Here we go again - I'm hatching more goslings!!

[Iain Utah]

Thanks for posting! I love the pictures! Your dewlaps are precious!!

 

[annabell254]

Hi, I tried to hatch (well my friend did, who hatches everything but goose and duck eggs) and all 8 developed but none hatched...he did not mist next year I want to put them under a silkie hen...would this work? would I need to mist them? or should I bite the bullet and get a incubator?

 

[Iain Utah]

I'm pretty sure a goose egg would be too big to put under a silkie. I have had decent success with cheap styrofoam incubators. I am also a big believer that misting helps a lot, especially when it gets close to hatch date.

 

[Marty1876]

Bite the bullet, get the incubator. Hovabator with a fan is the best cheap one. Forget hatching a gosling under a silky. Have you ever seen the cartoon pic of a little chicken on a big egg? It'll look like that. Cute cartoon, bad reality.

 

[annabell254]

that is what I was thinking...but what about a broody full sized chicken??? I also have Sussex, EE's, Marans, and Hamburgs...I think sussex and marans go broody???....O well I still have a full year to convince hubby that I now NEED an incubator...so I can add even more to our flock!!

It's a good thing he is an understanding hubby!

 

[Marty1876]

I think you maybe able to manage 2 eggs under a full size, but no guarantees. The big egg maybe offsetting for them. Also, humidity needs are a bit different. Maybe you should just buy a female muscovey duck? They are wonderfull sitters and mothers, and I think you can set 4-6 goosies under one.

 

[annabell254]

I had not thought of that!...Are they the only broody duck or goose?

 

[Marty1876]

No, most geese will set (chinese i think less so) and some ducks set, but muscoveys are reputed to be more excellent than any others.

 

[annabell254]

Yea, mine would not sit! haha I had a girl sit every night ONLY on 20+ eggs but I still got a new egg every other day.... After a failed attempt to incubate them, we bought more babies this year, so we will try again next year to get our own I'll probbly have to get an incubator though as I do not have any muscoveys and my hubby has forbidden any more poultry of any type

for this year anyways

 

[Iain Utah]

For those who are curious about how Spirit is doing, I have had some new developments with her.

She has had a bad time the past couple of days with not being about to get up from a laying position as her legs will splay. So, we schedule an appointment for this morning at 9am. At our appointment, the vet said.... and I am quoting her chart notes: "Hips starting to splay. Advised quality of life will quickly become unacceptable; recommended euthanasia." I asked her to refer me to another vet that she would consider a mentor, so she sent me to another place. We met with vet #2 at 4pm. This vet took xrays (1st vet has never offered and when asked by me she said unnecessary). He determined hips are fine, but lower leg has rotated 90 degrees. He said he could cast her foot to correct it, then break her leg and re-set it. He thought prognosis was actually pretty good. So, they put her under anesthesia and cast her foot. Vet said he was surprised that there was nice flexion and he was able to almost fully correct it today. She came out of the procedure really well. She is now back home in her pen, walking around, eating and drinking well, preening and chatting away.

He also gave me a series of pictures of a sling to help ease the weight off her good leg, if she appears to be having a hard time. Hubby is making a list and running to home depot to build it tonight, but so far she does not appear to need it.

We return in 5 days to remove cast and determine the next step.

Here is one of the pics he gave me with another gosling patient of his: