Preparing for Babies

[plantcityhomestead]

My geese have always had free range during the day, and sleep in a small pen at night. Now that they are going to be parents, my goose has been sitting on her eggs for less than a week, I need to prepare for the goslings. I want my goose to raise the goslings, but do I continue to let her free range with the babies? Do I just enlarge the size of the pen, or should I keep the gander separated from the goslings until they get older? I'm in Florida, so I am not concerned about temperature, but by the time the goslings arrive, we will be having daily afternoon thunderstorms. The parents love the rain, and do a happy rain dance, but will it be OK for the goslings? Do I need to sell all the males to keep peace in the family?

Any other tips would be appreciated. I'm a first time grandma.

 

[CelticOaksFarm]

Yes the parents will be fine with the goslings. Ganders are super protective of young. Remember goslings can slip through fencing, so pay attention to the size of wire your property is fenced with and what their run is enclosed with.

When it rains the babies will have mom to shelter the,, but also having a three sided house for them to sleep in here in FL is a great option.

Ganders will and do fight during breeding season only. You may not find many buyers for ganders only, so concider selling pairs as they do better when they have another goose. Even selling ganders only together if someone just wants them for grass control will be fine.

 

[plantcityhomestead]

Yes the parents will be fine with the goslings. Ganders are super protective of young. Remember goslings can slip through fencing, so pay attention to the size of wire your property is fenced with and what their run is enclosed with.
When it rains the babies will have mom to shelter the,, but also having a three sided house for them to sleep in here in FL is a great option.
Ganders will and do fight during breeding season only. You may not find many buyers for ganders only, so concider selling pairs as they do better when they have another goose. Even selling ganders only together if someone just wants them for grass control will be fine.

What good feedback. Thank you! I gather from what you said, you do keep the goslings penned, at least for a while? What feed do you use after the goslings are born? My goose would rather have grass than any feed, but if I am going to have them penned, she will eat all the grass in no time at all.

 

[CelticOaksFarm]

We feed the geese Mazuri brand waterfowl feed.