How do I introduce a new goose?

[ermer124]

I have one, believed to be female, Toulouse goose. I decided to keep her, rather than rehome her, and I'm wondering about how to proceed. I'm going to get one, maybe two goslings, and I'm curious how to go about introducing them. I know in the wild babies are just left with the adults, but my Nelson has never seen a baby goose, I'm wondering the best way to do this. I don't want to just leave a gosling with Nelson at night if she isn't going to keep her warm right away or something. When my goose was a baby I had her inside with me all the time except for trips to the yard together. Should I do the same with a new gosling? Introduce them slowly? Any thoughts or suggestions would be great. Also, what breed of gosling do you guys think would be best?

 

[livininbrazil]

I have one, believed to be female, Toulouse goose. I decided to keep her, rather than rehome her, and I'm wondering about how to proceed. I'm going to get one, maybe two goslings, and I'm curious how to go about introducing them. I know in the wild babies are just left with the adults, but my Nelson has never seen a baby goose, I'm wondering the best way to do this. I don't want to just leave a gosling with Nelson at night if she isn't going to keep her warm right away or something. When my goose was a baby I had her inside with me all the time except for trips to the yard together. Should I do the same with a new gosling? Introduce them slowly? Any thoughts or suggestions would be great.

Hi ermer, this is why I suggested getting two babies.... raise them as you did Nelson, giving them warmth and all they need, but during the day, while you´re around, take them out there with her to let them get used to each other. ´Do this as much as possible. You could get a bit of wiremesh to make a little place for the babies, but she can see them without getting rough with them, and just watch and see what she does. Day by day, shell get used to them. After a very short time, you could let her be with them. You never know, she may even let them snuggle. If she does, she´s well on the way to adopting them. Their biggest threat is cold, that´s why it wouldn´t be good to just leave it/them out there with her, as she´s not likely to brood them straight off, she needs time. Geese have a tremendously maternal nature. Just go steady, and enjoy them.

 

[ermer124]

Thank you. You are such a life saver. Any recommendations on what breed to get? I'm thinking Embdens but I'm always open to suggestion. They're just so pretty

 

[livininbrazil]

Thank you. You are such a life saver. Any recommendations on what breed to get? I'm thinking Embdens but I'm always open to suggestion. They're just so pretty

Get what you fancy. some breeds can be a little easier to handle than others, but if you get females you should be fine. Remember, it´s Embdens, Pilgrims and other auto-sexing breeds, white sebastopols and a few other not-so-easy-to-find breeds that you can tell pretty well at hatch what sex they are. And have fun!

 

[ermer124]

In that case I think I'll go with two Embden girls from Metzers. I'm so excited to have little goosey fluff balls around again