Hi everyone!
Just wanted to say hello!
I'm a new member that lives in the North Texas small town of Rhome - between Fort Worth and Wichita Falls.
I have one pair of Embden Geese (As well as a pair of Mallard ducks) and two (Formerly 8) goslings from their first hatch...currently being raised inside my "Dog/Mud" room after a string of misfortunes.
2 got taken by hawks in the pasture at one week of age.
1 was stepped on by his father when we caged the ones remaining
at 5 weeks 1 was taken from the new pen by what we now believe was a raccoon
Two more were pulled through a HEAVIER, more sealed cage by a raccoon and two are remaining and being raised indoors....
1 until he's big enough to go out w/o being taken by the hawks that seem to be making themselves at home in my yard and the other until a flesh wound heals. We may keep the larger one in to be company for the smaller healing one.
The small one is a runt and though the same age as the other is about 1/3rd the size at 7 weeks+. The larger 1/2 feathered...the runt none known yet.
We are calling the larger one "Lucky" and the runt "Tiny Tim" - though we don't know sexes yet.
We've had ducks and geese for years without issue but these are our first goslings.
It seems like everything we've done in trying to do the right thing we've done wrong.
Our enclosed area was the wrong wire....the crate still wasn't protection....giving hay for bedding.....gosh...you name it....it hasn't worked.
Even got a $35lb bag of Muzuri waterfowl feed that's supposed to be the best and it's too big for them to eat! (We're going to crush some up with a rolling pen instead!!!).
It's sad b/c we've put lots of effort into caring for them!
I change out their shavings 3x a day...Give them outside swim time 2-3 times a day....it just seems to never end. We're very dillegent and try to be such good parents .... I guess when you know better you do better!
I'm worried today because not knowing any better I bedded the indoor goslings on coastal hay from a square bale (For the last week).....I know now that's a no-no....hopefully not too late.
I changed the hay out daily but it was wet and poopy and .... just a mess.
I'm worried b/c Lucky has been panting all day regardless of the fact that he's been out swimming twice already.
Wildlife (Avian) rehab said he's just hot with feathers and a high (108+) degree body temperature that even turning on the A/C higher wouldn't help. Sigh. Hope they're right!
I'm worried about Aspergillius (SP?) b/c of the hay! Lucky isn't off his feed or water and acts like he's just fine....other than the panting. Tiny Tim isn't panting but doesn't have any feathers either!
Don't think I can do anything other than wait/see.
Now they are on PINE shavings.
I feed chicken scratch mixed with chick starter but soon will be subbing out the chick starter for the crushed Muzuri.
I am trying to figure out how to make an "E" collar if anyone knows to keep the Tiny Tim from picking at his wound.
Also I read someone's post about a screaming gosling...if you're reading this....when I only had the one in the room (Tiny Tim was @ the wildlife rehab) I gave lucky a large, shiny pot lid on the outside of the crate with a great shine to act as a mirror. He cuddled right up to it after a few hours.
Made a really cute picture and peace was once restored at the 3LazyG Ranch~!
Anyway....sorry for the long post....and I guess I'm now introduced?!
Sure hope to learn new tricks and better ways for next time!
Thanks for reading my post!
Shari
Just wanted to say hello!
I'm a new member that lives in the North Texas small town of Rhome - between Fort Worth and Wichita Falls.
I have one pair of Embden Geese (As well as a pair of Mallard ducks) and two (Formerly 8) goslings from their first hatch...currently being raised inside my "Dog/Mud" room after a string of misfortunes.
2 got taken by hawks in the pasture at one week of age.
1 was stepped on by his father when we caged the ones remaining
at 5 weeks 1 was taken from the new pen by what we now believe was a raccoon
Two more were pulled through a HEAVIER, more sealed cage by a raccoon and two are remaining and being raised indoors....
1 until he's big enough to go out w/o being taken by the hawks that seem to be making themselves at home in my yard and the other until a flesh wound heals. We may keep the larger one in to be company for the smaller healing one.
The small one is a runt and though the same age as the other is about 1/3rd the size at 7 weeks+. The larger 1/2 feathered...the runt none known yet.
We are calling the larger one "Lucky" and the runt "Tiny Tim" - though we don't know sexes yet.
We've had ducks and geese for years without issue but these are our first goslings.
It seems like everything we've done in trying to do the right thing we've done wrong.
Our enclosed area was the wrong wire....the crate still wasn't protection....giving hay for bedding.....gosh...you name it....it hasn't worked.
Even got a $35lb bag of Muzuri waterfowl feed that's supposed to be the best and it's too big for them to eat! (We're going to crush some up with a rolling pen instead!!!).
It's sad b/c we've put lots of effort into caring for them!
I change out their shavings 3x a day...Give them outside swim time 2-3 times a day....it just seems to never end. We're very dillegent and try to be such good parents .... I guess when you know better you do better!
I'm worried today because not knowing any better I bedded the indoor goslings on coastal hay from a square bale (For the last week).....I know now that's a no-no....hopefully not too late.
I changed the hay out daily but it was wet and poopy and .... just a mess.
I'm worried b/c Lucky has been panting all day regardless of the fact that he's been out swimming twice already.
Wildlife (Avian) rehab said he's just hot with feathers and a high (108+) degree body temperature that even turning on the A/C higher wouldn't help. Sigh. Hope they're right!
I'm worried about Aspergillius (SP?) b/c of the hay! Lucky isn't off his feed or water and acts like he's just fine....other than the panting. Tiny Tim isn't panting but doesn't have any feathers either!
Don't think I can do anything other than wait/see.
Now they are on PINE shavings.
I feed chicken scratch mixed with chick starter but soon will be subbing out the chick starter for the crushed Muzuri.
I am trying to figure out how to make an "E" collar if anyone knows to keep the Tiny Tim from picking at his wound.
Also I read someone's post about a screaming gosling...if you're reading this....when I only had the one in the room (Tiny Tim was @ the wildlife rehab) I gave lucky a large, shiny pot lid on the outside of the crate with a great shine to act as a mirror. He cuddled right up to it after a few hours.
Made a really cute picture and peace was once restored at the 3LazyG Ranch~!
Anyway....sorry for the long post....and I guess I'm now introduced?!
Sure hope to learn new tricks and better ways for next time!
Thanks for reading my post!
Shari
