Goose with a Hen as a mother

[Sprucey]

Hi, I have a pair of Toulouse geese, some ducks and a number of hens. Our geese were mating and had a number of eggs. She showed no interest in sitting and on a few that we didn't sell I placed them under a broody hen, probably less than half expecting anything to happen.

Anyway, it has! This morning we have a back end looking to exit an egg and another that looks pipped. I'm of the mind to leave them alone for a little while but they're in a raised house so I'm conscious of ensuring the goslings will be able to get to food and water etc. A few questions therefore :

1) will mother hen care for them in the first few hours and do I have anything to fear from other broodies or hens coming in to lay?
2) I read they live on the yolk for a little while. Is this true?
3) How should I best get them to crumb and water? Lifting them out in a day or so's time and then putting them back afterwards or creating a new environment for "mother" and babies so they can do it themselves?

Many thanks

David

 

[Miss Lydia]

Hi, I have a pair of Toulouse geese, some ducks and a number of hens. Our geese were mating and had a number of eggs. She showed no interest in sitting and on a few that we didn't sell I placed them under a broody hen, probably less than half expecting anything to happen.

Anyway, it has! This morning we have a back end looking to exit an egg and another that looks pipped. I'm of the mind to leave them alone for a little while but they're in a raised house so I'm conscious of ensuring the goslings will be able to get to food and water etc. A few questions therefore :

1) will mother hen care for them in the first few hours and do I have anything to fear from other broodies or hens coming in to lay?
2) I read they live on the yolk for a little while. Is this true?
3) How should I best get them to crumb and water? Lifting them out in a day or so's time and then putting them back afterwards or creating a new environment for "mother" and babies so they can do it themselves?

Many thanks

David

Welcome to BYC and Congrats on your new little goslings.

Are you thinking of letting your geese raise the goslings? or letting them stay with mama hen?
I'd dif get them to floor level so they don't fall out of the nest, even when first hatched they can do this. and that will help you with food and water issue. if mama hen is fierce as most are I think most will keep their distance. I have 2 mama hens right now and nothing gets close to her babies. Just make sure she is doing her job. And yes they live on the yolk for first couple days so after hatch set food and water close by mama will appreciate it too.

 

[Sprucey]

Hi, thank you for the welcome and the reply.

We have three as of this morning, two more hatched overnight and all are doing well. Incredible how sturdy they look so quickly! I think Mum is probably a bit surprised as to what is going on underneath her! I moved eggs, chick and Mum yesterday to a new house and run which is enclosed so safe from everyone else and virtually on the ground.

I plan to let them develop for a couple of weeks and then give them supervised access to the real parents to see how they get on. All our chickens and indeed ducks free range over or property but our geese are enclosed in a field and I want these guys to join them rather than making a mess of my lawn!

 

[Miss Lydia]

Hi, thank you for the welcome and the reply.

We have three as of this morning, two more hatched overnight and all are doing well. Incredible how sturdy they look so quickly! I think Mum is probably a bit surprised as to what is going on underneath her! I moved eggs, chick and Mum yesterday to a new house and run which is enclosed so safe from everyone else and virtually on the ground.

I plan to let them develop for a couple of weeks and then give them supervised access to the real parents to see how they get on. All our chickens and indeed ducks free range over or property but our geese are enclosed in a field and I want these guys to join them rather than making a mess of my lawn!

Hi, thank you for the welcome and the reply.

We have three as of this morning, two more hatched overnight and all are doing well. Incredible how sturdy they look so quickly! I think Mum is probably a bit surprised as to what is going on underneath her! I moved eggs, chick and Mum yesterday to a new house and run which is enclosed so safe from everyone else and virtually on the ground.

I plan to let them develop for a couple of weeks and then give them supervised access to the real parents to see how they get on. All our chickens and indeed ducks free range over or property but our geese are enclosed in a field and I want these guys to join them rather than making a mess of my lawn!

Well Congrats again!! that is awesome. Good for you getting them moved into safe quarters too. I bet that hen is really surprised as to what she has hatched. I'd love to see them.
I gave my goslings to their adoptive parents at 3 weeks but I was being over protective 2 weeks they could have had them and I did the same I took them out daily and let the adults see and be around the goslings, they did get with each other and are a happy bonded family of 4 .

 

[Sprucey]