Toulouse Geese Thread

[Miss Lydia]

I'm so excited. I could hear peeping in at least 1 of the 3 eggs the goose has been sitting on. Tuesday will be 30 days give or take. Woohoo. I was worried they wouldn't do anything. I still won't count my goose before they hatch though lol.

Yay, keep us updated on progress.

 

[Alaskan Dragonfly]

I think Gerdie may be done laying for the season... she gave me 26 eggs total, and she hasn't laid any in almost a week now, after being regular every 36 hours this spring. 26 isn't bad for her first year!

 

[gryeyes]

My three Toulouse baby girls are a hoot! Well, lotsa hoots. I can hear what they're up to by the tone and cadence of their hoots as they explore their world.

They can now get into and out of their kiddie pool without the steps I created out of flat rocks. They navigate the two steps down into the garden off the deck with only a little extra effort. They have gone exploring in the garden (plants are already protected from the chickens) and also "deeper" into the house.

My second bedroom has always been the "Incubator and brooder" room. When I moved the Toulouse girls out onto the deck, they were quite happy with those accommodations. There is a broody hen with four chicks, and a separate brooder with a Cinco De Mayo turkey poult, five "tutor" chicks hatched with it, and the 8 "packing peanut" BR chicks (cockerels) shipped with the goslings, all in the second bedroom.

Yesterday afternoon, I was startled by a parade of goslings into the living room. They just wanted to see me, I guess, because after I acknowledged their presence, they turned and waddled back into the Nursery and back through the door onto their deck.

For the most part, they no longer scream like I am an ax-murderer when I pick 'em up. Maybe a short squeal, but then they calm down.

Ariel is no longer obviously smaller than Dora. Zoe is still the largest gosling. Zoe remains less fixated by the pool water than the other two; Ariel continues to swim like a mermaid and remain in the pool after the other girls get out of it.

They did not like the change from fine chick starter (with added Brewer's yeast) to all-purpose crumbles. So I mix the two together. The goslings make a slurry out of their feed dropped into the waterer; I have discovered the chicks love this stuff, so I pour it into a small dish when I refill the waterer. The slurry doesn't go to waste. The goslings ignore that dish to make more slurry in the tray portion of the waterer. They actually push the stuff with their bills to drink less mucked up water. Oh well, chicks think that's great stuff.

Angus has been seen trying to open the garden gate. He used to be fascinated by Penelope and her nine chicks, but now he keeps his eye on the goslings as much as he is able. I am curious to see what will happen when I take the goslings out into the yard for a walk to show them more of the property: the Main coop, the grow out coops, the terraces and <I><*drum roll*></I> the 10 by 15 foot pond.

 

[Miss Lydia]

I think Gerdie may be done laying for the season... she gave me 26 eggs total, and she hasn't laid any in almost a week now, after being regular every 36 hours this spring. 26 isn't bad for her first year!

Well don't be surprised if she doesn't start back laying, Missy took off a couple weeks her first rest then started back then she took off another week and I thought for sure she was through, she started back again and now has 6 eggs in her stall I left them hoping she would go broody and cut this egg laying out, we're at a grand total of 57 now.

 

[Miss Lydia]

My three Toulouse baby girls are a hoot! Well, lotsa hoots.

I can hear what they're up to by the tone and cadence of their hoots as they explore their world.

They can now get into and out of their kiddie pool without the steps I created out of flat rocks. They navigate the two steps down into the garden off the deck with only a little extra effort. They have gone exploring in the garden (plants are already protected from the chickens) and also "deeper" into the house.

My second bedroom has always been the "Incubator and brooder" room. When I moved the Toulouse girls out onto the deck, they were quite happy with those accommodations. There is a broody hen with four chicks, and a separate brooder with a Cinco De Mayo turkey poult, five "tutor" chicks hatched with it, and the 8 "packing peanut" BR chicks (cockerels) shipped with the goslings, all in the second bedroom.

Yesterday afternoon, I was startled by a parade of goslings into the living room. They just wanted to see me, I guess, because after I acknowledged their presence, they turned and waddled back into the Nursery and back through the door onto their deck.

For the most part, they no longer scream like I am an ax-murderer when I pick 'em up. Maybe a short squeal, but then they calm down.

Ariel is no longer obviously smaller than Dora. Zoe is still the largest gosling. Zoe remains less fixated by the pool water than the other two; Ariel continues to swim like a mermaid and remain in the pool after the other girls get out of it.

They did not like the change from fine chick starter (with added Brewer's yeast) to all-purpose crumbles. So I mix the two together. The goslings make a slurry out of their feed dropped into the waterer; I have discovered the chicks love this stuff, so I pour it into a small dish when I refill the waterer. The slurry doesn't go to waste. The goslings ignore that dish to make more slurry in the tray portion of the waterer. They actually push the stuff with their bills to drink less mucked up water. Oh well, chicks think that's great stuff.

Angus has been seen trying to open the garden gate. He used to be fascinated by Penelope and her nine chicks, but now he keeps his eye on the goslings as much as he is able. I am curious to see what will happen when I take the goslings out into the yard for a walk to show them more of the property: the Main coop, the grow out coops, the terraces and <*drum roll*> the 10 by 15 foot pond.

Anticipation is mounting, I hope you take lots of pics, actually where are the pics?

 

[RugenerGooser]

You may have to wait till next spring now most geese are at the end of mating season, well almost all my 2 are still at it and my goose Missy laid her 55 th egg today. And this is her first year.

The ones I have checked haven't been fertile. Which I understand isn't that unusual for first year layers.

Are you making a trip to walmart this week too, Miss Lydia? I am trying to get non-contagious here with this darn stuff I am fighting off. Switched to Cipro. That will get it. I am trying for Thursday. I want to get the nuts, seeds and berries RURU was talking about. 105 today...Shower fun outside. Dressed in the long clothes again, so I stay cool. Something I learned actually works from the Patriarchs. Who knew? Cotton and linen work the best. Good vented straw cowboy hat. I don't wear the beaver felt in the heat. I only feel really yucky in the morning and at night. This too will pass. My girls are still at it over here...Mercy! STOPPIT!

 

[Miss Lydia]

Are you making a trip to walmart this week too, Miss Lydia? I am trying to get non-contagious here with this darn stuff I am fighting off. Switched to Cipro. That will get it. I am trying for Thursday. I want to get the nuts, seeds and berries RURU was talking about. 105 today...Shower fun outside. Dressed in the long clothes again, so I stay cool. Something I learned actually works from the Patriarchs. Who knew? Cotton and linen work the best. Good vented straw cowboy hat. I don't wear the beaver felt in the heat. I only feel really yucky in the morning and at night. This too will pass. My girls are still at it over here...Mercy! STOPPIT!

Aww RG#2 sorry your not feeling well, Cipro is powerful stuff be sure to eat your yogurt to keep the nasties away.

Was going to go to Walmart today but plans got changed, so it will be later in the week. I did get kale at the grocery store and even though this wasn't her night to go in early because she lays over night she went in early anyway and is laying on her eggs. I love cotton and linen I hate anything synthetic. Stay cool. Ours girls are way to over the top.

 

[pagumby]

2 of the goslings hatched. She had them outside today. So cute trying to walk!! Any chance the last egg will hatch at this point? When should I take it or will she kick it away?

Best shot I could get for now.

 

[Alaskan Dragonfly]

2 of the goslings hatched. She had them outside today. So cute trying to walk!! Any chance the last egg will hatch at this point? When should I take it or will she kick it away?



Best shot I could get for now.

Oh my goodness that's cute!

 

[Miss Lydia]

2 of the goslings hatched. She had them outside today. So cute trying to walk!! Any chance the last egg will hatch at this point? When should I take it or will she kick it away?



Best shot I could get for now.

So she has gotten off the last egg and had the babies out for a field trip? have you examined the egg candled it?