She Laid another egg--what is going on???

[Germaine_11.20]

Quote:
I don't think so but you can't be sure. I had a person give me a week old that was the only survivor of a dog attack that wiped out the rest of the geese (he was found under the dead gander). My flock was without goslings because the only gander was shooting blanks. The first time I put him out in the sun while I was cleaning out his brooder all 3 geese and the gander gathered around and made soft coments at him. When I went to pick him up and put him in the brooder he let out a distress call and all four of the adults went for me. I put him back down and looked for the silver lining. I figured if Big Mama would accept him he would be safe since she ruled with an iron bill. Put him with her and she adopted on the spot. The 5 of them retired to the pool where baby got to wash the man stink off him, I retired to the house to see how much damage was done to my legs. Then I put away the brooder. He became the flock gander when he grew up without having to fight Big Mama's mate who retired to baby sitting. But we did not all live happily everafter.

GooseDragon, was your baby was only a week old when you put him out? I would love to have him in the flock. I just can't tell if they want to adopt it or kill it.
I took her (I hope it is a her) outside and held her while walking around them just to see what they would do. They all got up, heads craned and started honking really loud. Followed me everywhere. I finally went in the house because they were really getting loud.
They stood on the doorstep for a few more minutes.
Then there was the window honking when I put her there.
I have 5 adults (2 females) and I don't know that I could grab her quick enough if one of them went for her. I could put her in a cage and see what happens.
Not that I don't mind taking care of her, but it is going to be a long winter and they get pretty smelly after awhile! And I really think that she would be best with the geese.
Ahhh confusion.

 

[goosedragon]

Quote:
I don't think so but you can't be sure. I had a person give me a week old that was the only survivor of a dog attack that wiped out the rest of the geese (he was found under the dead gander). My flock was without goslings because the only gander was shooting blanks. The first time I put him out in the sun while I was cleaning out his brooder all 3 geese and the gander gathered around and made soft coments at him. When I went to pick him up and put him in the brooder he let out a distress call and all four of the adults went for me. I put him back down and looked for the silver lining. I figured if Big Mama would accept him he would be safe since she ruled with an iron bill. Put him with her and she adopted on the spot. The 5 of them retired to the pool where baby got to wash the man stink off him, I retired to the house to see how much damage was done to my legs. Then I put away the brooder. He became the flock gander when he grew up without having to fight Big Mama's mate who retired to baby sitting. But we did not all live happily everafter.

GooseDragon, was your baby was only a week old when you put him out? I would love to have him in the flock. I just can't tell if they want to adopt it or kill it.
I took her (I hope it is a her) outside and held her while walking around them just to see what they would do. They all got up, heads craned and started honking really loud. Followed me everywhere. I finally went in the house because they were really getting loud.
They stood on the doorstep for a few more minutes.
Then there was the window honking when I put her there.
I have 5 adults (2 females) and I don't know that I could grab her quick enough if one of them went for her. I could put her in a cage and see what happens.
Not that I don't mind taking care of her, but it is going to be a long winter and they get pretty smelly after awhile! And I really think that she would be best with the geese.
Ahhh confusion.

A WEEK AND TWO DAYS. it was spring and not all that cold here in NC. It was a open top cage that I put around the brooder in the garage to keep them confined if they should jump out. It helps if you know what your geese are thinking by how they act. mine were upset at first but as they "talked" it became aparent to me that Big Mama who had hatched & brought up the other two females wanted to be a mama again. The gosling showed no fear of her so I assumed they were frendly. I knew she could beat the tar out of her young ones or her mate. If she adopted.the little one was home free. I checked back at least three times between 6-9 and the gosling was always doing fine, though the flock was still mad at me. When you get right down to it, it was a gamble and I wasn't attached to the gosling yet.....

 

[shelleyd2008]

A friend of mine puts her goslings in a pen outside when they are a week or two old, the older geese usually end up adopting the babies.


I've read on here that quite a few people have geese laying right now. It is uncommon, but not impossible. Ducks, on the other hand, are just weird. Mine didn't even start laying last year until probably January, and right now I have a pekin that is setting on a nest she had hidden.

 

[Germaine_11.20]

Hey, that's a good idea Shelley. It is just that it is so cold right now and she is so little.

That is great about your Pekin. Do you think the babies will survive at this time of the year?

 

[shelleyd2008]

Quote:
I sure hope so! I am NOT keeping ducklings in the house during the winter again!!

1-2 weeks in the summer is bad enough!

I plan on putting mama and babies in a pen near the house, and maybe putting a heat light in there as well. Right now all the ducks are just 'on the pond', so I want to make sure the babies can't get to the water when it's 30-40 degrees outside! I figure they'll be fine, as long as they can stay dry.

 

[Germaine_11.20]

They do get stinky quick don't they? I had some Muscovies hatch out and uhhhh. I finally got the nerve to put them in with my Pekin girl and she is taking care of them. Soooo happy about that!