How about a Thread for Embdens?

[horsekeeper]

I have 8 Muscovy dicks, 3 Pekins, and a pair of Embdens that I got just this year. Chickens and turkeys, too! I find that putting down some mulch hay, straw, dry leaves or something similar around the water tubs helps them as they generate ice

When my glove got wet and stuck to the metal gate latch I worried about them getting their poor feet stuck when it was down in the single digits a couple of weeks ago. They have a sheltered place to rest and sleep made out of hay bales inside their pen and they seem to really like it. I started out with a very large dog house and they did not want to sleep in it, so I put a tarp over one corner of the pen and then built up the hay walls to break the wind and keep some of their body heat in. I give the geese second cutting grass hay for forage and they entertain themselves pulling bits out of the hay bales.

The Muscovies are bunking with the main chicken flock this winter because my new Jersey Giant flock is using last year's coop. They don't do as well in the cold as other breeds. I am hoping to get more goslings in the spring since I really like the Embdens.

The Embdens were living wild and free in a large flock (like about 100) with a small pond and a lot of room to roam, so they were almost feral when I got them. Slowly they are calming down and getting quite close when I bring water and food. Does tail wagging mean they are happy to see me like it does with the ducks?

Also wondering what everyone's favorite breed is and why you prefer them. I was hoping to get a mixed order of Embdens and one other breed. Would appreciate recommendations for where to order nice goslings (not show quality, but good stock) that are more reasonably priced than the show breeders.

 

[Iain Utah]

For frostbite in geese..... keep goose above freezing tempatures (ie inside house) until healed. Use warm water baths for long periods to increase circulation and help healing. Metacam is the gold standard for pain. If it scabs or goose picks at it and it becomes an open wound, then use silvadene crème. If tissue goes necrotic, it may need to be removed surgically.

 

[Kalsti]

I LOVE this! I thought I was nuts because I've been giving Joey my goose hot water also in the am first thing! And she loves it! So nice to know that we are all a little "nuts" about these cuties! Yes, they are so fun and funny!

 

[brandilly]

For frostbite in geese..... keep goose above freezing tempatures (ie inside house) until healed. Use warm water baths for long periods to increase circulation and help healing. Metacam is the gold standard for pain. If it scabs or goose picks at it and it becomes an open wound, then use silvadene crème. If tissue goes necrotic, it may need to be removed surgically.

I see no signs of frostbite on either the goose or the ducks. I have picked each one up and inspected nail to legs all the way up to the body. Everyone has healthy skin. Thank you so much, though, for the advice as you never, ever know when you will need it!!! I take notes and keep them in a notebook for easy access or just screen shot/print! This BYC website is the bomb!

Thanks Iain Utah!

 

[brandilly]

I LOVE this! I thought I was nuts because I've been giving Joey my goose hot water also in the am first thing! And she loves it! So nice to know that we are all a little "nuts" about these cuties! Yes, they are so fun and funny!

Idk, Kalsi... WE BOTH may be nuts!

 

[Kalsti]

LOL!
LainUtah how does frostbite look? What would their frostbitten feet or legs look like?
I love the idea of insulating the roost using hay bales. If I put hay bales all around the outside of the roost/shed would that work? (She only has a small L-shaped roost that is 4 x2' )
Thanks for the good info all!

 

[brandilly]

Mine have a coop, inside a 10x10 dog kennel. The coop is in the back, more towards one corner than the other. It's built on 2 pallets. When it started getting cold (below 35 @ night) I bought a bale of straw and took flakes and shoved them under the whole thing and then all the wau behind it, two feet high. The bale sits in the smallest corner. I habe a red heatlamp inside. In the morning, I ALWAYS put my hand in and feel the pine flakes. Never humid in there. Not warm, per se; "I" wouldn't want to sleep in it overnight, but definately not frigid and damp. My problem, all 3 incidents over 2 days, happened late in the afternoon after Petunia had been wandering around the yard or "standing around the water cooler, gossiping"! I will be ever vigilant until I am above freezing during daylight hours. Buuuuut, roaaing my fingers the vitamin-laced water does the trick!

 

[Miss Lydia]

I couldn't find brewer's yeast but at my local Wilco they had a vitamin supplement that has it in there. I bought that and put it in their water this morning. So far, I have witnessed no "wobbly leg" (Well?! What else am I supposed to call it?) I will be happy when our weather comes up above freezing in the days again! We had a cold snap pretty early this year. I will be prepared for the next one!

On a separate, comical note... I always use tepid to warm water in their bowls first thing in the morning to knock any remaining front out of their bowls. This morning, Kevin, my little (female) mallard decided that it was TUBBY TIME!!! She took over the biggest water bowl for a leisurely morning swim and made everyone else drink from the other bowl. Steam was ROLLING off them! They always do something that makes me laugh! They are like little clowns with feathers!!!

Thanks, too, for the heads up on what to do as my babies get older! They were all born in the spring this year so I don't have to worry about that (hopefully) for a time!

Merry Christmas, Everyone!

Merry Christmas to you and your flock. glad to hear she is doing better. I buy Live stock brewers yeast and order it on line since I feed it to 37 flock members including young and old. and your right they do make us laugh with their antics. When you get a chance some pics would be lovely.

 

[Miss Lydia]

I have 8 Muscovy dicks, 3 Pekins, and a pair of Embdens that I got just this year. Chickens and turkeys, too! I find that putting down some mulch hay, straw, dry leaves or something similar around the water tubs helps them as they generate ice

When my glove got wet and stuck to the metal gate latch I worried about them getting their poor feet stuck when it was down in the single digits a couple of weeks ago. They have a sheltered place to rest and sleep made out of hay bales inside their pen and they seem to really like it. I started out with a very large dog house and they did not want to sleep in it, so I put a tarp over one corner of the pen and then built up the hay walls to break the wind and keep some of their body heat in. I give the geese second cutting grass hay for forage and they entertain themselves pulling bits out of the hay bales.

The Muscovies are bunking with the main chicken flock this winter because my new Jersey Giant flock is using last year's coop. They don't do as well in the cold as other breeds. I am hoping to get more goslings in the spring since I really like the Embdens.

The Embdens were living wild and free in a large flock (like about 100) with a small pond and a lot of room to roam, so they were almost feral when I got them. Slowly they are calming down and getting quite close when I bring water and food. Does tail wagging mean they are happy to see me like it does with the ducks?

Also wondering what everyone's favorite breed is and why you prefer them. I was hoping to get a mixed order of Embdens and one other breed. Would appreciate recommendations for where to order nice goslings (not show quality, but good stock) that are more reasonably priced than the show breeders.

I understand Metzers is a good place for geese. I have Emden gander and a Toulouse goose I love both breeds I haven't ever seen my geese wag their tails like my Scovy's do.

 

[Iain Utah]

Here is a picture of my gander's frostbite. He hatched deformed and my dvm did extensive corrective surgery. In the process, he severed circulation to the outside edge of foot, making my gander extremely prone to getting frostbite. As you can see, it looks dark bluish-purple.... almost black.
FYI, he lost his outer toenail last winter to frostbite.

With that said, it is not common for geese to get frostbite if given shelter and dry bedding. My Africans (who are more sensitive than other breeds) live outside 24/7 and do great with their setup.