Goose lovers – please help!!

[Triplell]

Thanks Celtic, I was able to catch one and they don't seem to be very dence. I started to give them all the oats they want and also have started giving them some whole corn to help, so far they have started to devolpe more lob's and have filled out more as well. Should they have lob's that almost hit the ground? Since I have had them (April) they have gainned alot of weight. They were from a hatchery that closed. Their pen was nothing but dirt and manure no grass at all. They have had all the grass they could eat all summer. I did worm them when I got them. I have no idea on their age or sex. Two of them are very close and the third just sits beside them with the ducks. Two of them give a very high pitch squeal when happy and the third I have never it talk much. It has taken all summer for them to come closer to me or even trust me when I come in to thier yard. I would take any added advice or information you can give. I am hopping for goslings come spring.

Thanks Heidi

 

[CelticOaksFarm]

The productions wont touch the ground no, that is part of their breeding to have a leaner build than the dewlaps. They are meat production birds so they should have good weight for table, but they also should graze well compared to the dewlaps who prefer smaller spaces. Given where you live and winter I would look for good hay now to have on hand for when the grass dies off. I keep oat hay on hand here for the goats, the geese all like it. Leafy, not stalky hay is better. What feed do they get along with the whole grains?

 

[Triplell]

I give them Breeder ration cause they are with my ducks. Or if I can't get that them they get meat maker. I dont want them fat but just in great or at least good shape for the winter. Because we are in MN and to hard to keep the water open outside they will be housed inside my barn along with everyone else where I have electricity available. I will be giving them cabage and lettice along with apples and other veggies as I can;t get any good hay for them due to price.

 

[Iain Utah]

Thank you, Sundance!

UPDATE: The weather in Florida is still very hot, so after discussions with Krafty on the phone, I have decided to not ship her 6-pack this week. However, I will be shipping Jen's 4pack tomorrow as scheduled.

I had planned to move the remaining 8 adult dewlaps from horse pasture to the big yard at house once Krafty's 6pack left. But since it looks like it will be another 2 weeks before I can ship to Florida and I did not want to keep the remaining dewlaps free ranging with the africans that long, Iain and I herded them over to the house to be with the rest of the dewlaps today. Even though that puts the number back up to 17 in that yard, everyone is getting along great. I swear the 8 adults seem happier now that they do not have to watch their back 24/7 for the africans.

We also retagged the buffs so that I can tell Krafty's, Celtic's and my personal ones apart as everyone is starting to blur together in size/appearance.

 

[Marty1876]

I give them Breeder ration cause they are with my ducks. Or if I can't get that them they get meat maker. I dont want them fat but just in great or at least good shape for the winter. Because we are in MN and to hard to keep the water open outside they will be housed inside my barn along with everyone else where I have electricity available. I will be giving them cabage and lettice along with apples and other veggies as I can;t get any good hay for them due to price.

I'll give you a little secret. Talk to places in your area with salad bars, and make arrangements with grocery stores for slightly beyond sale able lettuce, apples, carrots, celery, and etc for your geese in winter. That's what my grandma did, and it worked great. I've all ready made arrangements for "snacks" for my geese too. We don't have much oat hay here in KS in my area anyway. Its mostly timothy, alfalfa, or prairie hay.

 

[Triplell]

Thanks Marty,I will certinly give that a try. Am I giving them good food or should I look for something else? Can they digest the whole corn or should I give them the crakced verson? I am still learning so much about them and only want to give them the best ife I can considering what they came from. I know they were kept outside with little shelter so having them inside I hope wont stress them out to bad. They will have most of the barn to roam with the ducks and locked up at night where I know they can't get into to much trouble. I have tryed to diminish all the drafts that I can without wrapping up the whole thing. I do put heat lamps wtih the chickens only to keep it around 35 degrees but the water fowl will not have any. Our weather during the winter can be below -20 for a week at a time during day or night. BRRRRRRRRR not looking forward to it.

 

[Marty1876]

My are eating whole corn, but I try to give most of it to the toulouse, as the others are not so stocky, and seem happy with the mixed grains, oats, wheat, Sunflower Seeds, and such.

Goose pics....

 

[Iain Utah]

I LOVE that 2nd picture!!!

Thank you so much for posting pics!!!!

 

[Marty1876]

Ha ha ha, did you notice who the three in the lead were? Yep, the africans. No matter where we go, they go first. Or seperate. If they others don't follow, they ditch them. LOL

Its hard to get close ups now, as the africans are always leading my group away from me. Hope they come to adore me soon too. Even Dude likes me now. He won't eat from my hands like my hatchers will, but he's like the sebs from Celtic, he'll stand next to them while the others eat from my hands. No the Africans yet. They just leave.

Glad you like the pics. Pic 3 is dinnertime and lock up.

 

[Iain Utah]

Yep, I noticed. They were the same with the dewlaps at my place. Always the leaders in charge. The dewlaps usually followed, but if they didn't the africans didn't care. They'd hang out by themselves and be perfectly content. They were not skittish around me, but I never tried to get them to be buddies. With your friendly group and routine, I bet it will be easy to get them to bond with you. I'm really happy to hear Dude is adjusting well. He'll be eating out of your hand in no time.