Goslings of 2014 Hatch-a-long

[Starfire669]

look at her feet! They look to have a odd pattern colour.
She was born this morning under one of the broody hens

Congrats!

 

[Starfire669]

So I go to check on the geese and chickens first thing this morning. And I see the geese all pressed up against the dog playpen like they are trying to snuggle together. The big boys on 1 side and the babies on the other, but right in front of each other. Do you think this means they have accepted each other? If I remove the barrier and let them be together, will the babies be safe? Could a bigger goose lay on top of a smaller and suffocate it? I'm both excited to see this and worried. I'm a dang mother hen, lol.

 

[ChickDancer]

Will the eggs hatch out still ?

Yes, if you move them to an incubator.

 

[servpolice]

Thank you starfire :-D

 

[livininbrazil]

look at her feet! They look to have a odd pattern colour.
She was born this morning under one of the broody hens

Lovely. serv. My Pilgrim x goodness-knows-what have feet like that, and they go pink/orange later.

 

[servpolice]

Well lets see what these lil steinbachers out come will be XD

 

[Miss Lydia]

So I go to check on the geese and chickens first thing this morning. And I see the geese all pressed up against the dog playpen like they are trying to snuggle together. The big boys on 1 side and the babies on the other, but right in front of each other. Do you think this means they have accepted each other? If I remove the barrier and let them be together, will the babies be safe? Could a bigger goose lay on top of a smaller and suffocate it? I'm both excited to see this and worried. I'm a dang mother hen, lol.

All you can do is try and see what happens if the big ones bully then put the barrier back into place separated again. Just don't leave them alone till you know for sure they have accepted the youngest ones.

 

[Starfire669]

All you can do is try and see what happens if the big ones bully then put the barrier back into place separated again. Just don't leave them alone till you know for sure they have accepted the youngest ones. 

I let them free range together, and the 2 groups stay somewhat close by each other. Jasper isn't as bad at bulling the babies as Snow is. If Snow sees one of the babies in a pool he goes over there, gooses it and then climbs in the pool himself, even if it is way too small for his big fuzzy butt! As soon as the baby gives way to the big boys, the big ones seem happy to have proven they are the boss and peace settles. Jasper and Snow don't chase the babies hissing anymore, it seems more like a dominance issue now. What are your thoughts on this behavior?

Also, the bulling is worse when I first let them out together, after about an hour I will see them napping together. So close they do touch. Snow won't let the babies touch him yet, he usually is behind Japser. But Jasper will be cuddled up right next to Peaces and Cream (the 2 Africans) and Maybel and Jezebelle are behind them.

 

[jojo14817]

No females will hiss too, especially this time of year. If you found blood in the egg you have a gander for sure. Your goose probably isnt broody yet or is a first time broody and doesnt quite have the basics correct.

the blood was dime sized and I can't remember if it was veined or not. She was laying every other day.

 

[Starfire669]

If I have a 6 x 11 pen, how many geese can comfortably sleep there? It would just be for overnight safety, not all day as I would let them out first thing in the morning.