Goslings of 2014 Hatch-a-long

[Starfire669]

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.

Thanks for the heads up. The weather has been strange where I live. We had a hail storm last year and again this year. In Texas that just don't happen, we get snow and cold weather rarely. Plus we are getting more rain than normal as well. My flock isn't of breeding age yet, but this weather could still cause issues with them and my garden.

 

[livininbrazil]

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.

Your poor mom! Are you sure Gertrude is a she? That´s very gander-like behaviour isn´t it?
With you it´s your chickens sticking their beaks in, with me it´s my dogs. As soon as I´m on the grass with my geease, along comes a silly, squirming great dog that wants to get some fuss, too! One is worse than the others. The others I can tell to lie down or sit, and they do. This one ***** is frightened of nothing, extremely strong-minded and demanding, and as soon as I´m in the middle of something that doesn´t involve her, there she is, right in my face! A right toad, she is! But she´s great.
Oh, you remember that ***** I told you about that had a broken leg? Well I tried to get aher, but was unable, then she vanished. I hadn´t seen her for a week or two, and imagined she´s passed, poor thing. Well, today I asked a girl who lives there, and she said she´d been hit AGAIN by another car, and was under (not buried) a tree in her neighbour´s garden. I went to look, she´s layed down, a bit skinny, so sweet, doesn´t show pain, but I know fully well that means nothing. so, I´ve phoned the vet, she´ll g and get her, and see what she can do, then the ***** will come back and live here.
As regards breeding season, goodness knows. I only know what my neighbour´s chinese gander is like, and he´s a horror.
Will you keep them all now, then? Or is one still doomed for the plate? Sounds like it could be an African!

 

[livininbrazil]

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

 

[livininbrazil]

Thanks for the heads up. The weather has been strange where I live. We had a hail storm last year and again this year. In Texas that just don't happen, we get snow and cold weather rarely. Plus we are getting more rain than normal as well. My flock isn't of breeding age yet, but this weather could still cause issues with them and my garden.

Here where I live we´re in the dry season, but there wasn´t really a wet season, so we´ve gone over a year with very little rain. Some farms are really feeling it. Some people have had to butcher their livestock because the springs have dried up. It´s not normal here. Happily for us, we have springs on our property which are producing well.
Up in the north, where it´s normally dry, there have been floods.

 

[nate1the1great1]

Ya We have been having weird weather in colorado it's never been so green and we haven't had a storm in over a week and the river keeps getting higher and higher flooded and my geese i only got 1 fertile egg out of 20

 

[servpolice]

Yea chip my oldest gosling is going for peoples legs also and not mine since im his mother still but just a good kick will give him a second thought for the next time

 

[nate1the1great1]

Hey i have another question do u think the egg will hatch over night since its day 34 it piped last night and im hoping it hatches tonight

 

[Starfire669]

Your poor mom!  Are you sure Gertrude is a she?  That´s very gander-like behaviour isn´t it?
With you it´s your chickens sticking their beaks in, with me it´s my dogs.  As soon as I´m on the grass with my geease, along comes a silly, squirming great dog that wants to get some fuss, too!  One is worse than the others.  The others I can tell to lie down or sit, and they do.  This one ***** is frightened of nothing, extremely strong-minded and demanding, and as soon as I´m in the middle of something that doesn´t involve her, there she is, right in my face!  A right toad, she is!  But she´s great.  
Oh, you remember that ***** I told you about that had a broken leg?  Well I tried to get aher, but was unable, then she vanished.  I hadn´t seen her for a week or two, and imagined she´s passed, poor thing.  Well, today I asked a girl who lives there, and she said she´d been hit AGAIN by another car, and was under (not buried) a tree in her neighbour´s garden.  I went to look, she´s layed down, a bit skinny, so sweet, doesn´t show pain, but I know fully well that means nothing.  so, I´ve phoned the vet, she´ll g and get her, and see what she can do, then the ***** will come back and live here.
As regards breeding season, goodness knows.  I only know what my neighbour´s chinese gander is like, and he´s a horror.  
Will you keep them all now, then?  Or is one still doomed for the plate?  Sounds like it could be an African!    

All the Africans were purchased as females, I already think Cream is a gander or a she male. If Gertrude is the Sami have some questions for the hatchery I got them from, like if they know how to sex, or what in the world are they doing to produce 2 gender confused female Africans!? I will keep watching them, Cream has not started growing his/her knob yet, which if a gander he/she should have. I already know I have 2 pairs of Chinese, it's the Africans that are keeping me guessing with the strange behavior. I had been told and read that Africans were milder tempered than Chinese, but for me it's the other way around! If Gertrude keeps this behavior up, she could replace Noel as Christmas dinner. Noel is very sweet for a gander, never threatens anyone and is always up for scratches, it would be a shame to butcher him. But I get the feeling its because Snow is the dominant gander, if Snow wasn't here Noel would be just as obnoxious to strangers. I don't have proof, just a huntch.

That poor dog, I am glad you found her and are taking care of her. I hope her injuries are not too severe and she recovers.

 

[Iain Utah]

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.

Hm.... perhaps my geese are an exception, but they have had excellent fertility and very good hatches this year. Certainly consistent with last year, if not better.

 

[flockman]

I did not have an issue with fertility this year. I had a goose hatch 8 out of 8 eggs. None of the 20+ eggs I put in the incubator hatched. THat I believe was handler error. The other goose had 8 fertile eggs until raccoons destroyed the nest. I lost all of my goslings this year. 2 goslings came up missing one day. 3 days later 4 more were gone. I started to lock geese in "Fort Knox" at night. One night we stayed at a friends house till about sunset and came home to a destroyed nest and the final 2 goslings gone.

We have been ridding our place of all kinds of vermin this year! This is not unlike the great chicken Massacre 2 years ago. I forgot to shut in chickens one night and lost 16 3 month old chickens. I really hate raccoons!

Next year I will not loose a gosling or any other animal to a raccoon!