Toulouse Geese Thread

[livininbrazil]

Missy does this too, and when she is walking around she'll take things that are laying on the ground leaves twigs and such and gather them at her feet like she is thinking nest. But what unuaual is last year they were already mating and she laid her first egg on Jan 31, so far this year no mating[well except for Sammy and the duck] we also had a warm spell last year and they had pool water this year it's way to cold for pool water could that be what it is? Although on not so frigid nights when I'm cleaning up I give them a shallow pan to play and wash in and Sam always hogs it, Missy never gets a chance to get in it. I guess he never heard of ladies first.

Hi MLyd, bigger breeds need water to mate, and Sam qualifies as big! Even my light-weights here mate in the water, I´ve never seen them even try it on land...always in the pond.
Sounds like Sam´s up for it, though!

Would the water in a pool freeze still? Is it still mso cold there? They won´t worry about it just being cold.

Are you going to get in some eggs for Missy if she goes broody, or just see if the two of them can raise some this year?
Not much of a gent, your sam, is he?

 

[Miss Lydia]

Hi MLyd, bigger breeds need water to mate, and Sam qualifies as big! Even my light-weights here mate in the water, I´ve never seen them even try it on land...always in the pond.
Sounds like Sam´s up for it, though!

Would the water in a pool freeze still? Is it still mso cold there? They won´t worry about it just being cold.

Are you going to get in some eggs for Missy if she goes broody, or just see if the two of them can raise some this year?
Not much of a gent, your sam, is he?

Oh yes Sam has tried to convince Missy a couple times but she has said sorry I have a headache. The water would be frozen for sure plus in winter we dont have access to our spring. frozen frozen frozen we have to be careful using our well. but they did mate on dry ground last year. I think she is just waiting on champagne and roses and a hot tub this[ more mature] lol I'm thinking we'll just try theirs first since I've read sometimes 2nd year is better for the goose as far as fertility, hey I bought some ceramic goose eggs to so I can limit the amt of eggs she sits but she'll still be able to have a nest full. My dh isn't too keen on more geese since he knows what ever they hatch I'm going to have a hard time parting with. I know I need to be strong.

 

[kukupecpec]

A goose thing.

Fascinating, aren´t they? I love to just sit and watch mine....

It's so much fun! I love that too, just watching. I usually setup a chair in the chicken coop and sit and watch from there. More comfortab;e since Pom can't sneak up on me! LOL
I let my little ducklings out yesterday to the little puddle the gooseys made with their fresh tub water and manI could watch those little guys play for hours! But I had to get them out of the water and back under their heat lamp before it got too cold.

Sounds like you´ll be getting eggs soon! The ganders often try to choose a nest-site for the goose, but she´s the one to decide. It´d be good if she goes for the little house...One of my ganders helps to incubate the eggs, too...

Oh I hope so! That would be so awesome!
Do geese have a "pullet egg" stage like chickens? My chickens eggs are almost NEVER fertil for the first few months or so after they lay their very first egg. I know you said the second year is better for fertility and wondered if it's sort of the same thing or if they might still hatch. I'm just wondering if I should eat and sell the eggs or if tossing a coupe in the incubator wouldn't be a total waste. I know my family (aunt and uncle, parents and grandparents) are all super excited to have a goose egg. Everyone we know raises chickens it seems so I think they are excited to plop a GIANT egg on the top of their pretty counter eggs haha. I don't know if Trina would sit on them or not. She definitely has ZERO interest in the ducklings, although Pom spends a lot of time hanging out right next to their cage.

Missy does this too, and when she is walking around she'll take things that are laying on the ground leaves twigs and such and gather them at her feet like she is thinking nest. But what unuaual is last year they were already mating and she laid her first egg on Jan 31, so far this year no mating[well except for Sammy and the duck] we also had a warm spell last year and they had pool water this year it's way to cold for pool water could that be what it is? Although on not so frigid nights when I'm cleaning up I give them a shallow pan to play and wash in and Sam always hogs it, Missy never gets a chance to get in it. I guess he never heard of ladies first.

LOL poor Missy! Trina wouldn't stand for that. She just pushes Pom right out of her way. They have both come into themselves so much since getting Pom! I don't know if Trina just grew up, of it having Pom helped her be braver and more assertive, but they are both just so awesome and all grown up now!

 

[Miss Lydia]

It's so much fun! I love that too, just watching. I usually setup a chair in the chicken coop and sit and watch from there. More comfortab;e since Pom can't sneak up on me! LOL
I let my little ducklings out yesterday to the little puddle the gooseys made with their fresh tub water and manI could watch those little guys play for hours! But I had to get them out of the water and back under their heat lamp before it got too cold.

Oh I hope so! That would be so awesome!
Do geese have a "pullet egg" stage like chickens? My chickens eggs are almost NEVER fertil for the first few months or so after they lay their very first egg. I know you said the second year is better for fertility and wondered if it's sort of the same thing or if they might still hatch. I'm just wondering if I should eat and sell the eggs or if tossing a coupe in the incubator wouldn't be a total waste. I know my family (aunt and uncle, parents and grandparents) are all super excited to have a goose egg. Everyone we know raises chickens it seems so I think they are excited to plop a GIANT egg on the top of their pretty counter eggs haha. I don't know if Trina would sit on them or not. She definitely has ZERO interest in the ducklings, although Pom spends a lot of time hanging out right next to their cage.

LOL poor Missy! Trina wouldn't stand for that. She just pushes Pom right out of her way. They have both come into themselves so much since getting Pom! I don't know if Trina just grew up, of it having Pom helped her be braver and more assertive, but they are both just so awesome and all grown up now!

Missy was assertive last year in the mating game and looks like she is control again this year. Sam is a big push over most of the time with her follows her around and waits for her to go into their house of an evening but when it comes to his bath tub it's ever gander or goose or duck for that matter for them selves. But he does monopolize it if I don't chase him out. The last 2-3 nights I have had to put Sam and Missy to bed before the 3 youngest Muscovy's go in he keeps them away from the feed bowl and is just plain a stinker so off to bed they go. Then he stands at the window and talks to me like what did I do? They are like children to me the way they act some times. We need some updated pics of your 2.

 

[kukupecpec]

Missy was assertive last year in the mating game and looks like she is control again this year. Sam is a big push over most of the time with her follows her around and waits for her to go into their house of an evening but when it comes to his bath tub it's ever gander or goose or duck for that matter for them selves. But he does monopolize it if I don't chase him out. The last 2-3 nights I have had to put Sam and Missy to bed before the 3 youngest Muscovy's go in he keeps them away from the feed bowl and is just plain a stinker so off to bed they go. Then he stands at the window and talks to me like what did I do? They are like children to me the way they act some times. We need some updated pics of your 2.

Huh, I wonder if it has to do with mating season? It would be funny to see Trina return to her reserved shy self. I definitely like this version of her best though. She walks away when I walk in her direction, but as soon as I stop walking - sitting, getting food ready, playing with another animal - she come right over to investigate! She also loves to come up to the driveway gate and say hi to everyone who walks by, before just Pom got all up in a huff, Trina would run and hide. She's exploring all over and not so timid about climbing all over things - including pretty well destroying my compost pile little snot.

I need to get new pictures I know! I'm out there ALL the time but I almost always leave my phone inside to charge so I miss all the great photo ops! Soon though! I'm hoping to get a cute one of them swimming in their little tub together.

 

[livininbrazil]

Quote: Personally, I don´t choose to breed my geese the first year, as eggs tend to be small, which means smaller goslings. Also, the first few eggs tend to be infertile. You could try taking most of her eggs for eating, but leave her with a few should she go broody. (mine quite happily sit on 3). It´s just that next year the eggs will be bigger...that´s all. Ganders love baby things more than geese, but she´ll love her own for sure.

 

[livininbrazil]

Oh yes Sam has tried to convince Missy a couple times but she has said sorry I have a headache. The water would be frozen for sure plus in winter we dont have access to our spring. frozen frozen frozen we have to be careful using our well. but they did mate on dry ground last year. I think she is just waiting on champagne and roses and a hot tub this[ more mature] lol I'm thinking we'll just try theirs first since I've read sometimes 2nd year is better for the goose as far as fertility, hey I bought some ceramic goose eggs to so I can limit the amt of eggs she sits but she'll still be able to have a nest full. My dh isn't too keen on more geese since he knows what ever they hatch I'm going to have a hard time parting with. I know I need to be strong.

Oh, you´ll enjoy them if they arrive...dear little gozzies..so sweet...yum...then they grow! Thugs. Bicker, poke the ducks and chickens, cry wolf, shout to tell the whole world you´ve just entered the shed to get their food..(even though I try to sneak in there!) It gets less difficult to sell them when they´re older!

And

on Missy...a goose playing hard-to-get that has taste!

 

[Loghousemom]

i am so excited to have found this thread! Maybe some of your knowledge will rub off on me.

A friend of mine bought a couple goslings last year and dropped them off out here since she lives in town. Ive been raising them with the chickens and one lonely duck that I rescued that had been dumped last year around Easter outside a school in a town about 30 minutes from here.

ANYWAY... The two geese are production Toulouse, best that I can tell. I thought I have had a female and male. The other day I was out and noticed a spot that looked like someone was attempting to make a nest (I suppose 3 days ago.) Yesterday I noticed the nest was deeper and there were three eggs in it! So definately a female out there....

So, I know that these geese do not lay many eggs, and I would really like some to hatch. I am going to crack one that Ive got and see if I can tell if it is fertile or not.

Is there anything that I can do to help ensure they are fertile? Is this abreed that needs a pond for breeding? We live in ND, the water is still frozen outside. I do bring out buckets for them for drinking of course, and they have a little shallow dish for wading, but nothing really they can swim in.

How long do they lay typically? is it an egg a day like a chicken? Is there a special diet I should be giving them now that she is laying?

My hubs is heading out later today to pick up some fresh straw to put out there because the eggs were pretty dirty. Any other ideas? I started reading the thread from the beginning, but wanted to see if I could get a few answers while I am reading back.

Thanks for your advice. I am new to the goose thing (These were brought to me in May last year) and still learning. Thanks!

 

[Miss Lydia]

i am so excited to have found this thread! Maybe some of your knowledge will rub off on me.

A friend of mine bought a couple goslings last year and dropped them off out here since she lives in town. Ive been raising them with the chickens and one lonely duck that I rescued that had been dumped last year around Easter outside a school in a town about 30 minutes from here.

ANYWAY... The two geese are production Toulouse, best that I can tell. I thought I have had a female and male. The other day I was out and noticed a spot that looked like someone was attempting to make a nest (I suppose 3 days ago.) Yesterday I noticed the nest was deeper and there were three eggs in it! So definately a female out there....

So, I know that these geese do not lay many eggs, and I would really like some to hatch. I am going to crack one that Ive got and see if I can tell if it is fertile or not.

Is there anything that I can do to help ensure they are fertile? Is this abreed that needs a pond for breeding? We live in ND, the water is still frozen outside. I do bring out buckets for them for drinking of course, and they have a little shallow dish for wading, but nothing really they can swim in.

How long do they lay typically? is it an egg a day like a chicken? Is there a special diet I should be giving them now that she is laying?

My hubs is heading out later today to pick up some fresh straw to put out there because the eggs were pretty dirty. Any other ideas? I started reading the thread from the beginning, but wanted to see if I could get a few answers while I am reading back.

Thanks for your advice. I am new to the goose thing (These were brought to me in May last year) and still learning. Thanks!

My production Toulouse laid 60 eggs this past year her first year to lay, every other day. I will not let her lay that many this year it was too worrisome so I will let her brood once it warms up a bit, I'm in mountains of NC and if your further north than me i wouldn't let her brood until maybe mid March -April -May especially 1st yr moms they don't always do so good on keeping gosling warm and making sure they are out of the weather etc. as far as nesting be sure to encourage her to nest in a safe place inside of their house or secure barn, because they are way to venerable to be sitting anywhere out in the open with hungry predators running around. My geese mated on dry ground last year but they prefer a pool with water but this time of year is almost impossible to give it too them unless of a warm up. Typical egg laying is usually anytime from Jan through May but sometimes they will even lay in the fall of the year too. I feed my flock and I have Geese /ducks/chickens an all flock feed and offer oyster shell in a separate bowl for my egg layers, then in winter I also buy chopped kale, collards, Romaine lettuce, cabbage heads, I just started growing fodder to help with greens during winter. Your geese and duck are really pretty.

 

[Loghousemom]

Thank you Miss Lydia for your response. and all the info. I think the geese are pretty too! I was sure i would hate having them, especially after their owner just dumped and ran.( I think she has been back 3 times to check on them) but I actually prefer them to the ducks. It seems ducks are way more smelly to me.

I have raised chickens for 3 or 4 years now, and we rescued two half grown ducks last spring. The goslings were bought and dropped in May I believe. I have a large chicken coop where we house 16 hens, 2 roosters 3 adult cats and 3 kittens. When we got the water birds, I cleaned out a small shed (8x10 maybe) That was used for some sort of birds before since it had a roost. I housed my overflow roosters and the goslings and ducklings out there till we sold and butchered the extras. now its just the 3 water birds, but the shed has a heat lamp for added warmth. Our winter has been ridiculous with cold temps. (Last week we had temps of -30 and 60-70 mph winds bringing temps down to the -60's! Tonight it is forecasted to in the -20s. just yesterday it was a gorgeous 40 above. Bipolar weather around these parts!

I have been feeding a fermented feed of a local milled pellet style feed mixed with wheat, cracked corn, rolled oats, alfalfa and mixed screenings. (I have a friend who's husband works at a nearby elevator so I get mixed spills and overflow for cheap!) When they were new babies though I believe I used a store bought game bird feed. They have a bucket (3 gallon) for drinking, but they also have a 24x18 tray that is about 10 inches deep for extra water. I have caught them standing in it a few times and always find the frozen water all over the walls of the shed.

I know picture of the geese doesn't show them well, and it was way too cold today to get a good photo, and this was the most recent that I had. But one is larger and has the higher pitched squack than the other. He is also the one who hisses most often at the cats and dogs if they move into his space. so I always assumed he was the gander.

So my next question is, do those large eggs above look as though they maybe came from two different geese? After looking more closely, now I wonder? for comparison, I added my blue egg from my superblue layers and one from my welsummer who lays a large egg. I was quite certain the Pekin is a male as he had the curly tail feathers. But I wonder now if maybe it is 2 geese and no gander.... though to be honest, when I noticed the nest, I didn't think to dig in it and see if there was something under that top layer of straw.