Goslings of 2014 Hatch-a-long

[servpolice]

8 my post didnt send since i cant see it but anyway wait a few more days and try and lure her off her nest so you can candle

 

[livininbrazil]

Well I hate raccoons! They broke in and killed 6 of the 8 goslings! Trap is set! None of the eggs in the incubator hatched! All dead. My second goose is probably not going to hatch anything. She is not as serious as my other one. Only 2 goslings this season for me.

Oh, that´s so sad. So sorry. Poor little babies. What a disappointment. But you never know, your other goose may just produced some, incubators are incubators, and you still have 2 little ones. You´ll have to really keep them safe! They´re even more precious now!

Miss Lydia and livinginbrazil
Thank you for your encouragement.

This is my first experience with geese. I wasn't really disappointed with no babies. I was surprised when they started laying at such an early age.
I figured they still had a load of growing to do. Next year will be early enough. Meanwhile I'm enjoying them very much. They are real characters!
They are dear to my heart; much more than the ducks or chickens even though I love them all.

I am happy for all those who have new goslings to add to their flocks.

I have chickens, I like them, but pretty stupid creatures, and muscovy ducks, quite smart, and then geese. My geese are my favourites. Such characters like you say and into everything! They´re a bit like dogs, make me laugh.

 

[Miss Lydia]

Well I hate raccoons! They broke in and killed 6 of the 8 goslings! Trap is set! None of the eggs in the incubator hatched! All dead. My second goose is probably not going to hatch anything. She is not as serious as my other one. Only 2 goslings this season for me.

I am so sorry to hear this flockman.

 

[ChickDancer]

Well I hate raccoons! They broke in and killed 6 of the 8 goslings! Trap is set! None of the eggs in the incubator hatched! All dead. My second goose is probably not going to hatch anything. She is not as serious as my other one. Only 2 goslings this season for me.

I can definitely share your pain right now, but my issue was with a fox. And he didn't hurt the geese or ducks, but rather my top-dog rooster, who EVERYBODY loved, and he was very dear to me. I was crying all day yesterday over the loss, and still tearing up a bit today. He was my boy...

I'm in revenge mode now. I'm looking into spring leg traps, and that little b**tard will be caught and he is GOING TO DIE! I was hurt but got over losing other chickens. And the live traps are catching raccoons and possums either way. But the loss of my big roo was the straw that broke the camel's back, and sh*t's going down, now!

 

[8GeeseALaying]

I hope she hatches some of her own, but i wouldn't be surprised at all that she would take to those goslings. 

Im gonna try once i know for sure if the eggs are good or bad.

8 my post didnt send since i cant see it but anyway wait a few more days and try and lure her off her nest so you can candle

I will. I may try it tonight if i can.

 

[nikkers390]

Oh, that´s so sad. So sorry. Poor little babies. What a disappointment. But you never know, your other goose may just produced some, incubators are incubators, and you still have 2 little ones. You´ll have to really keep them safe! They´re even more precious now!
I have chickens, I like them, but pretty stupid creatures, and muscovy ducks, quite smart, and then geese. My geese are my favourites. Such characters like you say and into everything! They´re a bit like dogs, make me laugh.

Funny you should mention Muscovies. I had 15 last year. Lost most to bobcats and sold the excess males. I had 3 girls and 1 male left. Raccoons killed the girls in their pen along with some hatchlings which left me with only the male.
We call him Black Goose because he bonded with the geese. He loves the girls (literally and Biblically). He really thinks he is a goose! He goes everywhere they go. I bought a couple of females for him and he totally ignores them! He would rather squabble with the ganders and "romance" the geese. I should get rid of him, but I can't talk myself into it since I know he will be someone's Sunday dinner. So he stays.

 

[nikkers390]

What breed are your geese?

I have 5-2 males. I is white and the other is grey. 3 grey females. I bought them as African, they may be Chinese or a mix. They are not very large. The white male is dominant and the largest goose.

 

[8GeeseALaying]

I have 5-2 males. I is white and the other is grey. 3 grey females. I bought them as African, they may be Chinese or a mix. They are not very large. The white male is dominant and the largest goose.

If they have chinese in them then its normal for them to start breeding and laying as early as 8 mos old. All of my young chinese and chinese cross from last year started laying early. In February they laid and Some of those turned a year old in April and the rest wont be a year old until mid June.

 

[nikkers390]

If they have chinese in them then its normal for them to start breeding and laying as early as 8 mos old. All of my young chinese and chinese cross from last year started laying early. In February they laid and Some of those turned a year old in April and the rest wont be a year old until mid June.

Good to hear. That's probably what they are. They also laid a sum of about 35/40 eggs each. Summers can be brutal here. I definitely can wait till next winter. The geese should be in great condition by then.
Thank you for your input.

 

[8GeeseALaying]

Good to hear. That's probably what they are. They also laid a sum of about 35/40 eggs each. Summers can be brutal here. I definitely can wait till next winter. The geese should be in great condition by then.
Thank you for your input.

Oh you are welcome! I love discussing chinese geese, a lot of people dont like them but they are my favorites in my flock.
Thats a good number of eggs for first years and normal as well. Thats about what mine laid. The older they get the more they will lay unless you let them brood.