Gosling hatched naturally, but parents keep it sequestered.

[RoosterTheHorse]

Thanks for all the input. It all really helps. I worry about all my birds. I just watched a Amazon prime documentary called "Chicken People" -- I wish every one in my life who don't understand my love and obsession for my birds, would watch it. Check it out, followed people who show chickens.

Oh my gosh, definitely enjoying the gosling. So fun to watch the family. I am learning so much. It's amazing to me how they all work together. The baby is out much more. And I think it is smaller, but the gosling's legs are much stronger and able to get around. I had forgotten about the seed block, that is what he/she loves. Stands on top of it and eats. I hope the seed block is okay. Should I give chick grit?

I did watch the baby drink and when I put out the crumble in a small container, the 2nd mother goose tried to show where it was and I think even how to eat. She took a bite and put it up towards baby's bill. The little one ignored her, it prefers that seed block.

I will put a ramp in the tub in case it gets into it. Thats a great idea. I cleared bedding from around it to make sure it wouldn't be easy for the little one to get into.

I don't have an incubator, but my neighbor does. The 2nd mom is eager to be on the nest when number one mom gets up. A nice system. It's definitely cute to see the two mom's side by side, sharing the baby. That gosling has it good.

I have been letting them pretty much alone. Only to give fresh water and food. They all circle the gosling, blocking the view and say, don't look at our baby. Okay I do stand nearby and watch, who wouldn't, so entertaining. To see how gentle and sweet the dad is with this little itty bitty baby is so darn adorable and heart warming.

Good to know about the first eggs that hatch smaller goslings, and that these will catch up. That is a relief. I read something that said they can be too small and sickly. He/she is tiny, but not sickly. It has a healthy interest in things.

Now we are hoping and waiting for more to hatch.

 

[Miss Lydia]

Sounds like everything is going good. It's always a relief when the gosling gets it's legs under it. I would put out some chick grit in a separate bowl from crumble.

I sure hope more hatch too the gosling needs some sibs. lol

My gander loved babies so much he even was papa goose to Muscovy ducklings. That is until I brought home a female goose for him then it was all goose to him no ducks allowed.

 

[sourland]

As a kid (just a bit ago) I had a human imprinted gander - Gus the Goose. When he was 4 or 5 I bought a half dozen goslings. Within 24 hours he discovered that he was not a human and adopted the goslings. I became second fiddle from then on. Geese are great parents.

One day the Princess and I stopped at a red light. A pair of Canada geese were waiting on the side of the road. Gander first with wings extended and goose at the rear they shepherded their goslings across the road. That's intelligence.

 

[Percheron chick]

Did they have a. green crossing light?

 

[sourland]

Did they have a. green crossing light?

No crossing signs or lights, but they very evidently had done this before as they did not move until the traffic stopped.

 

[RoosterTheHorse]

It's so endearing to hear about the ganders being so attentive to the goslings. I love hearing stories like these.

I thought another one hatched last night, there was an empty shell. They were burying something under the hay. Shell was a bit bloody. Husband says no sign of a second little one seen today. Might have to check nest when I get home if I don't hear or see a second baby.

Yes, husband buying chick grit today. Baby just seems to want the seed block, but husband said not to worry, the baby is growing fast.

We might get some runner ducklings hatching soon too, maybe I should see if geese would take them in because the drake I think will be mean, not like papa gander. The drake, 1/4 the size of the gander, used to try and beat up the gander, thinking he was tough, until the gander would grabbed him by the neck and hold him down. That's when they all got separated. That scared the heck out me. The drake was relentless untill Arthur, the gander, put him in his place.

 

[Miss Lydia]

My Muscovy drake and Embden gander are arch enemies. My Runner drake doesn't get picked on by either. He probably knows better, they act like he isn't even there. lol

 

[Miss Lydia]

Any updates?

 

[RoosterTheHorse]

Update. Sorry I haven't responded. I have a situation with my 31 yr old son, who is struggling with the worst possible addiction. He has a young baby too. I say this because I can't begin to tell how thankful and therapeutic the little ones are for me. We are having to intervene and get my son into an inpatient treatment center. So worried. I am hoping he gets into an equine therapy place. My son has a very sensitive heart for animals, and he loves spending time with our horses, though he didn't grow up them. And he loves the baby chicks and such when they are here.

So, no new gosling. It was weird there was a new shell, but I never found a baby, not even a little body. She still sits on the nest, so don't know if eggs viable. I am going to have to clean the nest area, smells, and the baby is picking up the stink too. I don't think it's sanitary or healthy.

At what point do I remove the eggs? And I can't get the adults to go outside and leave baby, with one goose staying behind -- to get in pool or eat grass. I give a mix of greens, grumble, wheat in water, (baby can't reach), other mixed grains in crumble. They bathe in the tub, but they aren't as pretty as before.

Now the little gosling that was born a week ago, is doing awesome. She books around with the adults with such confidence. So darn cute. I can pick her up and the adults are okay with it. I make sure I give the daddy attention, he has always gotten it. The baby loves the greens, meal worms, and she does eat the crumble. Little one drinks a lot and is given some grit. I can't tell if she eats the chick grit, but I mix it in with everything and throw it on top of the seed block.

Well no new goslings, but two new ducklings. I removed them and put them in a box with a heat lamp. I made sure a second was born before I did. I did a search on here and saw that a lot of ducklings had been lost to the drake, especially a runner. And since he showed aggression to the gosling, I didn't want to chance it. Now I feel bad, like I should leave the ducklings with Mom and separate the drake. However, duck mom didn't seem as good a mom as the momma goose, she wasn't letting them under her wing, and the babies seemed cold. We are in the low forties to high forties here.

My sis said just give the geese the ducklings, thought about it .The geese seemed very interested in the ducklings, just over their barrier, on the other side and non aggressive. Yet, the ducklings are so very tiny.

Anyway, a book again. Thanks for everyone's support and responses. People on here are awesome and knowledgeable. When things get tough, I go and sit and watch the babies, and my birds. The horses give much too in comfort. Really all animals, even watching our wild birds. Who doesn't love a good show of the flicker woodpecker or morning doves.

 

[Percheron chick]

Candle the remaining eggs and see if they are still viable. Eggs are easily added and you might have some that are still developing. I would try one of the momma with the ducklings. No reason a goose can't do the work for you.