The African and Chinese goose thread!!

[stefanie 92]

I just ordered 18 birds for a decent sized pond. 10 african geese and 8 welsh harlequin ducks. All but 1 female duckling arrived safe and sound, she wasnt even in the shipment. As the pond is a good distance away, thenthe the plan is to keep them up here until theyre big enough to defend themselves. We have them safe and secure and my brother is going to build an enclosure to put them in at night when they are grown. We take the dogs to the pond every day so once I train them penning them at night should be easy. Now that theyre here and adorable I worry about leaving them out there even with an enclosure. Do you think I should put the enclosure up here by the house with waterto play in,mm and just let them follow to the pond when we go. Theyre already following me everywhere so having them follow shouldnt be a problem

 

[Miss Lydia]

I just ordered 18 birds for a decent sized pond. 10 african geese and 8 welsh harlequin ducks. All but 1 female duckling arrived safe and sound, she wasnt even in the shipment. As the pond is a good distance away, thenthe the plan is to keep them up here until theyre big enough to defend themselves. We have them safe and secure and my brother is going to build an enclosure to put them in at night when they are grown. We take the dogs to the pond every day so once I train them penning them at night should be easy. Now that theyre here and adorable I worry about leaving them out there even with an enclosure. Do you think I should put the enclosure up here by the house with waterto play in,mm and just let them follow to the pond when we go. Theyre already following me everywhere so having them follow shouldnt be a problem

Babies need to be kept close so you can make sure everyone is warm and safe and eating most use a brooder to do this so they can make sure they are all warm. Give them a few weeks to get their legs under them well then maybe walk down to the pond with them in the mean time make sure your pond doesn't have snapping turtles they will kill and eat young water fowl and maime adults even kill them if the snapper is large enough .Just recently a member allowed their adult geese to take their gosling off to the pond all were eaten but 2 .Adults cannot protect their young from them either. So I'll give you a link to the thread here on BYC on how to care for goslings applies to ducklings too
My goose house duck house are right next to our home just so I know they are safe even though I lock everyone up at night. Geese and ducks herd real well so hopefully you start training when young they will know just what you want them to do when time comes to put them to bed in the evenings.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/a/raising-and-caring-for-goslings
And Welcome to BYC.

 

[Chaneys Ranch]

I agree, We have our goose houses and enclosure right by the house. I do not let them near our pond until they are of good size and well oriented with the adult flock, usually 4-6 months old. Same with the ducks, I have Rouens from march that are still at kiddie pool stage but are nearly as big as my adult pekin. All my waterfowl comingle off breeding season, and the geese help me watch the flocks. our creek dries up frequently so it helps me watch for snappers in the pond.

 

[brandiH]

How'di y'all I've not been on much lately but I have to ask a question is anyone's girls laying right now??? My lil girl started about 3 days ago an has been dropping about 1 egg a day I have not seen any frisky action tho but wasn't sure if this is normal time in got was just a cupple months ago she got her new feathers in she's about 14 months old now

 

[clmschke]

Our goslings first major rainfall

 

[holm25]

My lil' geese r getting so big!!

 

[Miss Lydia]

Our goslings first major rainfall

They look cold. probably aren't but they look it.

 

[Miss Lydia]

How'di y'all I've not been on much lately but I have to ask a question is anyone's girls laying right now??? My lil girl started about 3 days ago an has been dropping about 1 egg a day I have not seen any frisky action tho but wasn't sure if this is normal time in got was just a cupple months ago she got her new feathers in she's about 14 months old now

Mine are just finishing up for the year. they started in late Feb, Usually they lay every other day. She is dif old enough to breed and lay.

 

[Chaneys Ranch]

Pond patrol today.. I caught a BIG snapper following my geese today! I heard the scared sounds, went running over and there it was

Grabbed a shovel and got him, was terrified he would get my gander trying to run it off. It filled the bottom of a laundry basket. We will be eating turtle first time ever in a few days! I put him in a barrel with just enough water to cover, and from what I understand you change the water often until its clear to "purify them". This is the first time I caught one that didn't bite on a stick, had to scoop him into a shovel. Too heavy to pick up by the tail!
It must be that time of year, neighbor saw one a few days ago in his yard also. Think all this heavy rain has them moving too.

 

[Miss Lydia]

Pond patrol today.. I caught a BIG snapper following my geese today! I heard the scared sounds, went running over and there it was

Grabbed a shovel and got him, was terrified he would get my gander trying to run it off. It filled the bottom of a laundry basket. We will be eating turtle first time ever in a few days! I put him in a barrel with just enough water to cover, and from what I understand you change the water often until its clear to "purify them". This is the first time I caught one that didn't bite on a stick, had to scoop him into a shovel. Too heavy to pick up by the tail!
It must be that time of year, neighbor saw one a few days ago in his yard also. Think all this heavy rain has them moving too.

How scary, thankfully you got it. They do get huge when we had flooding here one got washed onto the road it was huge I didn't even know we had snapping turtles in our mt river till then.
Let us know how you go about making turtle soup or what ever you do with them.