GOOSE BREEDING THREAD - for breeding, incubating, hatching and rearing.

[EeyoreD]

Could you soak some grain in water that has been treated then feed them that? I don't know if it would work - i've never tried it but it might be a solution (pardon the pun) that others in a similar situation could use as well. Or as they are geese - just put some grain in a container covered with water that's been treated - then in order to get the grain they would treat themselves.

I feel bad in that I'm taking possible attention away from BarkingChickens' possible issue. My gosling is fine, I was simply reassuring BarkingChickens that sometimes goslings can be a bit clumsy or gimpy. I have one 2 week old gosling thriving and the 5 siblings of the gimpy one are thriving. And the gimpy one is improving without my interference. For me I really do think it was a trampling situation. Not sure what BarkingChickens gosling issue might be but again, I was simply saying - sometimes goslings seem to take some time to find their legs.

That may not be the case though so if anyone has any information for BarkingChickens' issue please post that.

 

[EeyoreD]

Not to interrupt a much heated debate about how to treat water (which I would have no clue how to do.... also have water water everywhere and no reason to supplement my healthy flock)..... but I wanted to say that I love all the pictures of babies!! I have my fingers crossed that I will have another hatch or two from dedicated broodies before the season is over. Until now, I've only had 3 ducks and 3 geese hatched this year, not that I'm complaining too much since I already have a large flock.

Well if you get more, post pics! But I have to say I love your avatar of the giant, proud goose in the kiddie pool. That just makes me smile. Brilliant!

 

[seminolewind]

It's unfortunate that we can read words on forums, but can't hear intonation.

 

[Iain Utah]

J, when are the Africans expected to hatch? You´re still expecting more goslings, aren´t you?
Oh, i went for a walk with hubby the other day along a dirt road and we came across a number of properties that had geese, mainly European-type breeds. Then we could hear...the 'siren' noise of some Asiatics. They looked a bit big for chinese, but a bit small for Africans, so I don´t know which they were.... Well I thought my lot were noisy! Now, my neighbour has a chinese and I hardly hear him. So, do africans make this weird siren-type shrieky whistle noise? Or would they simply be chinese, and my neighbour has a mean, quiet one? Just like to know.

Not sure exactly. I only know the order of when each goose went broody. My dewlap goose should be first up to possibly hatch babies in the next week or so (she is sitting on a large clutch of fertile eggs). Next up is my brown African girl, but she is only sitting on a single egg. Then, last of my geese are my white African girls (sharing nest). I believe they have been broody for at least a week.

I also have four domestic ducks that have been sitting from 1-3 weeks and I expect my scovy girls to try to go broody again before too long.

As for noise factor.... My dewlap Africans are loud, but not as bad as my hatchery African gander who has a super annoying high pitch (luckily he has an awesome personality). The loudest/screechiest of all my birds are my African/Toulouse ganders.

Well if you get more, post pics! But I have to say I love your avatar of the giant, proud goose in the kiddie pool. That just makes me smile. Brilliant!

Will do and thanks!

 

[BarkingChickens]

Thanks everyone! The little one is doing a bit better.. Still clumsy and falling over but not as much! I've posted picks, the one on the left is the gander "Em" and The one on right is "B" and the middle is the little one "Den". All three spell Embden.

Anyway, I am taking them outside twice a day,for exercise and to eat grass.. I am also adding one of those lettuce balls, which I think is a great suggestion.. Em is still picking on everyone's tails, I also have two small ducks in with them as you can see by the pics, and they are also getting picked on. It looks like he is trying to groom them, but is a bit rough and after a while their tails are all wet.. When I see him do it, I pull his tail and tell give him a sharp No.. He stops for a few seconds and then starts up again. I was thinking of spraying some bitter apple on their tails, but don't want too as I know it will impact their grooming, etc.. I sure hope I don't have a trouble maker on my hands.. Any suggestions is greatly appreciated. Thanks!

Oh, I am providing vitamins and brewers yeast as well.

 

[livininbrazil]

Thanks everyone! The little one is doing a bit better.. Still clumsy and falling over but not as much! I've posted picks, the one on the left is the gander "Em" and The one on right is "B" and the middle is the little one "Den". All three spell Embden.

Anyway, I am taking them outside twice a day,for exercise and to eat grass.. I am also adding one of those lettuce balls, which I think is a great suggestion.. Em is still picking on everyone's tails, I also have two small ducks in with them as you can see by the pics, and they are also getting picked on. It looks like he is trying to groom them, but is a bit rough and after a while their tails are all wet.. When I see him do it, I pull his tail and tell give him a sharp No.. He stops for a few seconds and then starts up again. I was thinking of spraying some bitter apple on their tails, but don't want too as I know it will impact their grooming, etc.. I sure hope I don't have a trouble maker on my hands.. Any suggestions is greatly appreciated.

Thanks!

Oh, I am providing vitamins and brewers yeast as well.

When he´s outside on nice short grass, does he still graze the other goslings? It´s an inherent thing in them, they´re graze-mad, geese. It´s what they have to do, and they´ll do it to their siblings too. Happens a fair bit. Just as much as you can, give him others things to nibble on. Seminolewind also has/had this problem, if I remember right.

 

[BarkingChickens]

Hi, they are doing much better! The little one has finally gotten the idea of how to walk, just took him a while. They are all eating well and were super excited this morning for their outdoor outing. They are still learning how to eat grass and love the clover flowers!

Here's the pic, the little one is in the middle, gander "Em" on left and female "B" on right. I'm not sure yet about Den.. I think it's a he..? I'll take some outdoor pics this evening..

 

[Miss Lydia]

Hi, they are doing much better! The little one has finally gotten the idea of how to walk, just took him a while. They are all eating well and were super excited this morning for their outdoor outing. They are still learning how to eat grass and love the clover flowers!

Here's the pic, the little one is in the middle, gander "Em" on left and female "B" on right. I'm not sure yet about Den.. I think it's a he..? I'll take some outdoor pics this evening..

They are adorable. great news on the lil one.

 

[EeyoreD]

Thanks everyone! The little one is doing a bit better.. Still clumsy and falling over but not as much! I've posted picks, the one on the left is the gander "Em" and The one on right is "B" and the middle is the little one "Den". All three spell Embden.

Anyway, I am taking them outside twice a day,for exercise and to eat grass.. I am also adding one of those lettuce balls, which I think is a great suggestion.. Em is still picking on everyone's tails, I also have two small ducks in with them as you can see by the pics, and they are also getting picked on. It looks like he is trying to groom them, but is a bit rough and after a while their tails are all wet.. When I see him do it, I pull his tail and tell give him a sharp No.. He stops for a few seconds and then starts up again. I was thinking of spraying some bitter apple on their tails, but don't want too as I know it will impact their grooming, etc.. I sure hope I don't have a trouble maker on my hands.. Any suggestions is greatly appreciated.

Thanks!

Oh, I am providing vitamins and brewers yeast as well.

Love the names!

I don't know how this would work, but maybe put a flat of cat grass in their brooder with them, too? Many stores will have some for sale already sprouted but even with the little dried they sprout pretty fast. I haven't done this, but it's made to be eaten by cats, and it's grass so I would imagine it would be fine for little grazing gozzers.

 

[Miss Lydia]

Love the names!

I don't know how this would work, but maybe put a flat of cat grass in their brooder with them, too? Many stores will have some for sale already sprouted but even with the little dried they sprout pretty fast. I haven't done this, but it's made to be eaten by cats, and it's grass so I would imagine it would be fine for little grazing gozzers.

I've thought of doing that too, good idea especially where no grass is available. My 2 would probably have it eaten down to a nub in about 5 mins. man can they put away the greens. lol