Showing Geese at Fair Questions

[Haunted55]

I have what is probably a very silly question but here goes.....I was asked yesterday if I would be interested in placing some of my birds in the show area, or whatever you call it, at a local county fair. Okay.....first thought was "Huh?" I know nothing about any of this stuff. I mean, I think I've gone through the animal barn at a fair......ONCE.. in my life.

They want 4 geese, Toulouse m/f and Embden m/f. 2 Pekins, again male and female, and possibly a pair of my Dark Cornish. Yeah....okay...and just how do I tell if the Toulouse are male and female???? The Embdens are easier, the female's neck is thinner than the males.......I think.

Okay, the questions, what are the pros of doing this? What are the cons? I keep thinking that I'm putting my little flat footed buddies into harms way if I do this. Could they get sick? Could they get hurt? Could they get lost or stolen? Anyone out there who has done this before? What do I need to know?

 

[CelticOaksFarm]

Vent sexing and DNA sexing will tell without a doubt on genders.

Harms way? They may get stressed if they aren't conditioned to being in a cage.

Stolen? No idea, but I would hope the fair had security in order for animals at it.

 

[Haunted55]

Vent sexing and DNA sexing will tell without a doubt on genders.
Harms way? They may get stressed if they aren't conditioned to being in a cage.
Stolen? No idea, but I would hope the fair had security in order for animals at it.

The vent sexing I have never done before and am really hesitant to try it. DNA, where do you get it done? Stress, is there anything i can do now to help this be less of an issue? I have a couple of weeks before the fair. My geese are usually just around myself, husband and our other animals. They are penned at night but not caged. I have been told they will be in wooden stalls/pens next to each other while they are there. I was a helicopter mom with my kids and not much better with my animals, lol. Just something new and unsure if it's the right thing to do.

 

[CelticOaksFarm]

You can google DNA sexing and pick between labs you wish to use and read their guidelines for sample collecting and submission.

Find out what exactly the fair plans to use them for, and pen or cage set up and size. Then replicate the size at home to condition them to it prior to fair.

Our birds all free range all day, and goto their houses at night to be locked up. Aside from morning and evening turn out and feeding chores they wonder their pastures with little supervision from us. They don't really need it. We do have live stock guard dogs on property as well.

 

[Haunted55]

I'll give this a shot and see how it goes. Mine are allowed out of their run to range when I am home, usually everday, and enclosed in their run at night so this would be a major change for them. Thanks for the help!

 

[CelticOaksFarm]

Welcome. You may want to buy some sod to give them in the pens at the fair so they have something to do if they are going for display not to be shown.

 

[Haunted55]

Good one!!! Never thought of that! Thank-you again.

 

[CelticOaksFarm]

Welcome. If I think of anything else I will post. Ohio know what will the water source be? Even a cement mixing pan for daily bathing is better than nothing for them while there.

 

[Haunted55]

Another good one! They do have their pool daily and would miss it I'm sure. I have a couple of those big mixing troughs that some use for animal grains. Now I just have to find out how big their pens will be. I have already decided they will get the same food as they do at home so I plan on being there everyday anyways. I can always come before they [people watching the animals] leave for the night and make sure the geese and ducks are able to bath and get fresh greens. I'll have to dig up the grass from here as I have not been able to find sod anywhere this summer. Not a big seller up here. Plus I'm sure they'll appreciate their 'treat' of rolled oats and sunflower seeds. Shhhhh! We don't tell them it's good for them, lol. You know....even better than the troughs, I have a big rubber waterer I had for the pigs we raised last year. I use that in their pen now for water but I bet the ones left at home won't mind not having it to use for a bit each night as it's water for 'just in case' anyways. Thanks so much for the help!!!! Now I am actually thinking instead of stressing over it all. I never saw this coming and it's just.....strange I guess.

 

[CelticOaksFarm]

if you buy a small trash can you can pre mix the feed and extras you give them and keep it near the display pen with a scoop inside.

Think of it like if you had an emergency and needed to relocate them to a new place for living temporarily. That should help create a list.

Food pan
water source
feed
bedding
greens

transport crate for each pair

any testing the fair may require (that you may or may not already have done)