The African and Chinese goose thread!!

[JanetMarie]

I am so exited to hear it! Geese will forage naturally if they have a good pasture available. Mine use little feed from spring to fall, aside from what I offer the brooding goose. I allow them free range during the day and they have a large pond fed by a stream. Aside from our live stock pasture they have at least 4 acres of mixed clover and orchard grass.

We have a large foraging area, and a pond. Currently working on another pond that will connect the two ponds with a waterfall. They'll be happy.

 

[NathanZee]

I am so exited to hear it! Geese will forage naturally if they have a good pasture available. Mine use little feed from spring to fall, aside from what I offer the brooding goose. I allow them free range during the day and they have a large pond fed by a stream. Aside from our live stock pasture they have at least 4 acres of mixed clover and orchard grass.

Its very important to leave her alone at lockdown. Any interference could cause a shrink wrapped gosling, and then you will have to assist the hatch. Its hard to do but be totally hands off. As far as humidity she will manage it herself. Her instincts tell her if its ok to leave the nest. Once hatching begins she won't. I would put a cheap kiddie pool where she can get to it, but not anywhere near the nest. Gosling can drown if they can't get out of a water source. I also put pebbles in the waterer so the goslings won't drown with a deep water plate. If you offer a bucket with water also keep it away from the nest.

Okay, I will. Sunday will be day 28 I believe, so does lockdown start on day 25, which would be today? The problem is that her nest is in a small pen inside the barn, there isn't room for a pool in there. Could she be able to get herself wet enough with a gallon bucket? She has a bucket just close enough to her now to drink, but she never splashes it, she just drinks out of it.

 

[Chaneys Ranch]

Quote: That works. As long as she can dunk her head, thats the most important thing. She needs to clear her nasal passages. Be very cautious that the baby geese don't fall in and drown. I warn about it because its happened here. For the babies water, just provide a regular chicken style waterer or shallow dish. Be sure to put pebbles in it in case they are still wobbly and fall into it. Finding a baby goose drowned made me extremely careful about a water supply. after the first week, they are sure footed, and the pebbles can be removed.
Yes, lockdown day 25. The goslings may not hatch until day 30, I have had 4 days late before. As hard as it is, hands off so they don't get shrink wrapped. I still get so nervous after day 25, I have a clear door on the incubator so I can see EVERYTHING happening in there. For my broody girls, I write down when one has sat more than 24 hours.. thats the day one. I try to sneak and candle around day 14 and day 24 to avoid rotten eggs.

 

[NathanZee]

That works. As long as she can dunk her head, thats the most important thing. She needs to clear her nasal passages. Be very cautious that the baby geese don't fall in and drown. I warn about it because its happened here. For the babies water, just provide a regular chicken style waterer or shallow dish. Be sure to put pebbles in it in case they are still wobbly and fall into it. Finding a baby goose drowned made me extremely careful about a water supply. after the first week, they are sure footed, and the pebbles can be removed.
Yes, lockdown day 25. The goslings may not hatch until day 30, I have had 4 days late before. As hard as it is, hands off so they don't get shrink wrapped. I still get so nervous after day 25, I have a clear door on the incubator so I can see EVERYTHING happening in there. For my broody girls, I write down when one has sat more than 24 hours.. thats the day one. I try to sneak and candle around day 14 and day 24 to avoid rotten eggs.

Sounds good. The pail is raised up so there is no way they can get in. If we use a little chick waterer will they still need pebbles? I know I'll be nervous, but I won't get her up! We candled the eggs on day 23 or 24, they were doing great! When they hatch we are planning to move them all into a separate coop, how long after they hatch do you think we should wait?

 

[Chaneys Ranch]

Quote:
Oh yes, the first week a chick waterer is fine. Glad to hear they are all developing! Wait a couple days so she has bonded to her babies. Daddy may need to be moved with them, just watch how he interacts. If she is hissing and running him off, then she doesn't want him near the goslings. That's very rare, most ganders are excellent dads.
My Embden isn't, and I don't allow those geese to brood anymore, I take their eggs. The hens will brood, but don't protect and care for the goslings. The gander will harm them, just doesn't seem to understand its his babies. I keep the breed since they protect my mallard flock from aerial predators.

 

[NathanZee]

Oh yes, the first week a chick waterer is fine. Glad to hear they are all developing! Wait a couple days so she has bonded to her babies. Daddy may need to be moved with them, just watch how he interacts. If she is hissing and running him off, then she doesn't want him near the goslings. That's very rare, most ganders are excellent dads.
My Embden isn't, and I don't allow those geese to brood anymore, I take their eggs. The hens will brood, but don't protect and care for the goslings. The gander will harm them, just doesn't seem to understand its his babies. I keep the breed since they protect my mallard flock from aerial predators.

Okay. We are planning on moving both parents with the goslings. I don't think she will hiss at him, he sleeps beside her every night and stands by her most of the day. And when a cat or anything is close he defends her far more viciously than when she wasn't on the nest.

 

[Chaneys Ranch]

Quote: All the makings of an excellent gander! See how he interacts with the goslings and you will know. Mom will normally be very cautious even with Dad. When moving day comes, you want to separate the babies so they are not stepped on by the parents. I lure the adults away with a favorite treat, and block off the goslings. Then I move gander first, goose and then the babies I gather, move and release to run to Mom. I have a larger flock so usually there are more birds involved, but the trampling risk is there anytime you move broody geese and goslings. The babies need to be sure footed to be able to move if an adult may step towards them in a defensive state of mind. As always, I share this due to personal experiences. Your geese, if frightened or confused may trample a gosling unknowingly.

 

[gander007]

Sunday 15 May 2016 4:33 AM


Well the guinea roo's are yapping away but staying on their roost but the gaggle was hiding in the corner of the yard so I got a long stick in one hand and a side by side stage coach model 12 gauge with a flash light mounted under the barrels just for home protection and I started maneuvering the gaggle around the yard till we got to one corner of the yard where some bushes are and then I let the gaggle go back to hiding and I started beating the bushes with the stick for several minuets then I hit the correct spot and out ran a Bob Cat and this took about one second and off went the first trigger and it twisted and missed the small space between the fences where it was to make its escape and I can not stand to see an animal in pain as it was only doing what is natural and trying to find something to eat so I fired the other barrel and it was all over and I came to a reality the 45 years ago hip shots were so much easer and my wrist never hurt before and I was only using 3" #4 coyote shot .

I wish I had a "HQ" Tactical Light with them fancy mounts for the light to be mounted to the barrel back in the 1960's when I was young and had a regular need for it but now I do all my varmint hunting in the front yard about 20' at most from the porch .


Well it is getting close to 5AM and the roo's are back to a constant crowing contest so their universe must be safe again and when the sun comes up I will have to go clean up the mess or none of the poultry will go with in 20' of the carcass .


Oh no animals were lost this evening .

 

[Patriciaallison]

Sunday 15 May 2016 4:33 AM

What a night! I'm glad your animals are ok!
P

Well the guinea roo's are yapping away but staying on their roost but the gaggle was hiding in the corner of the yard so I got a long stick in one hand and a side by side stage coach model 12 gauge with a flash light mounted under the barrels just for home protection and I started maneuvering the gaggle around the yard till we got to one corner of the yard where some bushes are and then I let the gaggle go back to hiding and I started beating the bushes with the stick for several minuets then I hit the correct spot and out ran a Bob Cat and this took about one second and off went the first trigger and it twisted and missed the small space between the fences where it was to make its escape and I can not stand to see an animal in pain as it was only doing what is natural and trying to find something to eat so I fired the other barrel and it was all over and I came to a reality the 45 years ago hip shots were so much easer and my wrist never hurt before and I was only using 3" #4 coyote shot .

I wish I had a "HQ" Tactical Light with them fancy mounts for the light to be mounted to the barrel back in the 1960's   when I was young and had a regular need for it but now I do all my varmint hunting in the front yard about 20' at most from the porch .


Well it is getting close to 5AM and the roo's are back to a constant crowing contest so their universe must be safe again and when the sun comes up I will have to go clean up the mess or none of the poultry will go with in 20' of the carcass .


Oh no animals were lost this evening .     

 

[Chaneys Ranch]

Sunday 15 May 2016 4:33 AM


Well the guinea roo's are yapping away but staying on their roost but the gaggle was hiding in the corner of the yard so I got a long stick in one hand and a side by side stage coach model 12 gauge with a flash light mounted under the barrels just for home protection and I started maneuvering the gaggle around the yard till we got to one corner of the yard where some bushes are and then I let the gaggle go back to hiding and I started beating the bushes with the stick for several minuets then I hit the correct spot and out ran a Bob Cat and this took about one second and off went the first trigger and it twisted and missed the small space between the fences where it was to make its escape and I can not stand to see an animal in pain as it was only doing what is natural and trying to find something to eat so I fired the other barrel and it was all over and I came to a reality the 45 years ago hip shots were so much easer and my wrist never hurt before and I was only using 3" #4 coyote shot .

I wish I had a "HQ" Tactical Light with them fancy mounts for the light to be mounted to the barrel back in the 1960's when I was young and had a regular need for it but now I do all my varmint hunting in the front yard about 20' at most from the porch .


Well it is getting close to 5AM and the roo's are back to a constant crowing contest so their universe must be safe again and when the sun comes up I will have to go clean up the mess or none of the poultry will go with in 20' of the carcass .


Oh no animals were lost this evening .

Ugh.. I am fighting fox, raccoon and owl right now. Geese are fine, but fox ripped into an older coop and wiped out my chocolate orpington. The owls picked off several of my guinea, the wild ones that were dumped off here last year. I have all my birds confined, but the geese still free range during the day.