Surviving Minnesota!

[CindyinSD]

I do have a good stapler...

 

[duluthralphie]

Problem solved

 

[CindyinSD]

She’s inside in their brooder now. Not eating or drinking that I can tell. The other three are outside in their temporary coop... a small-but-not-cramped OSB box with a cut-out door. I leaned a piece of heavy siding over the doorway so they get ventilation. They could get out but I don’t get the impression they’ve discovered that yet. Low tonight is supposed to be 42. It’s 38 now. Will they die?

 

[jerryse]

Morning sunny here finally . So yesterday I was being frugal . 2 tires for my truck . Spare tires from 2 trucks my grandson junked . New matched set . Just 15 or so years old . So dismounted from the chevy rims and mounted on my rims . Manual is kind of tough . Balanced . Getting ready for my trip north in June . Got to get the flatbed trailer ready to travel next .

 

[ketojenn]

Good morning! Sunny here and it's supposed to reach 70! I may melt.

Had a very busy weekend, spent most of it cleaning up outside and working on projects. My kids were out helping all day yesterday and we got the brush pile shredded, backyard mowed, trash hauled out, and garden tilled. The little kids surprised me with little gifts throughout the day and tried not to fight or whine too much, two of the big kids texted me, the other was my right hand man all day. It was a good mothers day for me.

I still have a ton of work to get done this week before we leave and now I'm all alone....everyone went back to school or work. Oh well, at least it's quiet.

 

[duluthralphie]

She’s inside in their brooder now. Not eating or drinking that I can tell. The other three are outside in their temporary coop... a small-but-not-cramped OSB box with a cut-out door. I leaned a piece of heavy siding over the doorway so they get ventilation. They could get out but I don’t get the impression they’ve discovered that yet. Low tonight is supposed to be 42. It’s 38 now. Will they die?

I would grab the stapler and put her with the rest so they can huddle. I forget how old she is.

38 is a tad chilly if not fully feathered. but then again it is just a goose......

 

[CindyinSD]

I had to look it up, Ralphie... the geese were hatched around April 1st. So, 6 weeks. It seems longer.

I put the solitary goose back in the garage last night and forced the rest into the scary black shelter, leaned a piece of siding against the door and later went back outside in my pj’s and slipped a seed starter mat under the edge of their box and strung yet another extension cord (I now own enough outdoor extension cords to stock a small hardware supply outpost). When I pulled it out this morning someone was clearly sitting on it. I didn’t want them chewing on the cord, though... I’m not putting it in tonight unless the weather goes north again. AS of 9:30 p.m., it’s 48 degrees. No wind.

Today we bought a bottle of bitter apple spray. Haven’t tried it yet. I put Hanna Belle back in the garage tonight since she’s alone. She has been eating today and I brought her some grass. I bought them some oats. I’m told Holderread recommends this for feather-eating geese. I don’t think any of them ate any yet.

Got the second chicken tractor ready to put wire and tarp on and yes, bought another 100’ extension cord. I put the kinda young chicks (the ones I hatched + a couple from Runnings) into the grow-out coop with their heat plate.

We have grass growing!!! Soon it may be big enough to turn the cows out into it! They’re gonna be sooo excited.

 

[shawluvsbirds]

I had to look it up, Ralphie... the geese were hatched around April 1st. So, 6 weeks. It seems longer.

I put the solitary goose back in the garage last night and forced the rest into the scary black shelter, leaned a piece of siding against the door and later went back outside in my pj’s and slipped a seed starter mat under the edge of their box and strung yet another extension cord (I now own enough outdoor extension cords to stock a small hardware supply outpost). When I pulled it out this morning someone was clearly sitting on it. I didn’t want them chewing on the cord, though... I’m not putting it in tonight unless the weather goes north again. AS of 9:30 p.m., it’s 48 degrees. No wind.

Today we bought a bottle of bitter apple spray. Haven’t tried it yet. I put Hanna Belle back in the garage tonight since she’s alone. She has been eating today and I brought her some grass. I bought them some oats. I’m told Holderread recommends this for feather-eating geese. I don’t think any of them ate any yet.

Got the second chicken tractor ready to put wire and tarp on and yes, bought another 100’ extension cord. I put the kinda young chicks (the ones I hatched + a couple from Runnings) into the grow-out coop with their heat plate.

We have grass growing!!! Soon it may be big enough to turn the cows out into it! They’re gonna be sooo excited.

I have no idea if this is the case with your geese. . but I've seen people say around here that feather eating is a sign that they need more protein in their diet. Maybe give a high protein treat for a few days and see if it helps?

 

[CindyinSD]

Thanks, Shaw! I looked up oats... they seem fairly high protein, for grain. The geese eat their feed (which is for waterfowl) and grass/greens. Hopefully they’ll nibble the oats I mixed in tomorrow.

 

[duluthralphie]

I have no idea if this is the case with your geese. . but I've seen people say around here that feather eating is a sign that they need more protein in their diet. Maybe give a high protein treat for a few days and see if it helps?

Why? She obviously was finding her own treats running around the farm?