frustrated with my goslings! they don't like me

[Miss Lydia]

I've never "owned" a goose before and know very little about them, but I got my embden goose when she was well over a year. I have no idea what her history was because she came in as an injured bird. I have had her for a just over a year and she now eats from my hand and allows me to sit within arms length of her nest. I always try to move slowly when she is near and when she starts muttering at me, I give her space. Considering that I was the one who had to catch her (with a fishing net) and put her in a cat box to transport her for treatment, she has been very forgiving indeed! She must have been raised as a pet though.

And she is beautiful, my Embden gander would be in love.

 

[Juan B]

So I think two of them are getting angel wing. I took their grain away. One is much worse than the other. Should I sling them too? I'm worried that might not go too well.

 

[Carrosaur]

So I think two of them are getting angel wing. I took their grain away. One is much worse than the other. Should I sling them too? I'm worried that might not go too well.

Pictures!

 

[Juan B]

I haven't been home much, thus posting from my phone only and haven't been able to successfully post pictures from my phone. BUT everyone successfully went in on their own without panic, but with some guidance from me with arms spread out. They did such a good job!!

 

[Miss Lydia]

I haven't been home much, thus posting from my phone only and haven't been able to successfully post pictures from my phone. BUT everyone successfully went in on their own without panic, but with some guidance from me with arms spread out. They did such a good job!!

You need to get the angel wing taken care of now if you wait till their feathers are completely grown in it will be too late.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/...how-we-wrap-to-mend-it-pictorial#post_8682154

Awesome news about then going into their house with you guiding them. Good job!!

 

[Juan B]

Hi everybody, it's been a while since I've given an update. The geese are doing well- MUCH better than a few weeks ago. We've learned to keep them calm, they occasionally let us pet them (but not overdo it), and will eat treats from our hands. They looove to follow my wife around when she's nearby.

The one that was starting to get angel wing is ding fine. The left wing sticks out about and inch from it's body but isn't turned upside down and doesn't seem to cause the goose any trouble. I stopped feeding them grain completely and they've been doing great on grass alone.

The other bad news is that I lost one to a bobcat. The electronet was off and the bobcat took the fence down and made off with a goose, so I'm down to 7 since then we've been keeping the electronet on 24 hours a day. The geese learned really quickly not to stick their heads outside for a bite to eat. And we're getting a dog tomorrow to help deter future attacks.

I still haven't figured out how to post pictures successfully either

Oh one more question! When will their bills turn from black to orange? All the pictures I've seen of toulouse were with orange bills.

 

[Miss Lydia]

Hi everybody, it's been a while since I've given an update. The geese are doing well- MUCH better than a few weeks ago. We've learned to keep them calm, they occasionally let us pet them (but not overdo it), and will eat treats from our hands. They looove to follow my wife around when she's nearby.

The one that was starting to get angel wing is ding fine. The left wing sticks out about and inch from it's body but isn't turned upside down and doesn't seem to cause the goose any trouble. I stopped feeding them grain completely and they've been doing great on grass alone.

The other bad news is that I lost one to a bobcat. The electronet was off and the bobcat took the fence down and made off with a goose, so I'm down to 7

since then we've been keeping the electronet on 24 hours a day. The geese learned really quickly not to stick their heads outside for a bite to eat. And we're getting a dog tomorrow to help deter future attacks.

I still haven't figured out how to post pictures successfully either

Oh one more question! When will their bills turn from black to orange? All the pictures I've seen of toulouse were with orange bills.

My Toulouse have oragish bills and neither had black when babies. I wish you could post some pics. darn I'd love to see them,
so sorry about the one you lost. Good your keeping the electro fence going 24/7. I just lost an EE while out foraging the other day. Not sure what got her, but we have lots of preds. Be careful to train your new dog that the geese are not to bet messed with and train your geese not to mess with the dog too. My geese love to try and push around the dogs but I won't let them.

 

[313759]

So, this is my first time raising geese, but I've had chickens and ducks for a few years. I'm frustrated with the lack of progress they seem to be making. They're 6-week old toulouse geese and I have 8 of them. I didn't get to spend a lot of time with them when they were tiny and fuzzy. Now they just run in sheer panic every time I'm around. They won't eat from my hand or eat feed when I'm around. They will graze when I'm around though.

The worst part is that every day I have to pick them all up to put them outside, since they haven't figured out how to get in or out of their house, which is an old polydome calf nursery I got from a neighbor. Before dark, i also have to catch them to stuff em back in. They haven't learned to do this on their own, it's time consuming and NONE of us enjoy it- me or them.

Is there any way I can win them over/ get them to stop being afraid or annoyed with me? Or go in/out of their house on their own at least, and I can leave them alone. If they were remotely big enough, I'd consider sending them to freezer camp now since it's going so miserably.

I'm sorry to be harsh and rude like this but maybe you should've spent more time with them. So the lack of love is your fault. I'm sorry but it is true... you just have to be patient spend a lot of time with them while they are out grazing. That's all I can say

 

[Carrosaur]

Any updates on the relationship? Are they acting any better around you?

 

[Miss Lydia]

Post 26 sounds really good.