Research On Goose / Duck Vent Sexing... Pics

[LCP]

Thanks for putting all of these resources together in one post. Really helpful.

 

[stevhoff]

Reminds me of when I was volunteering for the division of wildlife and we counted and sexed wild canadian geese.We would take their head and tuck it under a wing(the geese do this when they sleep I recall). This would calm them down and we would hand them off to each other like a football. I seem to recall that with wild geese we would just gently keep folding back the vent until the sex organs appeared.

 

[Carrosaur]

Reminds me of when I was volunteering for the division of wildlife and we counted and sexed wild canadian geese.We would take their head and tuck it under a wing(the geese do this when they sleep I recall). This would calm them down and we would hand them off to each other like a football. I seem to recall that with wild geese we would just gently keep folding back the vent until the sex organs appeared. 

What an experience!

I vent sex my babies for about ten seconds each once a day. If they peep too much or panic too much before hand I don't do it. So far 5 boys 3 girls

 

[Miss Lydia]

What an experience!

I vent sex my babies for about ten seconds each once a day. If they peep too much or panic too much before hand I don't do it. So far 5 boys 3 girls

If you already know why keep doing it?

 

[EvenLater]

I wasn't going to post here because I don't want to cause any issues, but my curiosity got the better of me, and here's what I come up with. Again, as a disclaimer, I'm not trying to start a debate or anything, I am simply posting what I found from credible sources (vet sites, hatcheries, etc) because I am an animal lover, and this site is for education.

"Vent Sexing
Great care should be taken if attempting to vent sex young ducklings and goslings. It is advisable to do this in the first few days, as the older they get, the harder it is to determine the sex. It is not advisable that this be attempted by novice keepers."

Source: http://www.arkbirdsandbeeskent.co.uk/keepingducksandgeese.htm

"We do not vent sex any of our birds as this is a skilled job best left to professionals. In the hands of anyone who is not an expert, vent sexing is not reliably accurate and can cause pain and damage to vital organs."

Source: http://www.lafermedutilleul.com/index.php/en/orpingtons/about-sebastopol-geese

"This can be a daunting task and if you’re not sure how to do this. It is best to do it with someone experienced or get someone to come help you the first time."

Source: http://www.ducksworld.com/?page_id=104"

"You want to sex a baby Duckling or Gosling?
This cannot be easily explained. It can only be learned if someone is showing you the steps...The only way to know the sex for sure is to vent sex them which is difficult without training and really should be left to professionals.In the hands of an experienced sexer, this rarely causes any harm to the bird. "

Source: http://www.metzerfarms.com/FAQ.cfm#TellGend

"If the sex of the bird cannot be determined after a couple of tries, leave it until another occasion so as not to cause bruising, internal bleeding, organ damage, or undue stress to the bird. An experienced person should demonstrate this first."

Source: http://www.yourchickens.co.uk/home/tips_for_sexing_goslings_1_3668738

"IMPORTANT - DO NOT attempt to vent sex baby birds, especially newly-hatched ducklings and goslings or day-old chickens. If done incorrectly, vent-sexing can result in the injury and/or death of newly-hatched birds.

Source: http://www.pet-informed-veterinary-advice-online.com/bird-sexing.html#bird-vent


I don't post this to be a "Debby Downer" but the thought of numerous goslings enduring this DAILY by inexperienced handlers seems dangerous according to a quick Google consensus. Here's a better idea...if you don't want to be over run with ganders, then buy from a breeder experienced in sexing birds? If you hatch your own I can see how you would want to know their sex, but I really have to think how much your goslings will really look forward to seeing you if this is done to them daily. Maybe I'm wrong, but even Metzer Farms advises highly against an inexperienced hand when it comes to vent sexing, and I kinda gotta believe they know what they're doing.

 

[Skyfire]

Thank you so much for posting this information. I know it comes from a sincere place; I harbor the same sentiments.

The right-leaning libertarian in me supports everyone's right to do what they want with their geese within the letter of the law. Geese are designated farm animals and that means some have unpleasant things done to them that we would never do to our pets. I accept that's the way it is in a free society, but my heart is no less heavy.

Geese are emotionally sensitive, intelligent creatures. They have stately dispositions, a proud species by nature. I hope that is always kept in mind before performing any procedures that are an affront to their dignity.

 

[EvenLater]

Thank you so much for posting this information. I know it comes from a sincere place; I harbor the same sentiments.

The right-leaning libertarian in me supports everyone's right to do what they want with their geese within the letter of the law. Geese are designated farm animals and that means some have unpleasant things done to them that we would never do to our pets. I accept that's the way it is in a free society, but my heart is no less heavy.

Geese are emotionally sensitive, intelligent creatures. They have stately dispositions, a proud species by nature. I hope that is always kept in mind before performing any procedures that are an affront to their dignity.

I couldn't agree more. Cas is a PET and as such I treat him as I treat my other pets and could not personally dignify subjecting him to this (not to mention even my Avian Vet highly recommends AGAINST vent sexing any foul older than 2 days old because it can actually HURT them). And I certainly can not see why anyone would continue it as a daily practice when they've already obtained a clear answer, but again, that's just me. I could see maybe if the birds were headed for the table, and maybe if you felt the need to practice this, and didn't really mind if they end up disliking you because of it?

It goes to a matter of personal choice I guess. The same as some will rub their pups nose in a carpet mess to "teach" it, I ignored any "mistakes" and praised and rewarded the good and both of my dogs were fully house trained in 2 days. But again, that's just me. My Pappy was a 'back in the day' farmer, and even dogs were seen as outside animals, so he'd never allow them inside let alone teach them, or love on them.

I'm no expert. I know this. And I want Cas to always feel safe around me so personally, this isn't something I would even begin to attempt on him. If, at some point and for some odd reason I NEED to know and can't wait for him to either lay an egg or not, I guess I'd take him to my vet and have it done professionally. But again...that's just me.

 

[Carrosaur]

If you already know why keep doing it?

I don't to the ones that I know are boys, LOL I should've said that. Yesterday I tried one of the Embdens and its a boy!! So six boys and two girls...

 

[Carrosaur]

I wasn't going to post here because I don't want to cause any issues, but my curiosity got the better of me, and here's what I come up with. Again, as a disclaimer, I'm not trying to start a debate or anything, I am simply posting what I found from credible sources (vet sites, hatcheries, etc) because I am an animal lover, and this site is for education.

"Vent Sexing
Great care should be taken if attempting to vent sex young ducklings and goslings. It is advisable to do this in the first few days, as the older they get, the harder it is to determine the sex. It is not advisable that this be attempted by novice keepers."

Source: http://www.arkbirdsandbeeskent.co.uk/keepingducksandgeese.htm

"We do not vent sex any of our birds as this is a skilled job best left to professionals. In the hands of anyone who is not an expert, vent sexing is not reliably accurate and can cause pain and damage to vital organs."

Source: http://www.lafermedutilleul.com/index.php/en/orpingtons/about-sebastopol-geese

"This can be a daunting task and if you’re not sure how to do this. It is best to do it with someone experienced or get someone to come help you the first time."

Source: http://www.ducksworld.com/?page_id=104"

"You want to sex a baby Duckling or Gosling?
This cannot be easily explained. It can only be learned if someone is showing you the steps...The only way to know the sex for sure is to vent sex them which is difficult without training and really should be left to professionals.In the hands of an experienced sexer, this rarely causes any harm to the bird. "

Source: http://www.metzerfarms.com/FAQ.cfm#TellGend

"If the sex of the bird cannot be determined after a couple of tries, leave it until another occasion so as not to cause bruising, internal bleeding, organ damage, or undue stress to the bird. An experienced person should demonstrate this first."

Source: http://www.yourchickens.co.uk/home/tips_for_sexing_goslings_1_3668738

"IMPORTANT - DO NOT attempt to vent sex baby birds, especially newly-hatched ducklings and goslings or day-old chickens. If done incorrectly, vent-sexing can result in the injury and/or death of newly-hatched birds.

Source: http://www.pet-informed-veterinary-advice-online.com/bird-sexing.html#bird-vent


I don't post this to be a "Debby Downer" but the thought of numerous goslings enduring this DAILY by inexperienced handlers seems dangerous according to a quick Google consensus. Here's a better idea...if you don't want to be over run with ganders, then buy from a breeder experienced in sexing birds? If you hatch your own I can see how you would want to know their sex, but I really have to think how much your goslings will really look forward to seeing you if this is done to them daily. Maybe I'm wrong, but even Metzer Farms advises highly against an inexperienced hand when it comes to vent sexing, and I kinda gotta believe they know what they're doing.

My hope is to one day run my own breeding operation with geese. Not a hatchery but to let them breed within their own breed, I would much rather learn how to sex now! Good thing, too because in total with my two adults I have seven males and three females...

But I think if you only have one or two geese you have no reason to sex them.