Goslings of 2014 Hatch-a-long

Andrea
I really appreciate you asking ! My current vet is Dr. Mason at Florida Wild. I live in Central Florida close to Daytona Beach. I have had other people recommend UF. I dont know how I feel about going to as teaching facility. I almost had a miscarriage with my son because my intern (?) Dr. didnt catch something that was small and very important.

I have (tech) experience in the veterinary field. Before I had my son I worked at a emergency vet at night and a very big practice during the day. The practice had a avian vet. Dr. Sam also did a lot of rehab work with wildlife. I really miss working there, they were all so wonderful. If I still lived in Ohio, I would be working there.

One thing I did find out working at several vets over the years is not all doctors are the same. I wish there were public statics with vets on how many successful surgeries a vet has performed and how many actual surgeries avian orthopedic surgeries someone has done.

I guess what I am saying is , when the time comes, I might be a bit OCD about who I trust with my beloved goose daughter's future.

Can you please give me the specs to your inside cage that you keep spirit in?

I'll be talking with Scott in a little bit and will get names for you. I am pretty sure he will also recommend UF, as it is one of the top veterinary hospitals in the country. And given what I spent on surgery for my goose, I wish I had a place like UF near me as private hospitals are expensive!

I used a 3'x4'x2.5' wood framed pen with window screen for walls when Spirit was a youngster and post initial surgery. Last winter I walled off half of my 10x12 spare bedroom for him and his girlfriend.
 
How did the storm "get to the eggs"? Do you mean since they free range the eggs got wet and cold? Do they sit outside in the open on their nests? Do you keep track of the humidity levels when you have the eggs in the kitchen under the lamp? Do you use a heat lamp? I am just wondering because if I ever get another egg, I dont want to be so unprepared as I was with the last one that didnt make it.

Post more pics of your babies!
Hi Andrea. Yes, they free-range, so choose where they want their nests, and I mainoy leave them to it. this particular goose made her nest quite close to the road, and when we get a downpour here, it´s like buckets, so I can only imagine there was some run-off from the road that affected the eggs, as two of the eggs had died only days previously, which coincided with the rain. The other goose, which was sitting on the first goose´s other 4 eggs, hatched out 3, one was infertile. so, she did much better. Well, that´s how it goes. The first one´s happy enough with her one gosling, and she has the other Pilgrim with 3 goslings in the same pen, and the gander in there as well, so they´re fine for another 10 days, then I´ll let them all out.
The other two eggs that I brought in aren´t ready to hatch yet, but are alive, and I would imagine the more advanced one should hatch in a couple of days. There´s lots of movement now. The other ones´a number of days behind it. They´re in a cardboard box with a desk lamp over, a thermometer with the bulb in the shade, damp kitchen paper, and cling-film over the top, which helps to keep the humidity level in, and also I can regulate the temperature. I´ve hatched out goslings and chicks this way before, but I only do it in the last days of development.
I found another late-developing egg in a nest, so that´s been put under another goose, and is more developed than the other two she´s presently sitting on, so I´ll have to keep an eye on that situation, too. What fun with goslings!
building more breeding pens for my Africans. :-D
Jolly good, but where´s the Avatar? Will you put that gorgeous gander on?
big_smile.png
 
Thanks for replying! Since she bought the Oliver and the other goose I had for a night at the farm swap, I was reluctant to believe that they were what she thinks they are. I trust my friends on the forum much more. I have been spending lots of time out with Forest and Ollie (and the 4 ducks) she is getting better. I can tell that she doesnt look at him as her own species. She looks at him like he is another duck and when he talks in the cute gosling talk to her she looks very perplexed... almost like "how can he talk my language". I keep feeding them treats and Ollie tries to talk to Forest, he is at least interested in her. She will get there hopfully. I am just glad that he fit in so well with the ducks. They really like him and he is following them around like he is part of their flock.

What do you mean Forest's feathers being weird? If you are talking about her chest feathers being fluffy, I assume it is because she spends a few hours every day in the chair.

Do you mean something with her wing feathers?

any new pics of your babies? I want to see weekly growth pics!!
In her pic, the feathers on her chest look strange, but as you said, it could be because she spends a lot of time in her hammock.
big_smile.png

Your new gander looks more Pilgrim to me than an Emden, for instance. And Pilgrims have such quiet natures, it seems he fits with that.
I have 3 geese that imprinted on me, but they accepted other geese when they got older, so it should go well with your two, especially being just babies.

These are three of the 4 new pil babies with one of the moms and the gander.


These are the latest two hatched with their mom. They´re Pilgrim x , not too easy to see through the wire, though.
 
She hatched quite the variety of colors. I told Iain he can pick one or two to let Bolshy keep and raise, but the rest need to get listed for sale asap.... especially when he still has two more ducks sitting on nests.
th.gif
 
Andrea

I'll be talking with Scott in a little bit and will get names for you. I am pretty sure he will also recommend UF, as it is one of the top veterinary hospitals in the country. And given what I spent on surgery for my goose, I wish I had a place like UF near me as private hospitals are expensive!

I used a 3'x4'x2.5' wood framed pen with window screen for walls when Spirit was a youngster and post initial surgery. Last winter I walled off half of my 10x12 spare bedroom for him and his girlfriend.
thanks!
 

New posts New threads Active threads

Back
Top Bottom