Goose lovers – please help!!

[jerryford]

Thank You Janet for this great pair Napoleon and Josephine have already starting calling to us when they see us walk out the door and talk to us everytime we are close they finished a piece of watermelon each and have eaten 1/3 of the grass in there pen LOL and had there swim for the day in there pool we know they want to get out and meet the other geese but we will wait a bit on that one

as you can tell the others are wanting to meet there new siblings

 

[CelticOaksFarm]

Hey Marty, I get the photos are a pain. I tend to take 150-200 at a time and then sit and sort, tag to breed and watermark them for use. Nifty has said smart phone users should use an app called TapATalk for BYC. You can use it to add pictures directly from your phone. Supposed to make it easy to come on here. Can't tell you first hand as I don't use it myself.

The Sebastopols are fine. I am looking with a critical breeding eye at them. Not happy with most of the pairs this year. So making major changes for next year. Obviously genetics didn't jive this year as much as I would have liked. Lots of "ok" birds, very few standouts. Feathering, heads, and body shape are what I am looking at and few had all three or even two of the three to be worth breeding. Bringing in new blood though, and changing the pairs in hopes of improvements. Always a work in progress.

I would urge you to not feed the Sebbies the same amount or way you feed a dewlap (who require 3x's more feed) or high energy high production ducks like Campbell's. NO corn unless - degrees for the Sebbies ever. 1/4 - 1/3 cup grain based feed once a day per bird while pasture is available. 1/3 - 1/2 cup morning and 1/4 night with quality grass hay or oat hay ( if you can find it). Hay in winter should be an all you can eat item. Hay mangers made (you can build your own) suitable for goats work great for the geese. The Sebbies can become very over weight, and it can cause health issues and fertility issues.

Stay away from layer feed (layena or any other brand) during the non breeding season, they don't need the high levels of calcium. Straight Mazuri waterfowl maintenance or an all flock or flock raiser (different names from different bands same basic feed concept) with a handful top dressing of whole grains is enough for the curlies. You can start layer type feeds about 3/4 weeks before breeding season starts, ending its use after it is done.

 

[psue]

Hi Marty! Hope your boy is as sweet as ours. BTW... Trumpet vines?

We are "supose" to come over ( not too close) and talk to them everytime we come out of the house. Most of the time Napoleon hollers at us, then they mosy toward the house side of the pen.

 

[Iain Utah]

LOL Sounds like Napolean! Very happy you love them!!

 

[Iain Utah]

Got a couple pics this afternoon of the group and Shellie's stud juvenile buff. Also got shots of my adult special needs grey pair. I named the girl Shuffle, but I cannot seem to think of a good name for the boy yet. He is a little slower to recover than her, but I see improvement every day!







Love the pics of the ones at their new homes!! Keep them coming!!

 

[CelticOaksFarm]

Shuffle and skutle butt (until you name him) look amazing. You are right they have changed so much in the last two weeks again.

Can't wait to get all of our wide bodies here.

 

[JulieNKC]

Wheres a poultry show at?

Sedalia, Mo in oct http://www.metzerfarms.com/ShowEventInfo.cfm?index=232

 

[Marty1876]

Hey Marty, tried to put gander and goose back with ducks last Sat. while we were putting wood up but after being separate for 5 weeks there they were right back together, so they are separate again.

I'm thinking mating season will have to start for the geese before a solid relationship is established. What do you think.

I think that will probobly help. I'd seperate them before mating season from the ducks though. It may be best not to have distractions during that important bonding period. LOL I'd be interested in the thoughts of others here.

 

[Iain Utah]

I separated Barley and Chicory from their duck buddies when I brought home the buff gosling trio so they would all bond as a flock. I never reintegrated, as it is easy for me to maintain separate areas.

 

[Iain Utah]

Hey Julie, good to see you, glad you are keeping up with the thread, and thanks for the compliments! Hope all is well with you!