Goslings of 2014 Hatch-a-long

[servpolice]

8 Depends which parent is which breed:/ for example w BChinese gander and a white chinese goose you would get pure brown geese with lots of white feathers in odd places e.g the breast feathers get white a lot with this cross

 

[livininbrazil]

Brazil yey! Now we can see what type of colours you get with your mixed breeds and the outcomes!!!

Yes, getting there slowly.....

 

[servpolice]

Are they mating yet?!

 

[livininbrazil]

Are they mating yet?!

I´ve not seen any mounting just yet, but they´ve started their head and neck dipping dances, so it won´t be long. And the ganders are walking around like billowing sails on galleons again. Beautiful.

 

[livininbrazil]

That is to say, the pilgrims are starting. The pieds are only just 8 months old, and have just started looking interested, but the aunties are a tough bunch to crack!

 

[Starfire669]

On impulse I sat down in the grass close to my geese, all of them rushed over to greet me. When Snow started attacking people I had less time to just cuddle my babies, and when I sit I get mobbed by chickens wanting treats, so haven't had a good snuggle with the geese in a while. This morning the chickens were off in the back, and the geese and I were alone, so I sat with them instead of rushing off to feed the dogs breakfast. Jasmine almost crawled in my lap like she used to as a baby. Snow and Noel both let me scratch them, the Africans did not want to be touched, but they still crowded around me. Gertrude tried to threaten me, and Snow and Jasmine starting biting her and Jezabelle. It seemed like Snow and Jas were trying to teach them how to behave around me, but maybe that's giving them too much human thoughts. Anyway, it was nice to see they haven't lost all attachments to me. They are just leary of me while I am standing, if I squat down to their level they are more comfortable. And now I know that Snow won't bite me even if I'm sitting with my back turned to him. Guess he is just mean to everyone else. Lol. Our play time was cut off when my mom came over and spoked Gertrude, who then attacked my mom 5 times. It took my mom, me, and Noel to get her to leave off my mom. Gertrude is female, but is apparently getting aggressive like a male. I might have another she male on my hands, and both are Africans!

Anyway Snow treats the ladies right, he guards them while they eat and stays close when people are near them. Jasmine is still a sweet girl, Noel is trying to copy Snow's behavior. Maybel is very shy, Peaches and Cream are undecided about me (Peaches is molting so bad her belly has bald spots, Cream is molting but not as badly). Jezzebelle likes chest scratches, and Gertrude is brat, lol. My geese have some very strong personalities, but I love each of them dearly, even my brats. Lol.

 

[livininbrazil]

On impulse I sat down in the grass close to my geese, all of them rushed over to greet me. When Snow started attacking people I had less time to just cuddle my babies, and when I sit I get mobbed by chickens wanting treats, so haven't had a good snuggle with the geese in a while. This morning the chickens were off in the back, and the geese and I were alone, so I sat with them instead of rushing off to feed the dogs breakfast. Jasmine almost crawled in my lap like she used to as a baby. Snow and Noel both let me scratch them, the Africans did not want to be touched, but they still crowded around me. Gertrude tried to threaten me, and Snow and Jasmine starting biting her and Jezabelle. It seemed like Snow and Jas were trying to teach them how to behave around me, but maybe that's giving them too much human thoughts. Anyway, it was nice to see they haven't lost all attachments to me. They are just leary of me while I am standing, if I squat down to their level they are more comfortable. And now I know that Snow won't bite me even if I'm sitting with my back turned to him. Guess he is just mean to everyone else. Lol. Our play time was cut off when my mom came over and spoked Gertrude, who then attacked my mom 5 times. It took my mom, me, and Noel to get her to leave off my mom. Gertrude is female, but is apparently getting aggressive like a male. I might have another she male on my hands, and both are Africans!

Anyway Snow treats the ladies right, he guards them while they eat and stays close when people are near them. Jasmine is still a sweet girl, Noel is trying to copy Snow's behavior. Maybel is very shy, Peaches and Cream are undecided about me (Peaches is molting so bad her belly has bald spots, Cream is molting but not as badly). Jezzebelle likes chest scratches, and Gertrude is brat, lol. My geese have some very strong personalities, but I love each of them dearly, even my brats. Lol.

Glad you had a nice time with them. They always feel much more at ease when you´re at their level. They know you´re not going to try to herd them somewhere!

And now I know that Snow won't bite me even if I'm sitting with my back turned to him. Guess he is just mean to everyone else. Lol.

Say that after his first breeding season!

Our play time was cut off when my mom came over and spoked Gertrude, who then attacked my mom 5 times. It took my mom, me, and Noel to get her to leave off my mom. Gertrude is female, but is apparently getting aggressive like a male.

Your mum spoked her? How did that happen? Did Gertrude get hurt? Oh, or do you mean spooked? Ah, that makes sense!

Oops! Your mum didn´t make a friend of her then!

 

[nate1the1great1]

MY GIRLS EGG PIPPED YAH IM SO HAPPY YAH YAH YAH I CANT WAIT ILL POST PICS AS SOON AS IT HATCHES

 

[ChickDancer]

El Nino - already in effect?

We all know that for some reason, this year's hatches just seem to be off-kilter. Something is stirring already. Cottage Rose - breeder and shower of Sebastopol Geese - had to turn down EVERYONE on her waiting list for goslings this year because her girls just didn't give her fertile eggs. And I know many of you have had issues as well.

Apparently, it's not over. I thought it had to do with last year's rainy summer, and brutal winter. We had an unusually harsh winter, and it seemed to last longer than normal, too. I know one of the ladies who was trying to send me eggs kept digging eggs out of the snow that were fertile, but frozen and cracked. So I thought with the warmer weather, we would be getting back to normal. But it doesn't look that way.

If this is true, and what we're seeing is caused by this El Nino, then it both EXPLAINS the past, and why our geese may be having issues this year (their bodies feel the effects too, since geese are naturally migratory birds), and also warns of continued problems in the near future.

What I'm worried about the most, is the devastation on crops. El Nino likes to kill off hundreds of acres of crops at a time. And that means much less feed, and much higher prices for it. That affects all types of "barn" fowl, including geese, chickens, turkeys, etc.


But whatever does happen, just remember - if things are going wrong for you this year, it's probably NOT your fault. It really is just becoming a bad year for our animals, and it's beyond our control.

 

[Starfire669]

Glad you had a nice time with them.  They always feel much more at ease when you´re at their level.  They know you´re not going to try to herd them somewhere!  

Say that after his first breeding season!  

Your mum spoked her?  How did that happen?  Did Gertrude get hurt?  Oh, or do you mean spooked?  Ah, that makes sense!     Oops!  Your mum didn´t make a friend of her then!

Sorry, spooked her. The geese had all their attention on me and my mom came out from behind the wisteria and startled all of us. Gertrude really didn't like that and went for my mom. If the behavior wasn't dangerous later, I'd have laughed to see the youngest, smallest goose trying to act big and tough. But once Gertrude is full grown, she could hurt someone so I let her know that behavoir is not acceptable here. And I swear the ganders take their cues from me. After I went for Gertrude and showed my disapproval, Noel, who had been right next to her, bit her on the back of the neck and pushed her down on the ground. I think Snow was heading for her too, but can't be sure as the geese were kind of milling around honking. Took a couple minutes to get them settled back down after that. I think I am going to make time in the mornings and evenings just to spend time with the geese. I'll figure out a away to keep the chickens occupied while I have some goosey love, lol. From the way they all rushed to me this morning, I think they miss it as much as I do.

I am dreading breeding season. My dad keeps telling me how they will all turn on me in a few months because his gander and 2 geese did. But I don't remember my dad spending time petting and feeding them treats, so his may not have bonded to him. Not sure as it was a long time ago that he had his chickens and geese. Guess only time will tell how my babies turn out.