How about a Thread for Embdens?

[CelticOaksFarm]

pumpkin, watermelon, cantaloupe, squash, zucchini, tomatoes, carrots (limited amounts), apples, oranges (when they fall from the trees), loquats, field peas (we plant these and fence it off until they get growing well) Rye, Millet, clover all get seeded too. Since we can garden year round I will fence off areas and plant salad blends and let it get huge before taking the fence down for the geese.

 

[ducklover87]

Wow thanks for all the ideas guys. I'm still looking into what softer hays are available here. I live in northern NY and it's already getting cold. The grass is still green but I have a feeling winter is coming early this year

 

[JLfarm]

Just thought I would share a pic of my embdens

 

[Miss Lydia]

Just thought I would share a pic of my embdens

Nice flock, I bet that's a rowdy bunch, I only have one Embden and boy is he loud. lol

 

[JLfarm]

Lol yeah they can be at times

 

[Miss Lydia]

Lol yeah they can be at times

Seems like this time of year especially when I first let them out in the morning boy does he holler, my Toulouse goose is so much quiter than him. Do you raise for meat or just for fun?

 

[JLfarm]

Mostly just for fun because they r just so pretty and fun to watch.

 

[Miss Lydia]

Mostly just for fun because they r just so pretty and fun to watch.

They are a blast, I love to spend time with them just watching their antics. Make me laugh.

 

[ducklover87]

So my trio will be 19 weeks old on Wednesday and I have a few questions. By now shouldn't they be showing signs of sexual maturity? My moms chickens and my geese are the same age and they are mating with each other. I haven't seen anything like that with my geese. Do they only mate during the spring when they lay? I was assuming they would at least try to figure things out since they are going through changes. Also how do you all deal with rehoming decisions? I'm very much an animal lover and when I get an animal I give them forever homes. But uncle waldo (one of my ganders) has become quite aggressive. He will chase and bite my dog who has become quite angry with that. He's a good dog and he will never bite or attack him but its not very fair to my dog. I've tried everything spraying him with the hose, telling him "no" which he understands very well, using a stick to keep him away, just everything I can think of. My dog has turned it into a game recently which is even worse. I also find that he is my aggravator, always starting stuff. They absolutely hate my ducklings and its hard giving them outside time since now is when I teach them where they can and can't go. Uncle Waldo has almost attacked them by like a smidgen of a second while I was standing right there. I have tried putting them in their house but nope they won't go in there until itsbed time. And my Cayuga drake is occupying my outside pen, so they can't go in there either. If I had more fencing id make them a temporary pen but unfortunately I don't and money is tight right now. So that leaves me fighting with them to leave the ducklings alone. I at first introduced them through a puppy pen and the geese just went crazy and made all sorts of noise. So after a few times of that I would let them out of the puppy pen and just walk around but the geese didn't like it. So I switched my approach and pretended I was a momma goose and these were my babies. I'd "fluff" myself up and give out warning type honks and when they got too close I'd chase them a few feet away. Then I'd do it all over again. They didn't listen at all. I even tried hissing at them too but nope nothing seemed to affect them. So I keep the ducklings penned in there puppy pen now. Is there anything I'm doing wrong or should try? Or am I better off rehoming him? Sorry for such the long post.

 

[Miss Lydia]

So my trio will be 19 weeks old on Wednesday and I have a few questions. By now shouldn't they be showing signs of sexual maturity? My moms chickens and my geese are the same age and they are mating with each other. I haven't seen anything like that with my geese. Do they only mate during the spring when they lay? I was assuming they would at least try to figure things out since they are going through changes. Also how do you all deal with rehoming decisions? I'm very much an animal lover and when I get an animal I give them forever homes. But uncle waldo (one of my ganders) has become quite aggressive. He will chase and bite my dog who has become quite angry with that. He's a good dog and he will never bite or attack him but its not very fair to my dog. I've tried everything spraying him with the hose, telling him "no" which he understands very well, using a stick to keep him away, just everything I can think of. My dog has turned it into a game recently which is even worse. I also find that he is my aggravator, always starting stuff. They absolutely hate my ducklings and its hard giving them outside time since now is when I teach them where they can and can't go. Uncle Waldo has almost attacked them by like a smidgen of a second while I was standing right there. I have tried putting them in their house but nope they won't go in there until itsbed time. And my Cayuga drake is occupying my outside pen, so they can't go in there either. If I had more fencing id make them a temporary pen but unfortunately I don't and money is tight right now. So that leaves me fighting with them to leave the ducklings alone. I at first introduced them through a puppy pen and the geese just went crazy and made all sorts of noise. So after a few times of that I would let them out of the puppy pen and just walk around but the geese didn't like it. So I switched my approach and pretended I was a momma goose and these were my babies. I'd "fluff" myself up and give out warning type honks and when they got too close I'd chase them a few feet away. Then I'd do it all over again. They didn't listen at all. I even tried hissing at them too but nope nothing seemed to affect them. So I keep the ducklings penned in there puppy pen now. Is there anything I'm doing wrong or should try? Or am I better off rehoming him? Sorry for such the long post.

Geese just have attitude and being a bully is one of them, I have had the same thing with my dogs and first just the gander because I didn't have the goose but my dog had enough and did attack, thank goodness it was minor and no skin was bitten. But I realized I had to do something so I use the long mop pole and it works pretty good but I do have to reinforce at times. Missy is almost worse than Sam about bullying. they tolerate the ducks and chickens as long as they don't get too close but I have never seen either on attack one just usually put their heads down to make them move. Rehoming may work but what about the other ones? they may pick up the slack once he's gone. Try the broom and swat them on the butts. I have had to do that with Sam when he was going after me.