The African and Chinese goose thread!!

[Chaneys Ranch]

we are very well in to winter here its been at most 65 ish in the day but down in the low 40s mid 30s at night an shes just layin like crazy

Thats so crazy! Congrats tho, the eggs are wonderful for baked goods

My DH loves them fried up too. A large goose egg is equal to 3-4 chicken eggs in a recipe. Our winters are single digits in January/February usually. Its been rather warm compared to normal this year, and we are seeing a lot of pairing off already. My neighbors geese are even visiting! They keep american buffs. We have also had several canadian become more social with my geese. We have a hillside/pasture area that they graze and "socialize" with the other birds. The pond is big enough that it invites wild geese and ducks.

 

[Chaneys Ranch]

OK, my youngest Embden hen is still laying.. march hatch. Found her on the nest while I was doing my weekly cleaning! And hissing like a snake.

Skipped the goose house, and did it last. Yeppers, another egg. No way am I hatching this time of year but DANG this is crazy! Another month and my Chinese will be starting to lay again. I bet she stops by then...maybe? Now I wish I would have kept count. I do give my geese oyster shell, and will leave her some alfalfa by the nest too. If she lays in the spring, this lil goose will be allowed to brood. Have a strong feeling she is going to be a good, determined mother.

 

[Miss Lydia]

OK, my youngest Embden hen is still laying.. march hatch. Found her on the nest while I was doing my weekly cleaning! And hissing like a snake.

Skipped the goose house, and did it last. Yeppers, another egg. No way am I hatching this time of year but DANG this is crazy! Another month and my Chinese will be starting to lay again. I bet she stops by then...maybe? Now I wish I would have kept count. I do give my geese oyster shell, and will leave her some alfalfa by the nest too. If she lays in the spring, this lil goose will be allowed to brood. Have a strong feeling she is going to be a good, determined mother.

So many having their geese laying early, so far nothing from mine guess they'll wait till "normal time" which seems to be changing as we speak..

Merry Christmas jchny2000

 

[Chaneys Ranch]

Quote:
Merry Christmas to you too @Miss Lydia looking forward to the goslings this year

 

[brandiH]

Ok so I busted my feather heads doing only what I can think to have getting busy. Lol they were in the pond at the time it looked like he was going to drown her

at first. I panicked an yelled at them then realized o I think they were getting busy lol IV never seen matting so it was a first is it normal for them to mate in the water? Can he drown her in shut this is a silly question that might get an eye roll or 2 but rather ask then not thanks all hope everyone. Had a great holiday.

 

[jtn42248]

Ok so I busted my feather heads doing only what I can think to have getting busy. Lol they were in the pond at the time it looked like he was going to drown her

at first. I panicked an yelled at them then realized o I think they were getting busy lol IV never seen matting so it was a first is it normal for them to mate in the water? Can he drown her in shut this is a silly question that might get an eye roll or 2 but rather ask then not thanks all hope everyone. Had a great holiday.

Not a silly question at all. Yes, they do need water to breed in. Yes, it is possible, but VERY unlikely that he could drown her. After all is over and done with he may give a victory honk and she may splash around like she is bathing. I know the first time I saw this behavior I thought the same thing but geese have been mating this way for centuries and they have found no reason to change. If you think that is something you should see ducks mate. They make goose mating seem gently and romantic in comparison.

 

[K Epp]

I got a goose egg last week. I thought it was odd. She hasn't laid since she went broody last summer. The ducks are laying too. Glad I'm not the only one with such strange going ons.

 

[Chaneys Ranch]

They are acting like its spring. All sorts of mating, and the waterfowl are staying in the pond, even at night! They wont even go into the coops to eat, its been warmish enough they are feeding off the taller grasses left by the pasture areas. My goose hen is laying every other day. She will come all the way back to the goose house to her nest.
Sorely tempting to start hatching. I have set my LO and NN eggs to go into the incubator this weekend. both are laying regularly, and super pleased about it. My Modern game bantam hen has also started laying, absolutely setting those eggs.

 

[K Epp]

My goose was a rescue. She has angel wing. I only have the one goose, but she hatched and hangs out with the ducks. I've thought about getting a gander to go with her. Will he hurt her when he breeds her? Would it be better to get another goose or should I leave well enough alone.

 

[Chaneys Ranch]

My goose was a rescue. She has angel wing. I only have the one goose, but she hatched and hangs out with the ducks. I've thought about getting a gander to go with her. Will he hurt her when he breeds her? Would it be better to get another goose or should I leave well enough alone.

You can help her angel wing when she molts, use the vet wrap and bandage her wing against her body for a week. Good chance it will reverse itself, I have had good luck with it even in adults.
She would probably really appreciate a goose or gander buddy, but its not necessary. Ganders are super protective and very doting to their hens, I have never seen one abusive to a goose in the breeds I keep, unlike some duck and chicken breeds.