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

[erijn5]

Your eggs are hatching? Hooray!

I believe they have internally pipped, but they are out there with the mothers so I have not candled them...but I can hear them in the shells tapping, I picked up on and it started rocking in my hand, I'm getting so excited..I would assume by morning we should have something.

 

[Iain Utah]

Erin, I would be happy to have you use my pics. I can take more in the daylight too, if you'd like. By the way, could use some help naming it.... I have been calling it Sidekick, but hubby says I need a better name.

 

[erijn5]

Erin, I would be happy to have you use my pics. I can take more in the daylight too, if you'd like. By the way, could use some help naming it.... I have been calling it Sidekick, but hubby says I need a better name.

Lucky! Cause he is the only one! lol Our buff one is Sunny, then we have Daisey, Lily, The rest are named babies...unless my son throws a name in there ...he has changed them so many times it is ridiculous.. It depends on whick cartoon is his favorite..We have had Wubsy, Waldon, Batman, Robin, Mr. Freeze, Wonder Woman, Claire, on and on...One of the ouside cats name has changed 3 times in the last yr.

The poor girl geese have boy names, they are getting complexes!

 

[CelticOaksFarm]

Nice pictures Iain.

We got to do the gosling shuffle last night at lock up time. We have some bullies starting to pop up, so had to change where they sleep for the protection of the poor Sebbies who were their target. Two I expected, the Pomeranian (grey SB) we had already started prepping their new sleeping digs. They are nondiscrimitive and yank feathers from who ever is close by. Even full grown ducks if they get too close.

The other surprised me, and has changed plans for free ranging and who mixes with who outside of breeding season. The utility Toulouse are the other aggressors. Very interesting to watch the interactions of them and the Sebbies both listed as calm and quiet breeds. The Toulouse are very head strong and addiment about biting and ripping feathers out of the Sebbies. 2 of our three keepers had newly growing blood feathers yanked out of their wings.

So now if any of the dewlaps hatch they won't be kept with any Sebbie hatchlings the same age for fear of a repeat. Will evaluate them as they grow and see if they show the same as the utility Toulouse.

Iain figured you find this interesting since you asked me to see if the two breeds were just as calm, or one showed to be calmer than the other. As I said will watch the dewlaps post hatch and see how they react when we start allowing yard time.

 

[erijn5]

1 GRAY BABY SO FAR THIS MORNING!!!!!

It is not all the way out yet, so no pics ..... coming soon!!

 

[psue]

Nice pictures Iain.
We got to do the gosling shuffle last night at lock up time. We have some bullies starting to pop up, so had to change where they sleep for the protection of the poor Sebbies who were their target. Two I expected, the Pomeranian (grey SB) we had already started prepping their new sleeping digs. They are nondiscrimitive and yank feathers from who ever is close by. Even full grown ducks if they get too close.
The other surprised me, and has changed plans for free ranging and who mixes with who outside of breeding season. The utility Toulouse are the other aggressors. Very interesting to watch the interactions of them and the Sebbies both listed as calm and quiet breeds. The Toulouse are very head strong and addiment about biting and ripping feathers out of the Sebbies. 2 of our three keepers had newly growing blood feathers yanked out of their wings.
So now if any of the dewlaps hatch they won't be kept with any Sebbie hatchlings the same age for fear of a repeat. Will evaluate them as they grow and see if they show the same as the utility Toulouse.
Iain figured you find this interesting since you asked me to see if the two breeds were just as calm, or one showed to be calmer than the other. As I said will watch the dewlaps post hatch and see how they react when we start allowing yard time.

interesting wonder how the dewlaps will mix in

1 GRAY BABY SO FAR THIS MORNING!!!!!

It is not all the way out yet, so no pics ..... coming soon!!

we have 2 internal pipps out of 6 Embdens..... these guys all seam to take 32 days to hatch instead of 30

 

[Iain Utah]

Nice pictures Iain.
We got to do the gosling shuffle last night at lock up time. We have some bullies starting to pop up, so had to change where they sleep for the protection of the poor Sebbies who were their target. Two I expected, the Pomeranian (grey SB) we had already started prepping their new sleeping digs. They are nondiscrimitive and yank feathers from who ever is close by. Even full grown ducks if they get too close.
The other surprised me, and has changed plans for free ranging and who mixes with who outside of breeding season. The utility Toulouse are the other aggressors. Very interesting to watch the interactions of them and the Sebbies both listed as calm and quiet breeds. The Toulouse are very head strong and addiment about biting and ripping feathers out of the Sebbies. 2 of our three keepers had newly growing blood feathers yanked out of their wings.
So now if any of the dewlaps hatch they won't be kept with any Sebbie hatchlings the same age for fear of a repeat. Will evaluate them as they grow and see if they show the same as the utility Toulouse.
Iain figured you find this interesting since you asked me to see if the two breeds were just as calm, or one showed to be calmer than the other. As I said will watch the dewlaps post hatch and see how they react when we start allowing yard time.

Thanks! I have been having a ton of fun this weekend doing the yard rotation and seeing them enjoy nice spring weather outside!

That is very interesting about your toulouse!!! Unlike my africans, I have found my toulouse to be calm, more trusting of humans, and they do not bite on each other. However, I have not tried to integrate them with any others. On the other hand, both times I have tried to put Barley with Erin Toulouse, Erin Toulouse has shown slight aggression towards Barley, who is terrified of him, although Erin Toulouse gets along wonderfully with Molasses, my super duck. However, none of my utility toulouse babies are even close to Barley's degree of sensitivity. I could put Barley (who is almost 2 weeks old) with day old ducklings... and he would probably be scared of them if they (even at a day old and teeny) pecked at Barley in curiosity.

I will be curious to see if you have the same observations. I will also be curious to see if my other dewlaps are similar to Barley when they hatch.

 

[CelticOaksFarm]

Sebbies are so mild that unless the dewlaps end up being like snails I have a feeling we won't allow any other geese with them.

The Toulouse do well with the Poms (grey) so far today. They will be with the meat buff Americans when the two Poms ship out.

Will let you know if we get either of the 2 eggs to hatch. Had to toss 4 of 6 today from the dewlaps, 3 didn't grow, 1 was all kinds of sloshy right from arrival. Most had air cell issues though after traveling on their sides, so to get 2 to grow was an accomplishment.

We got to turn 6 of the Sebastopols out together this weekend. Peaches and McGraw are still in their own yard since she is still laying.

Had forgotten to vent sex the utility Toulouse when they hatched, both ganders when we checked them this weekend. That bit of news along with them being a bit pushy with the Sebbies has them having a date with freezer camp this fall.

 

[DUCKGIRL89]

Long time no talk.... Whats up????

My 2 pilgrim goslings died ....... But I'm placing a order for 4 buff americans with metzer farms. YAY!! Wish they had blue and lavender ice americans!!! Oh well. Anyone know how the Buff American stock is with Metzers??? Any good?? Better then some I'm hoping.

 

[Iain Utah]

Makes sense, since your sebbies are your most precious babies!! If you hatch out the two dewlaps (and I REALLY REALLY hope they hatch for you!!).... I can't wait to compare notes, because I swear Barley is more sensitive than a baby duckling! My grey dewlaps will hatch in about 10 days... so I'll have more to compare Barley to as well. I also have 2 spiders in my new buff eggs (day 6).... think at least 1 more will also develop. Needless to say, I will be nursing those eggs along with my cayuga eggs (which look like 3 if not all 4 will develop), as it will be my grand finale hatch for the season!

Bummer about having two ganders and that they are aggressive. At least they will become good meat for your freezer this fall. My biggest toulouse is literally twice the size of my african, even though my african is a day older. One of these days I'll get the nerve to try to figure out vent sexing on my toulouse and dewlaps. It would be nice to know what my goose/gander ratio is!

DG, sorry about your pilgrims!! Hope your buffs arrive safe and healthy!!