Newbie in many ways!

[Numero182]

Geese slowly settling in, we remove food when we lock them in at night now, they go in much quicker but still takes two of us with poles to guide them!

We've out a large mirror inside for them for entertainment, read that a few people have done this, gander seems to peck at his own reflection a lot so hope it's nit stressing him out.

They come out of a morning now the instant the door is open, they're still nervous around us and will walk away when we approach and still seem to spend all of their time on one terrace, the one the bouse is on, might have to resort to shepherding them up or down soon as the grass is good and short where they're eating but will need cutting soon everywhere else.

We saw one use the pond this morning, they seem to drink the same water they swim in regardless of where it is, suppose it doesn't matter too much, we change the water in the drinking bowl regularly so they have some fresh stuff.

Been reading a little about using sand as bedding/floor covering, any experience of this anyone?

 

[Miss Lydia]

Geese slowly settling in, we remove food when we lock them in at night now, they go in much quicker but still takes two of us with poles to guide them!

We've out a large mirror inside for them for entertainment, read that a few people have done this, gander seems to peck at his own reflection a lot so hope it's nit stressing him out.

They come out of a morning now the instant the door is open, they're still nervous around us and will walk away when we approach and still seem to spend all of their time on one terrace, the one the bouse is on, might have to resort to shepherding them up or down soon as the grass is good and short where they're eating but will need cutting soon everywhere else.

We saw one use the pond this morning, they seem to drink the same water they swim in regardless of where it is, suppose it doesn't matter too much, we change the water in the drinking bowl regularly so they have some fresh stuff.

Been reading a little about using sand as bedding/floor covering, any experience of this anyone?

I have not used sand as floor covering, can't imagine it would be very warm for them in winter. I like shavings and use it deep that is very easy to clean. It takes a while for geese to settle into new environment, they don't like change much [but neither do I]so I understand completely. The older the harder on them too. But your seeing progress so that's great, and you may never be able to get real close to them, it's much easier to imprint on goslings. But they will eventually learn to trust you "some" My one goose who i brought home at 4 months old she is going on 3 yrs now is still wary of me, she'll come close when the treats come out and she'll even take some meal worms from my hand but boy don't try to touch her. I have to be very careful she would probably end up hurting herself trying to get away. She had very little human contact before she came here. So even though they'll never climb into your laps or probably let you pet them with out being caught first and most geese don't like to be touched, my 2 gosling who were very loving from 2 days old are almost 5 months now and do not like for me to touch them although they will come up and chew on my shirt or shoes with out a problem but back away if I try to touch them, makes me sad in a way since I use to snuggle them all the time. If you walk slowly behind them you should be able to introduce them to other areas with out too much stress on you and them lol Love to see more pics also.

 

[jtn42248]

My three had to be chased down and physically put back into their pen in the evenings and when I took them out to range. But, like Miss Lydia said, once I figured out that I could just calmly and slowly walk along behind them guiding them with my stick and softly talk to them telling them what I wanted them to do and where I wanted them to go they began to do just that. I don't know (don't think) that they understand a word I say but they appreciate the calm guidance and respond to that.

As for sand...I have heard good things and success stories about sand with chickens but not much about sand with waterfowl. Ducks and geese are just not really careful with their water and you could end up with a wet sand pit. Shavings are a lot more absorbent and they can nudge it around to make little nest to cuddle down into.

 

[Numero182]

Thanks again!

Will try and get some more photos soon for you, I actually caught them both floating side by side in their pool/pond this afternoon, the moment i tried to get close enough to take a photo though they jumped out and hid the other side of the house! I'll get them though!

Wood shavings sound like the right idea then, currently i fill half the floor with hay and lately they seem to have stopped using it as a toilet which is great! But what do i do about the half of the floor that is getting dirty? just keep cleaning it out or do i cover it with something?

Friend down in the village is hatching chickens right now and seems they want to give us a couple or at least a rooster! So i've got to get busy with more land clearing and another house and fencing now!

 

[Miss Lydia]

Thanks again!

Will try and get some more photos soon for you, I actually caught them both floating side by side in their pool/pond this afternoon, the moment i tried to get close enough to take a photo though they jumped out and hid the other side of the house! I'll get them though!

Wood shavings sound like the right idea then, currently i fill half the floor with hay and lately they seem to have stopped using it as a toilet which is great! But what do i do about the half of the floor that is getting dirty? just keep cleaning it out or do i cover it with something?

Friend down in the village is hatching chickens right now and seems they want to give us a couple or at least a rooster! So i've got to get busy with more land clearing and another house and fencing now!

That's the way it starts the math part, soon you'll have ducks too.

You could make part of their room with part fenced[like a short wall] with door or gate and keep that part with shaving and bedding for sleeping, then just use the other part for walking through, your house may eventually have gosling plus these 2 then you could open the gate and keep shaving over the whole floor. In my house I have stalls simular to what you'd use for horses since i have 4 drakes and 1 maybe 2 ganders mine have to have what I call bedrooms that way I can keep the "boys" from causing havoc when put up at night. i can post some pics if you like but i have walk ways in my one house that I keep shaving on but not deep then in my one duck/feed house I have my nest boxes for the chickens with 1 stall in there with deep shavings then shallow shaving on the floor where we walk. the shallow shaving just keeps the poop on something that is easy to scoop up and toss.
I love hearing my roo in the morning, it's like hearing him lets me know all is well out there.

 

[jtn42248]

Thanks again!

Will try and get some more photos soon for you, I actually caught them both floating side by side in their pool/pond this afternoon, the moment i tried to get close enough to take a photo though they jumped out and hid the other side of the house! I'll get them though!

Wood shavings sound like the right idea then, currently i fill half the floor with hay and lately they seem to have stopped using it as a toilet which is great! But what do i do about the half of the floor that is getting dirty? just keep cleaning it out or do i cover it with something?

Friend down in the village is hatching chickens right now and seems they want to give us a couple or at least a rooster! So i've got to get busy with more land clearing and another house and fencing now!

A rooster will be a nice addition, crowing in the a.m. It will give you a nice country sound and feel. But!!! A rooster with no hens to watch over is almost a sin. You will need to get several hens for him and then you will have nice fresh eggs for your guest. Oh, and once more Miss Lydia is correct, the math takes over. If you have 10 laying hens and only 5 lay eggs then you really only have 5 laying hens so you will need to get 5 more so that you will have 10 and that will mean you have 15 hens which would be too much for your single rooster so you will need another rooster that then 15 hens is not enough so you will need more hens to accommodate two roosters....see when this is leading.

 

[Miss Lydia]

A rooster will be a nice addition, crowing in the a.m. It will give you a nice country sound and feel. But!!! A rooster with no hens to watch over is almost a sin. You will need to get several hens for him and then you will have nice fresh eggs for your guest. Oh, and once more Miss Lydia is correct, the math takes over. If you have 10 laying hens and only 5 lay eggs then you really only have 5 laying hens so you will need to get 5 more so that you will have 10 and that will mean you have 15 hens which would be too much for your single rooster so you will need another rooster that then 15 hens is not enough so you will need more hens to accommodate two roosters....see when this is leading.

Hilarious but so true. and you forgot about all the chicks these hens are hatching.

It can be controlled but it takes alot of will power. lol

 

[jtn42248]

Hilarious but so true. and you forgot about all the chicks these hens are hatching.

It can be controlled but it takes alot of will power. lol

WILL POWER

NOT!!!!!!! More Birds is the only cure!!!!!

 

[Miss Lydia]

WILL POWER

NOT!!!!!!! More Birds is the only cure!!!!!

I lived with so much guilt this year since I didn't let any of my flock hatch anything. They sure know how to make you feel that way. I only let my geese try and that failed. Next year doesn't look much better for adding but I guess I should be happy with the 32 I have and i am but babies are just so darn cute. Glad i have here to come and drool over everyone elses. I did have my 2 goslings this year can't forget about them. And next year I hope to let my game hen hatch us a new roo, since our only roo is over 5 yrs old we need to add a new boy.

 

[jtn42248]

And I have 7 two week old Rhode Island Red roosters upstairs in the brooder. I got them with the Bantam order I made and I can't even give them away. I hate to think abut what I may have to do when they get older. I am trying to explain to them that unless they turn out to be really really nice that they need to work on their wings since we are fond of hot wings. They just peep and ignore me. Wish I could send you a couple.