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

[GAIL328]

Poor little babe. Was he like it when he arrived? Looks like it´s a defect, as he stands up oddly on his legs, too. And your little female...does she always hold her wing like that? If so, you may want to wrap it. As for chick crumb, etc, I leave off that at their age, except for a little as a treat to get them in, or move them, etc. Plenty of greens, a little corn would be ok, fruit, etc. is good. I see they´re on grass, and that´s just great.

Yes he's been like that since I got him at 2 weeks old. He lays down a lot and he whines a lot but he is a sweet heart. Loves to be held and cuddled. He can move quickly if he really wants to but usually is slow and awkward. I've noticed their wings seem heavy for them and they are often pulling them up. Should I wrap them?

 

[GAIL328]

Found this on Metzer´s site. So, could be niacin deficiency after all......
The first top and bottom pics are of a normal duckling, the others have various disabilities because of niacin deficiency.

Wow, he kind of looks like picture B. Toes in. I hope its not too late for him. Thanks for the info. They have the brewers yeast tonight. I'll keep you posted.

 

[livininbrazil]

Yes he's been like that since I got him at 2 weeks old. He lays down a lot and he whines a lot but he is a sweet heart. Loves to be held and cuddled. He can move quickly if he really wants to but usually is slow and awkward. I've noticed their wings seem heavy for them and they are often pulling them up. Should I wrap them?

Yes, just right for wrapping now. keep them like it for a week, but you can, of course, change the wrapping along the way..then see how they are.

 

[tillyita]

 
Yes he's been like that since I got him at 2 weeks old.  He lays down a lot and he whines a lot but he is a sweet heart.  Loves to be held and cuddled.  He can move quickly if he really wants to but usually is slow and awkward.  I've noticed their wings seem heavy for them and they are often pulling them up.  Should I wrap them?

Yes, just right for wrapping now.  keep them like it for a week, but you can, of course, change the wrapping along the way..then see how they are.

The only possible problem with wrapping them is that it might upset his balance. If his legs were fine it wouldn't be a problem. So might need to wrap them and see how you go. Annother option might be to tape them (using a sports or strapping tape) so that he can still use them for balance but he has support for the weight.

 

[livininbrazil]

The only possible problem with wrapping them is that it might upset his balance. If his legs were fine it wouldn't be a problem. So might need to wrap them and see how you go. Annother option might be to tape them (using a sports or strapping tape) so that he can still use them for balance but he has support for the weight.

Different bird, Tillyita.

(It´s the female I noticed)

 

[EeyoreD]

Wow, he kind of looks like picture B. Toes in. I hope its not too late for him. Thanks for the info. They have the brewers yeast tonight. I'll keep you posted.

Maybe it's just the angle, and I don't want to worry you; but your female looks a bit like the C pic too with the wide stance, though not as exaggerated as that pic. Hope the brewers yeast helps!

 

[EeyoreD]

I'm so excited!!!

I've been having the rotting nest problem since I got my geese. Last year from three nests I only got two goslings. The year before, nothing from two. This year I have three nests again, one completely rotted but one at least resulted in one little gozzer.

BUT! There are goslings - plural - in that third nest! Hatched overnight! I can't get close enough (for obvious reasons) to see very well, but there is a ton of yellow fluff under that goose and unless I have an abnormally long one, there are at least three in that nest!

As excited and happy as I am about that nest, I think I'm at least equally excited about the new insights into the complexities of flock behavior around hatching time. I hadn't had the opportunity to put two and two together until this year with 2 different geese hatching at least something. I'm sure many of you have observed this but just in case someone hasn't. (or maybe it's just my geese)

There seems to be some definite pattern of behavior around hatch time. It seems like when it's time, the goose calls her gander and boy does he come running (this reminds me of all the "Honey my water broke!" scenes in movies). The rest of the flock moves nearby, as well. And are clearly agitated/excited, making lots of noise, jostling with each other. The rest of the flock will move off eventually, but the gander stays right next to the nest. I can only assume this is why goslings seem to bond with both parents unlike my ducks who only know their mother.

Once they actually start to emerge, the flock will come "visit" in ones and twos just to check things out. All the while, the goose and gander stand watch. So far, once the flock has checked things out, they stay pretty close. Not right next to the nest but certainly in the same area of the property.

Geese are amazing.

 

[EeyoreD]

Dual parenting (goose on the left, gander on the right):

 

[elsfieldchickens]

Aww how many are there?

 

[livininbrazil]

I'm so excited!!!

I've been having the rotting nest problem since I got my geese. Last year from three nests I only got two goslings. The year before, nothing from two. This year I have three nests again, one completely rotted but one at least resulted in one little gozzer.

BUT! There are goslings - plural - in that third nest! Hatched overnight! I can't get close enough (for obvious reasons) to see very well, but there is a ton of yellow fluff under that goose and unless I have an abnormally long one, there are at least three in that nest!

As excited and happy as I am about that nest, I think I'm at least equally excited about the new insights into the complexities of flock behavior around hatching time. I hadn't had the opportunity to put two and two together until this year with 2 different geese hatching at least something. I'm sure many of you have observed this but just in case someone hasn't. (or maybe it's just my geese)

There seems to be some definite pattern of behavior around hatch time. It seems like when it's time, the goose calls her gander and boy does he come running (this reminds me of all the "Honey my water broke!" scenes in movies). The rest of the flock moves nearby, as well. And are clearly agitated/excited, making lots of noise, jostling with each other. The rest of the flock will move off eventually, but the gander stays right next to the nest. I can only assume this is why goslings seem to bond with both parents unlike my ducks who only know their mother.

Once they actually start to emerge, the flock will come "visit" in ones and twos just to check things out. All the while, the goose and gander stand watch. So far, once the flock has checked things out, they stay pretty close. Not right next to the nest but certainly in the same area of the property.

Geese are amazing.

They are, aren´t they!

Dual parenting (goose on the left, gander on the right):

I see 4 there. Congrats, you must be so pleased. This goose is a good breeder for you, then.