Sebastopol Gosling Care?

[JordanFamily]

New babies coming!!! I'm getting my 4 new babies soon and was wondering what all I need to do for them? I have lots of questions and would like any extra advice to... I already have a room in the barn set up for them and a large fenced in area for them to forage in during the day... So how do I care for them?
1.Up to what age do goslings need a brooder light?
2. I was going to get a kiddy pool for them to swim in during the day, so should I give that to them immediately or wait until they are older? I would hate for one to get in and not be able to get back out and drown....
3. I know I need to get them goose starter feed but do they also need grit like chickens? If so at what age do you give it to them? Also is it possible to just give them starter alone? I hear on hear people giving extra food like vegis and supplements to their geese everyday but is that really necessary, or would starter alone be fine?
4. What do you do for them during the winter months? Do they need a heat lamp in the winter even after they are fully feathered out? We are in Missouri So have mid range winters maybe get 3 feet of snow all together all winter and it maybe gets down below 0 once or twice...
5. Can two Ganders live together with the females or will they fight like Roosters do?
6. Question for the future if they have babies: I have heard of some older ones killing babies by drowning them in the pools??? So should I keep new chicks away from the older geese...
Anymore advice I can get would be much appriciated... Thanks so much!

 

[TennesseeTruly]

No pool for them right away and then when you do allow them pool time its with supervision only! They can drown very very easily. They also can get chilled and get sick. I'm dealing with a very sick Sebastopol gosling right now so heed what I'm saying.

They need their light until they're feathered. When you get them, they'll only have down on them. They won't begin to get their feathering for many weeks beginning around 3 to 4 weeks. They need supervision. Bringing them out of the barn to eat grasses and to forage is the best thing for you to do for them! They'll enjoy it and they learn quite quickly.

On the first day out, mine were catching bugs and chasing butterflies! They don't need heat in the wintertime but Sebastopols because of their feathers aren't as tight as other goose breeds, they do get chilled more easily than other breeds.

I really suggest that you purchase The Book of Geese by Dave Holderread. Its packed with all kinds of information and I highly suggest you get the book!

Good luck with your babies!

Laurie

 

[Chicken0Boy]

I just want to follow this post! Is this the same care for all ducks?

 

[TennesseeTruly]

Its basically the same for ducks.

Laurie

 

[Chicken0Boy]

When can I let em' swim and go outside to eat grass? How many weeks till they can get out of the brooder?
What do I need to know about thier brooder? Are they like chicks?