Goose Questions

[ermer124]

So I have a list of questions that I'm hoping to find some answers too...I've been doing a lot of searching online but I figured what better place to get reliable answers than on here, from people with experience. Feel free to answer any or all of these questions, as any help is greatly appreciated.

At what age do females start to lay eggs? I know its seasonal, but can they still lay if they'll only be a few months old?
Will females still lay eggs, even without a male around?
What is the best bedding to use when I build her outdoor house?
Do they get quieter once they're full grown? My gosling is 2 weeks and she chirps pretty much constantly unless I put her in the dark or right next to my face. They aren't super loud or anything unless I walk out of view, then she screams bloody murder.
At what age is it okay to take her food out at night and put her on a feeding schedule?
Will this help with the volume of poop I have to clean in the morning?

<-no point to this at all, just made me laugh

I know I had more questions, but between work and goose worries I'm feeling pretty scatter brained today. I'll add more later. Thanks in advance for any help

 

[8GeeseALaying]

Ok first off, Hi! LoL here goes...

1. Geese usually start laying the first spring after they hatch, so about 8 to 12 mos old. Larger breeds lay their second spring takes longer for them to mature.

2. Yes a goose will still lay eggs without a male around, they just wont be fertile.

3. The best bedding is stall pellets that horse stables use you can get it at Tractor Supply it absorbs really well. Straw could work or wood shavings just make sure there are no sharp chunks in the shavings it can cut their feet and a goose or gosling with a split webbing is not a happy goose.

4. Noise depends on the breed, some are quieter than others. They are alarm animals when they get older if they see something that they think shouldnt be there they will let you know. Unless i misunderstood it sounds like you only have one gosling, if you get another to go with her she will be A LOT happier and A LOT quieter, she peeping because she is lonely. Geese are social animals and are only truely happy with another of their kind.

5. I put mine outside in an outdoor brooder at 10 days old. Of course i cant be at the barn all hours of the night that means they go on a schedule. However i make sure they have enough water to last them through the night. Geese need water to clean their sinuses out they drink alot too.

6. With geese i dont think anything you can do will cut down on poop. What goes in their mouth seems to come out just minutes later lol the bedding you choose will help alot, especially if you get stall pellets they absorb a lot!

 

[ermer124]

Thanks so much for the advice

. I got her a new house today that I can take in and outside. I decided to go with multipurpose coarse sand for the bedding. I've heard that it works like cat litter and that they like to play in it. Hopefully it goes the way I'm thinking it will, and I'll be able to clean it out less frequently. I'm glad to know that it's okay to go ahead and put her on a feeding schedule as that should help a lot too. I've been really wanting to get her a friend, but I'm not sure that I'll have enough space for two big geese, so I've been really considering getting a call duck or duckling for her to be friends with. They're smaller than normal ducks, and a lot nicer from what I understand. We have kittens, a big cat, and a wiener dog so she isn't totally alone when I'm gone, but I do want her to have a bird friend, and let's face it, call ducks are freaking cute. Thanks again for the help. Most people read but don't respond.

<- this is adorable, and now I want to get her a dancing bunny friend lol

 

[Miss Lydia]

Thanks so much for the advice

. I got her a new house today that I can take in and outside. I decided to go with multipurpose coarse sand for the bedding. I've heard that it works like cat litter and that they like to play in it. Hopefully it goes the way I'm thinking it will, and I'll be able to clean it out less frequently. I'm glad to know that it's okay to go ahead and put her on a feeding schedule as that should help a lot too. I've been really wanting to get her a friend, but I'm not sure that I'll have enough space for two big geese, so I've been really considering getting a call duck or duckling for her to be friends with. They're smaller than normal ducks, and a lot nicer from what I understand. We have kittens, a big cat, and a wiener dog so she isn't totally alone when I'm gone, but I do want her to have a bird friend, and let's face it, call ducks are freaking cute. Thanks again for the help. Most people read but don't respond.

<- this is adorable, and now I want to get her a dancing bunny friend lol

You want to make sure the sand is play sand and not builders sand as I understand they add something to builders sand that isn't healthy for our birds.

 

[ermer124]

This is my little baby Miss Nelson

 

[ermer124]

It says multipurpose, and the guy said it didn't have any kind of chemical in it. I'll keep a close eye on her the next few days and make sure it doesn't bother her. What is it in the sand that's bad for them? Or what signs should I look for in case it is bad for her?

 

[RURU]

To be honest with you geese do not do well without another goose. I had ducks too at one time. The call ducks did not do well with the geese they were just too small and the geese picked on them. They also ran with their own kind. Yes, if you raise a duck with the goose they will imprint on each other. Call ducks fly did not know if you knew this.....

 

[ermer124]

Oh....yea I did not know that call ducks fly.....Well that makes me rethink some things....I just don't know what breed Nelson is for sure so I don't what would be my best option for her. I heard Sebastopols are really friendly to most other breeds...Maybe that would be good.

 

[RURU]

Sebastopols are a mild natured goose. I have would think that they would get along with another breed if raised together. I only have sebastopols so can not tell you if the do.

 

[ermer124]

You wouldn't happen to have a baby you could sell me would you? lol