Ordering Goslings

[shelleyd2008]

Personally I would not go with eggs, goslings are a much safer bet, even if you do have losses. Your best bet is to find a hatchery close to you to order your goslings from so they don't have far to travel. I ordered from Metzer last year, 8 goslings, and all arrived just fine. One of them apparently been injured during shipping and ended up developing a crossed beak because of it, but otherwise they were healthy, happy little ones.
Holderreads is a very good hatchery, but they are also very expensive. There are probably a hundred hatcheries in the country that sell and ship goslings, I'm sure you'll be able to find one that has what you want. Personally, I wouldn't choose Ideal, and from the above posts I'll probably never order anything from McMurray, but there are several others

Good luck

 

[ldaziens]

OMG! I did not realize that it was you. I tried to tell my husband your story over the phone, and I got all choked up and couldn't finish. I am not a super emotional person, but your geese and duckling story really touched me -- and everyone else who read it, obviously. I think that you should call Holderreads and just see if maybe they can help you out in some way. Maybe you should also add a post to your geese & duckling story to let people know what you are looking for. I have to think that someone on this board has goslings of the breeds you want -- and maybe someone close to you. It does look like Metzer's has both Toulouse and African coming available soon, and, like I said before, Metzer's gets a lot of good reviews here, too. I am just partial to Holderread, because he literally "wrote the book" on geese, and ducks, too, I think.

I'm saying a prayer that the perfect goslings find you soon! Please keep us posted.

PS -- I have to vote gosling over egg based on some of the stories that I have read here. I am VERY interested in incubating goose eggs, but I just do not think I could handle all of the things that can go awry.

 

[GoodEgg]

I'll say too that Metzers does a great job. If you do order I'd follow their advice and contact the post office in advance. I did and they called me at 6am when the box arrived and let me pick it up before they were open instead of sending it out with the carrier to be delivered in the afternoon after riding all day with him. They also shipped the goslings with Gro-gel. An added cost but it was worth it to me to help insure their health. I didn't realize it (I would have added a gosling mix if I'd known!) but each gosling has a temporary leg-band to ID breed and sex (I paid the sexing fee to get what I wanted since I hope to breed them).

Holdereads would have been my first choice but I just couldn't afford them. Maybe in a few years ...

Murray McM has done a good job of shipping live chicks to me (lost 1 in a batch of 27) but ... They were not overall outstanding quality and in fact my black australorps all had genetic foot defects. Customer service was a bit lacking too

I hear goose eggs are notoriously difficult to hatch, especially without a broody and ESPECIALLY with shipped eggs. If it were me, I'd avoid that uncertainty and possible disappointment and plan for goslings instead. And if you get them from a feed store, especially picking them up within a day or so of arrival, yes they WILL bond with you. I can't say if they might bond better or worse than shipped goslings but I had them bond in both cases.

Metzers will let you combine with ducklings for the minimum if you know someone who wants ducklings and will split with you. You can try Craigslist or the feed store to look for someone to share an order with.

Compared to chicks I have found ducklings and especially geese to be very hardy and healthy. I'd watch the protein level in their feed though, especially if they don't get a lot of grazing. One feed store here recommends a 28% protein feed and goslings eating over 16%or so risk angel wing from growing too fast on such a rich diet.

I hope you find what works out well for you. I just read the story of Dulcie, Duckie, and their duckling and was so charmed by it and touched by your desire to help your geese have a good outcome to their laying/brooding and was shocked when I got to the post about Dulcie being killed. At least she got a chance to be a mama goose for a while, andi hope you find suitable new companions for Duckie.

 

[Bleenie]

I picked up 2 Goslings from the local feed store, they get theirs from Privett Hatchery. I have been bringing them in at least once a day for "bonding time" and the little Gander is especially cuddly now. the goos will snuggle into my elbow but he likes to climb up and snuggle under my chin, So Adorable

My brooder is on the covered porch, right outside the front door so i make sure i pop my head over it almost everytime i pass and talk to them or say "hi my pretty babies" everytime.

 

[OmaBird]

I placed a order for geese (18 Fancy Assortments) from Holderread two weeks ago but have not heard anything yet from them. They only have two more hatch days left this year. May 17th and June 7. So I am crossing my fingers I will get some this year.

Metzers ships year around if available. I also placed a order with them for two pair of Tufted Buffs and two pair of Super African. They are shipping on Monday.

 

[Puddle Foot Farm]

Hi there! I see you hail from Maryland, just like me. I recently (yesterday) went through a small shipping crisis with my goslings, but everything ended up okay, so I totally understand your worry!

Interestingly enough, I see that only one person has recommended Ideal. While it's not a "waterfowl specialist", if you're worried about shipping, I'd say Ideal is your best bet since you live in MD. I've gotten chicks and geese from Ideal, and they both came overnight. Next week, I am getting an order with 2 goslings and 5 ducklings, and I'm betting they'll get here overnight, but I can update you if you like.

Metzer had a longer ship time for my goslings. I ordered 3 toulouse, and with their small order program, they turned out to be about 20 dollars each. I believe that they came in the mid-morning of the second day. They had a heat pack, so they were fine.

Also, I'd look locally. If you were going to hatch and just wanted any geese, I'd offer you my toulouse/chinese eggs or goslings in about a month. Also, I know peachick has sebastopols, and I believe chickygirl2 has goslings for sale right now. Good luck!

Chelsea

 

[[email protected]]

Yes, I got my geese from a feed store locally, that had been ordered from Ideal. The only problem was that they were both supposed to be roman's and it looks like one is roman and one is buff, but, they both love the same! Also check TSC, I know they carry chickens this time of year, anyway try the local General Store's. Let us know and we need pictures! jennifer

 

[RThomas]

Order from Ideal. You can order as few as two geese (that meets their $25 minimum). Or, you can order just one goose and something else to meet the $25 minimum. Anyway, I checked their site and they still have lots of geese available. Two Africans with shipping comes to $32.10. That's cheaper than most hatcheries' shipping charges alone.

This year I've order chicks, ducklings, and goslings from Ideal and only had 1 DOA chick. I don't think they can be beat for price and order requirements.

 

[DulcyDoll]

Thanks for all of the info, I was ready to place my order at Metzer Farms after reading how popular they were...

Dad came home with 7 gosling's today 1embden, 3 yellow with brown eyes, and 3 toulouse. He said he was only going to get 5, but just couldn't bare to leave the other two behind. They were 7 each, but because he bought all 7 the guy gave them to him for 5 each. From what the guy told my dad, they are about 3 weeks old (eh) and have been raised in a rubbermaid tub out in a dark, poorly ventilated shed. They seem to be rather frightened of people.

When is the imprinting stage over? Are they not likely to imprint on me? They are in the house now, and when I walk over to them to talk to them they huddle in the corner. I've been taking them feed every couple hours to have them see that I bring good stuff when they see me.

I really wanted younger ones, but I'm hoping you guys will tell me imprinting isn't completely hopeless.

 

[Kim65]

You have a wonderful dad

Sounds like they are not very human imprinted. It will take a lot of focused work, hand feeding, handling them even if they freak out. Your gander will probably take them right on

They are mostly imprinted on each other, but still young enough to get comfortable with you. If one is particularly friendly (or less terrified), focus on that one so you can get some gosling love lol, that's what I would do.

I'm a little concerned about the duckling . . . goslings aren't real friendly with stranger babies. I'd see how they all did, depending on the age of the duckling and it's personality and size compared to the goslings. The new goslings will learn you are cool by their new Dad's behavior around you too.