Just ordered goslings! Update: THEY'RE HERE!

[Puddle Foot Farm]

Okay, so we've been having a SERIOUS fox problem. We're not allowed to get a new chicken dog, and our dog hates our chickens.
So.. Second best solution was some geese. We're just hoping that they'll raise enough ruckus to scare the fox away, or maybe hit it with its wings or something.. More as a deterrent/watch dog. We're putting up a good fence, but I think the geese will help at least a little.

So.. I researched for hatcheries that send small amounts, and found Metzer Farms in CA. They'll ship as little as two with a fee.. Reasonable. So, we ordered three Toulouse geese to hatch on June 22nd. We got one gander, two geese. I'm so excited!

So, anyone have pics of Metzer Farm toulouse geese? Any comments on them?

 

[Heather J]

I didn't get my geese from metzer, but my toulouse is very sweet, mostly quiet and good tempered. that doesn't mean she won't raise a ruckus if something exciting is going on, but I really like her. Good like with your little goose babies. They sure are fun!

 

[Windchyme]

Quote:
I have dewlap toulouse and the COYOTES are terrified of them but if they are in the front the coyotes will still skulk around the back and take any birds that aren't locked up. The geese only really care about themselves. If they spot a coyote they raise a ruckus and the males go to attack...nothing messes with anything when they are around.

 

[Puddle Foot Farm]

That's great to hear, Windchyme. We're expanding the chicken pen to include the entire side yard, just so the geese will be happy protecting it. When we're home, we'll let them free range, because the geese will make so much more of a stink about a fox than the chickens will. Dumb chickens.
We're planning on introducing them while they're young.. We have nine full grown chickens, and will have 20+ month old chicks so I figure the geese can get their exposure so they can tolerate the chickens, but they won't learn to be chickens.
I'm so excited for them! The twenty fourth can't come any faster..

Thanks for the luck, Heather!

 

[Windchyme]

Quote:
Yeah raising them with chickens will help them to see the chickens as part of their flock. If you want them really tame handle them alot when you first get them, the first 48 hours is critical. They'll imprint on you and take you as mom and follow you around like they would their mom. Then continue to have alot of interaction with them until they are 9 months old. If you can, pick them up at least 2 times a week so they don't fear your hands. If you put them outside then kind of forget about them, they are still babies and while they'll be friendly for awhile, they'll eventually get to where they want nothing to do with you.

My babies are all outside now. I go out every day and sit down and they come running up to me and I try to make sure to touch the chest and back of every one, about once or twice a week I give goodies and try to make sure everyone gets a fair share (the males will push forward while most of the females will hang back from the chaos.

This comes from experience with my first 2 geese who we hand raised and spent alot of time with. We took them to the lake with us and such well past 9 months old. One is friendly as can be to this day, the other is not so interactive. Then there is my grown dewlap toulouse goose flock who were hand raised until old enough to go outside then the friendly one of my pet geese took them on as her own and raised them without a ton of interaction from us people the rest of the way- they are WILD and obnoxious and act like they were never handled by people.

Now I have the new youngsters. I keep them away from the other geese (except my babysitter goose on occasion), I won't let the babysitter goose take them though she wants them yet, that didn't work out so good last time and besides she is confined for the breeding season so we don't get mixed eggs. If she wants she can lead their flock once breeding season is over as long as it doesn't interfere with our socialization. I don't want them hooked up with the dewlap toulouse and learning the crap they do from them. There is 18 of them and they do pretty good with each other so far.

It doesn't take alot of work once they get outside but it is critical to do that little bit on a regular basis until they get well grown. Once they are grown it sticks and stays stuck (or at least it did with my one pet goose).

 

[Puddle Foot Farm]

I'm going to try my best to socialize them well, but keep them so they still have their wild instincts. I think I'll teach them to attack my cats and dog, so they get the idea.

..We just named them. We realized that the toulouse geese are in the Aristocats. So, they will be called Toulouse Pamplemousse (one of the cats names/a famous artist + my favourite French word which means grapefruit) the gander, and then Abigail and Amelia Gabble (the names of the geese from the Aristocats). Oh, I am so excited! I might explode.

 

[jojo@rolling acres farm]

Hi,

Last week my Sebbies arrived from Metzer Farms...they are beautiful! Metzer was great to work with both before & after the sale. Shipping went well. I will order from them again in the future!

 

[Puddle Foot Farm]

So, the 24th can't come soon enough.. I got so bored and anxious the other day I watched the AristoCats, and realized that the geese were actually Emden geese, but the names will still be the same either way. I just love those geese!

Jojo, how many did you get and where are you? I'm a bit worried since we only got three and we're in MD.. I hope they get here safely.

 

[jojo@rolling acres farm]

Hi,
I ordered and received two pairs. I can't tell you how beautiful they are! I live in Nebraska and it was cold here last week when they arrived. They were shipped with a warmer...and arrived in perfect condition! Good Luck, enjoy your new little creatures...let me know how they do! I'm so excited for you! Metzer does a good job...

 

[toletiquesbysam]

jojo@rolling acres farm :

Hi,
I ordered and received two pairs. I can't tell you how beautiful they are! I live in Nebraska and it was cold here last week when they arrived. They were shipped with a warmer...and arrived in perfect condition! Good Luck, enjoy your new little creatures...let me know how they do! I'm so excited for you! Metzer does a good job...

Good For You!! We enjoy Pictures!!! And

Fellow Nebraskan!!!​