Goose lovers – please help!!

[Cal Lady]

Hello everyone,
This is "Cal Lady" the one who originally hatched and lovingly raised all your new babies. I admit it got a little out of hand, but I loved each and every one and did the best I knew how. I willingly GAVE all these beautiful geese to Janet and Iian with the hope they would all find loving new homes. I can't tell you how pleased I am that this "rescue" mission is succeeding. My urgent wish is that you welcome your new family members with love and attention; I know they will respond in kind. For you who might care, my little remaining flock of a Buff trio, gorgeous Grey Dewlap Toulouse pair, Emden pair, African pair and 2 wild Canadians (who simply will not leave), are all thriving, healthy, and happy being kept close in my very luscious green backyard. The best you can do for them is as Janet says: keep them where they can forage fresh grass or other greens, feed the recommended mix 2x a day, give them treats like watermelon & cucumbers & lettuce and provide a clean kiddie pool. I'm sure if you do this they will become fat and happy adult geese and give you great pleasure. This has always been my prayer, Carole

Wife of a wonderful man who found me late in life; mom to my loving son, grandmommy to the most beautiful granddaughter in the universe, and "mom" to 4 dogs, 5 llamas, 11 baby ostriches, a "gang" of emus, a bunch of Black Copper Marans chickens, & the above mentioned geese -- more than enough for me to love and keep happy.

 

[Going Bhonkers]

Wonderful news, Iain!!

 

[CelticOaksFarm]

Morning All!

Janet sorry i missed your call, hopefully the text i sent made sense to you. Call this morning if you need anything.


I would strongly urge everyone receiving the rescues to try and follow Janet's routine for the first few days as you settle them in and move to the routine you have on your property. It will make the adjustment to another new home easier for them. Dont over whelm them with foods they arent use to having. if your grass is still suffering, today and tomorrow are good days to pick up some sod and lay it down where the birds will first be turned loose at.

Do not open the boxes inside your car/truck or home. Adults tend to leap from boxes with wings beating.

When we bring in new adults or older juveniles we always carry their boxes to a temp small area they will be spending their first couple of weeks in. It is pre setup with a bucket for drinking water, feed pan (no feed for the first hour), and kiddie pool. The temp yard is in the shadiest part of our rear yard so they never over heat. The fencing is a welded wire garden fence from Lowes that is smaller openings at the bottom and becoming larger towards the top. Its about knee high and we attach it to step in fence posts with zip ties. Easy up, easy to move, easy down, and the geese dont come across it. This way they can see the other animals, become use to our movements, but not have to share pools or food when first settling in. it also makes nighttime put up easier since they are learning a new home for sleeping in.

Our stand alone duck and goose houses have battery operated touch lights in them since birds dont like entering a dark space. It makes bedtime round up easier during the winter months. Or in our case when we allow them more time out and start put up as the sun is setting.

If you have other birds please remember to quarantine. I dont care where a bird comes from, hatches from, or what tests they have been cleared by. ALL birds coming on property get quarantined to ensure nothing was picked up in transit. It is a practice everyone should be in when adding new stock. Good Bio Security is something you never cut corners on.

When opening the boxes we open both end flaps then slowly open the long ends making sure to not lean over the top of the box. You could take a wing to the face (and it hurts) if the goose leaps out. If you dont a jack in box eager to be out bird gently roll the box from its bottom to its side rolling away from you. They will handle the roll fine and come out. This also keeps you out of wing strike range, and lessens the stress on the bird. You DONT want to stand over the box and reach inside to lift the bird out, it would be stressful.


I would STRONGLY urge everyone adopting to ignore any advice coming from the previous holders of these birds. Please follow the advice from the Avian Vet who has treated them for their major medical needs and consulted on their dietary needs. This is sound advice concerning the needs of the birds to help them continue to recover from the past poor living conditions.

This is my favorite temp fencing. We use it on the PVC frames, attached to step in fence posts, as herding shoots. The smaller base openings make it ideal for brooder yards. (all goslings are on grass all day by day 3 in age here) I buy it at Lowes, but I am sure it is found elsewhere too.

http://www.lowes.com/pd_97029-80032...L=?Ns=p_product_qty_sales_dollar|1&facetInfo=

 

[Going Bhonkers]

There's a thread for some new smileys on the BYC Website & Forum Feedback & Announcements forum where people have submitted ones that might apply to those of you welcoming your rescue geese:

 

[LightningTFarm]

Thanks, Celtic and Iain. That is exactly the kind of advice I was looking for. A couple of questions: I use rolled oats in making the feed mix for my ducks. Would this work okay instead of whole oats for the geese? That way I only have to buy one kind. Also, is there any particular kind of whole corn I should look for, or possibly avoid? Just want to be sure they are getting what they need, and what they like.

 

[Going Bhonkers]

Thanks, Celtic and Iain. That is exactly the kind of advice I was looking for. A couple of questions: I use rolled oats in making the feed mix for my ducks. Would this work okay instead of whole oats for the geese? That way I only have to buy one kind. Also, is there any particular kind of whole corn I should look for, or possibly avoid? Just want to be sure they are getting what they need, and what they like.

I give my geese rolled oats. I also find that my geese prefer cracked corn instead of whole corn , but mine might just be picky eaters..

 

[CelticOaksFarm]

I would put the ducks on whole oats, no need to use rolled or crimped with them.

Whole grains retain more nutritional value than grains that have been modified in any way including rolling, crimping, steaming ect.

young birds (2 months and under) get crimped oats here. Everyone over 2 months old gets whole oats, makes feeding easier, plus gives as much of the nutritional value as possible.

 

[Iain Utah]

Lightning, I love how thoughtful you are making sure everything is just right for your boys. Rolled oats are just fine. Your feed store should have a generic whole kernel corn, just like the rolled oats. That is what you should buy.

 

[SummerChick]

I am confused about corn, i've read that it isn't good to give to geese. Is it good or bad?

Thanks

 

[Kevin565]

I am confused about corn, i've read that it isn't good to give to geese. Is it good or bad?

Thanks

I think it's one of those things that's fine to give as a treat in Moderation.