Goslings of 2014 Hatch-a-long

[Starfire669]

Well, I find it extremely hard to kill any of mine, even chickens! I prefer to find them homes. There´s absolutely no way I´d ever be able to kill one of my geese. They´re just so smart and likeable.
So, more pools, then...

Goodness, mine are still babies, and they´re 7 months old! I tried to split them into two groups recently, one group to sell, stayed with the moms, and one group to keep, stayed with the dad. One of the boys kept calling his dad all the time. So I´ve put them back together again for the sake of peace, just take a pair as I sell them. big babies!

I don't think I will actually be able to do it, when the time comes. Culling a chicken isn't so bad, I hypnotize them so they stay still if using a hatchet, or I use a killing cone. But I have never culled and processed a duck or goose. They don't make killing cones that big and you can't hypnotize them. I am kinda hoping my hubby forgets about the Christmas goose dinner, or maybe settle for something else instead. lol

I wish I had your big babies. Mine seem to think they are all grown up already. They are way too young for these shenanigans! I think I am going to be grey by next spring. My boys drive me batty, Howard the duck really got me mad at what he did to Ebony, I had to cull 4 Roos early because they injured my favorite Barred Rock hen's eye, now the geese are doing this! Guess they figured everyone else did something now its their turn?

 

[Miss Lydia]

I don't think I will actually be able to do it, when the time comes. Culling a chicken isn't so bad, I hypnotize them so they stay still if using a hatchet, or I use a killing cone. But I have never culled and processed a duck or goose. They don't make killing cones that big and you can't hypnotize them. I am kinda hoping my hubby forgets about the Christmas goose dinner, or maybe settle for something else instead. lol

I wish I had your big babies. Mine seem to think they are all grown up already. They are way too young for these shenanigans! I think I am going to be grey by next spring. My boys drive me batty, Howard the duck really got me mad at what he did to Ebony, I had to cull 4 Roos early because they injured my favorite Barred Rock hen's eye, now the geese are doing this! Guess they figured everyone else did something now its their turn?

Geese are not near as rough in their love making as ducks are. They are just playing.at this stage. Sammy is 7yrs old and he is such a big baby.

 

[Starfire669]

Geese are near as rough in their love making as ducks are. They are just playing.at this stage. Sammy is 7yrs old and he is such a big baby.

Well, it looked pretty serious for play. But I haven't seen the adult version yet. But both parties looked to mean business, except for when Snow got on backward, then Jasmine just looked mad as all get out. lol. If I do have multiple ganders, at what age would the 2 start to fight? What are the first signs I should look for? Right now Snow is the undisputed king and the flock gets along well. But I know that can't last forever.

 

[livininbrazil]

Well, it looked pretty serious for play. But I haven't seen the adult version yet. But both parties looked to mean business, except for when Snow got on backward, then Jasmine just looked mad as all get out. lol. If I do have multiple ganders, at what age would the 2 start to fight? What are the first signs I should look for? Right now Snow is the undisputed king and the flock gets along well. But I know that can't last forever.

Sounds like there must be something in the water with your lot!

They´ll likely start to fight as breeding season approaches. so you´ve got a while yet. I´ve not had chinese, so I really don´t know if this is normal behaviour for them. Seems very unusual to me, being out of season too. But then I only have the European geese, and they seem quite different.
Geese are lovely to watch when they´re mating, it´s all very graceful. Once they have the right end, that is!
From what I can ascertain from folks, I understand that chinese are more inclined to be aggressive than Africans, but then Africans are much bigger, so it´s anyone´s guess as to who will be the boss there. Time will tell!

 

[Starfire669]

Sounds like there must be something in the water with your lot!

They´ll likely start to fight as breeding season approaches. so you´ve got a while yet. I´ve not had chinese, so I really don´t know if this is normal behaviour for them. Seems very unusual to me, being out of season too. But then I only have the European geese, and they seem quite different.
Geese are lovely to watch when they´re mating, it´s all very graceful. Once they have the right end, that is!
From what I can ascertain from folks, I understand that chinese are more inclined to be aggressive than Africans, but then Africans are much bigger, so it´s anyone´s guess as to who will be the boss there. Time will tell!

They are definitely not graceful! Snow gets on backwards, then slips and bobs trying to turn around while on Jasmine's back. It looks very awkward and clumsy. I am in Texas, and our weather has been strange lately. But we are getting in the low 90s regularly, could that have something to do with it?
+

 

[livininbrazil]

They are definitely not graceful! Snow gets on backwards, then slips and bobs trying to turn around while on Jasmine's back. It looks very awkward and clumsy. I am in Texas, and our weather has been strange lately. But we are getting in the low 90s regularly, could that have something to do with it?

I don´t think it´s the weather! I think he may be a little forward for his age!!

 

[Starfire669]

I don´t think it´s the weather! I think he may be a little forward for his age!!

Oh great, just what I need.

 

[Starfire669]

I suspect 1 of my 5 week old African goslings, Gertrude, has the beginning signs of perosis. She was limping yesterday, I thought she pulled a muscle running around the yard. I checked her over and her joints are swollen and 1 leg looks the tiniest bit off. I know its not niacin, i give that to the geese in the feed and water every few days and dosed her again after I saw her limping. Looked up leg issues in goslings all last night, came up with perosis. This morning I administered 1cc of a multivitamin that has 39mg of manganese and other vitamins and minerals. This supplement is intended for chickens, but it's all I have as the feed stores are closed every Sunday and this Monday because of the holiday. (I am lucky I followed the impulse to buy the supplement as a just in case thing) The bottle says to give 1cc to 3cc per day. Again this is for adult chickens. What dosage should I give a 5 week old gosling to try and stop/correct this leg problem? Please help, I don't want to lose Gertrude to perosis the way I lost Tiny to niacin deficiency.

Also, Snow's feathers are kind of wavy, which I read was a sign of vitamin/mineral deficiency. I gave him 1cc of the same supplement I gave Gertrude. I figured a small dose wouldn't hurt and if he is deficient, then it would help. I thought the wavy feathers was a gander thing. He doesn't look or act like he is deficient in any way. I could be worrying over nothing in Snow's case. Just want verification as there were no pictures of the "curly" feathers that are a sign of problems. His aren't curled, just short of wavy or ruffled looking.

 

[Amiga]

Just a duck person, here, but I got niacin at the local drugstore - big box stores probably carry it and they would be open today and tomorrow, probably. Brewer's yeast has a lot of B vitamins, too.

 

[Starfire669]

Just a duck person, here, but I got niacin at the local drugstore - big box stores probably carry it and they would be open today and tomorrow, probably.  Brewer's yeast has a lot of B vitamins, too.

I have Brewer's yeast and have been adding it to my geese and ducks feed regularly. This is not niacin defiency, I lost a gosling to niacin deficiency and know the signs. This gosling does not have niacin issues, the joins on one of her legs are swollen, and the leg itself looks off, like it is starting to turn slightly inward. From what I read online last night these are signs of perosis, which is caused my a manganese deficiency.