Goslings of 2014 Hatch-a-long

[livininbrazil]

Wow! that is really exciting! I am not sure that I could keep up with so many animals. I have my 10yr old son (which I homeschool), 6 indoor dogs, a cat, 7 ducks and the 2 geese. Some days I feel very overwhelmed with all of my responsibilities. I am inspired by your posts because you raise your geese so well and still have time to reply to all of my questions! I hope the eggs under the pied parents hatch! I cant wait to see pics of them!.

Holding the pot seems to be working good. I am going to get another one so i can hold two. I let them out of their night time run and then they follow me quacking (the cayuga mixes are louder than i expected) and Oliver chatters gosling chatter. He does head snake at me while following me for food. I thought it was more of a demand for food, but could it be that he is still scared?
After I give everyone a little nibble in the bucket (pot), I spread the food out on the ground so they can graze on it. So, I make them come to me before I will feed them. So far it has helped a lot!

Sounds like you have it sussed with the feeding. The head thing of Oliver is just showing insecurity, but he´ll get there. He´s a baby, without his parents, so he´s a bit wary.

Regards the birds, I have so many birds here. I have 3 chickens with little chicks, 8 of which hatched yesterday, so sweet. There are two more sitting on eggs, the various geese on various nests, and ducklings with their moms to feed too, so it´s always busy here. I also teach English, and have 7 dogs and 5 cats. It gets crazy this time of year because of the goslings, but the rest of the time is calmer. My youngest is still at homw, but is 17 so all I have to do with him is feed him!

I literally run around quite a bit trying to get them all fed and watered before I work. I get a good bit of exercise, too, as we have them spread around over 2 acres.

There´s always one that needs to be sorted out for some reason, like today, one of my laying hens decided to 'go over the wall' to the ´greener´ grass the other side. Haha, got chased by the neighbour´s cock, chased by a hen with chicks, and tried to get back in again, so I had to go down the lane to rescue the pest! Haha.....
I had the three families of geese with their goslings out free today, and from time to time all the goslings mix together, they look great as one flock. Then they divide off again into their little groups.
I´ll try to get some new pics today, the weather´s improved.

 

[livininbrazil]

Some pics I took today:

The new mom, year-old with her 3 goslings (including the 2 that hatched out indoors), happily adopted now. 2 of these are Pilgrim females. The other is a cross-bred.



The 'Normandy' with her two males of 2 weeks, out for the first time today.



The Pilgrims with their 4, 2 males, 2 females, 2 and half weeks old.



The other 'Normandy' with her 6, the oldest ones. These are 3 weeks old. Adoptive Pilgrim dad is nearer the camera.

 

[jtn42248]

They are beautiful and amazing and you are just a miracle yourself. We are very lucky to have you on BYC because with you in the Southern Hemisphere we are able to have a year-round gosling experience.

 

[nate1the1great1]

Here's my geese today

 

[Miss Lydia]

Here's my geese today

They are very pretty nate.

 

[livininbrazil]

They are beautiful and amazing and you are just a miracle yourself. We are very lucky to have you on BYC because with you in the Southern Hemisphere we are able to have a year-round gosling experience.

Well, there´s a huge compliment.

I know without the geese that my mlife would be a lot calmer, but I just love them so much, I can´t imagine not having them. I´ve also been helped so much by some of the longer-term regulars on these threads when I first encountered problems that I try to help others with what I´ve learned.
And there are others on here, too, from the Southern hemisphere. For instance, we should be hearing some news from Australia before long....

 

[jtn42248]

And we wait with bated breath to hear from them...My three are just doing the teenager in the back of a Chevy thing and not really "getting it on" with any purpose. I guess I am going to just have to wait for December and beyond...and even then...their first year may not be fruitful.

 

[livininbrazil]

And we wait with bated breath to hear from them...My three are just doing the teenager in the back of a Chevy thing and not really "getting it on" with any purpose. I guess I am going to just have to wait for December and beyond...and even then...their first year may not be fruitful.

That´s true, it can be a ridiculous time with first-years, but having said that, I have first-years now that went broody, so I left them with a couple of eggs, and they have been very dutiful sitters, although their eggs and goslings are a tad on the small side in comparison, but they´ve done well, much better than other first years I´ve had. I think it may have something to do with them being either full or half Pilgrim, as Pilgrims are very good brooders and natural parents as a rule. So, ya never know... but best to only leave the later, bigger eggs with the goose, as there´s a better chance of success. we made omelettes of the first few smaller eggs.
I wonder when we´ll hear from the others.......

 

[livininbrazil]

@tillyita Any news from your lot?

 

[Miss Lydia]

Some pics I took today:

The new mom, year-old with her 3 goslings (including the 2 that hatched out indoors), happily adopted now. 2 of these are Pilgrim females. The other is a cross-bred.



The 'Normandy' with her two males of 2 weeks, out for the first time today.



The Pilgrims with their 4, 2 males, 2 females, 2 and half weeks old.



The other 'Normandy' with her 6, the oldest ones. These are 3 weeks old. Adoptive Pilgrim dad is nearer the camera.

livin I can't believe I missed your pics, glad I went back to read some posts I had missed. Gorgeous mamas and gozzies so much fun to watch them together. And 1 of your yr olds has gozzies that is precious.. Congrats to you and moms and dads