in the duck house but should I separate the goose from the gander for the first few days to see how they get along or should I put them in together in the same pen from the get-go to foster a fast friendship?

If Goosy is a female and we do bring home a gander, the breeder said the one he has picked out for us is a very BIG boy -- I'm hoping the drakes will take note of his size and just leave them both be - fingers crossed! Also, if we're lucky perhaps with Goosy being there she can pick out her own new best friend/mate herself. Or maybe she'll just freak out at being so close to so many other Toulouse? Will keep you posted on how it all goes down!

 

[Miss Lydia]

Thank you for suggesting the towels on the bottom. We have a large rubber mat (originally bought for exercising which I never got around to doing - haha) in the back of the truck laid out with large crates but the old towels will provide extra traction for them so another great suggestion! And yes, we can separate the ducks from the geese in the duck house but should I separate the goose from the gander for the first few days to see how they get along or should I put them in together in the same pen from the get-go to foster a fast friendship?

If Goosy is a female and we do bring home a gander, the breeder said the one he has picked out for us is a very BIG boy -- I'm hoping the drakes will take note of his size and just leave them both be - fingers crossed! Also, if we're lucky perhaps with Goosy being there she can pick out her own new best friend/mate herself. Or maybe she'll just freak out at being so close to so many other Toulouse? Will keep you posted on how it all goes down!

She may just pick up her skirts and turn tail and run lol If you can also separate the geese with a bit of fencing for a couple of days that would be good. That way neither one will get over whelmed by the other. And listen I have a very large Embden gander and he is scared of my Muscovy drake so no guarantees there. He's only scared of the dominant drake though the other 3 he can push around.

Even if your drakes and new goose never form a friendship at least Goosy will have a goose of her own.

 

[newduckmama]

She may just pick up her skirts and turn tail and run lol If you can also separate the geese with a bit of fencing for a couple of days that would be good. That way neither one will get over whelmed by the other. And listen I have a very large Embden gander and he is scared of my Muscovy drake so no guarantees there. He's only scared of the dominant drake though the other 3 he can push around.

Even if your drakes and new goose never form a friendship at least Goosy will have a goose of her own.

"...at least Goosy will have a goose of her own" -- that is our main goal and I can't tell you how happy I am that this will end with a better situation for Goosy later today.

I'll definitely provide an update for y'all tomorrow!

 

[Miss Lydia]

"...at least Goosy will have a goose of her own" -- that is our main goal and I can't tell you how happy I am that this will end with a better situation for Goosy later today.

I'll definitely provide an update for y'all tomorrow!

 

[newduckmama]

I just got off the phone with the gentleman who is selling us a mate for Goosy. He has agreed to check the sex of Goosy for us when we bring her over but if Goosy does turn out to be a gander we are out of luck as apparently he went to a big waterfowl event/show yesterday and has sold all his female Toulouses. He saved us the big gander we were speaking of so

Goosy does turn out to be female and will have a companion (through the wire fence) by evening's end.

 

[Miss Lydia]

I just got off the phone with the gentleman who is selling us a mate for Goosy. He has agreed to check the sex of Goosy for us when we bring her over but if Goosy does turn out to be a gander we are out of luck as apparently he went to a big waterfowl event/show yesterday and has sold all his female Toulouses. He saved us the big gander we were speaking of so

Goosy does turn out to be female and will have a companion (through the wire fence) by evening's end.

Well sure hoping Goosy turns out to be female...

2 ganders can live together as long as there are no other female geese involved but It's not 100% guaranteed that there wouldn't be problems.