Toulouse Geese Thread

[atmaclean]

Hello there! My name is Angela and yesterday we rescued a female goose from a busy road. Her mate had been killed by a vehicle and she was not going to last very long. We don't know how old she is. She did have a nest nearby with 4 eggs in it and we also brought her eggs along with her. Her feathers appear to be in poor shape and she has a thin area of skin hanging down between her legs. The little bit of information we were able to get from some nearby folks was that they were strays who had arrived in the area and had been just living on whatever they could find to eat - chicken food, dog food, etc. I settled her in our chicken coop last night and she did fine. She is staying right around our house, thank goodness. Fortunately, we are a mile off of any roads on 50 acres. Our chickens and guinea hens free range (up at night) and we have 2 LGDs who guard them. My question for those of you with Toulouse experience are as follows.... Is that thin skin hanging down between her legs normal? Her feathers appear very rough and are breaking, what should we feed her to help her condition improve? Anything else I should do for her to make her comfortable? I am currently incubating 3 Chinese goose eggs so eventually, she will have some friends. She seems to be sleeping with 1 of our LGDs and our cat which seems odd, but we don't mind. I have no idea what to do with the 4 eggs we brought with her. I don't know how to make a "goose nest box". Thanks so much for any helpful info!!
Angela and "Highway" the goose

 

[Carrosaur]

Yep completely normal, it's called a lobe, they use it to cover the eggs better.

 

[atmaclean]

OK. Thank you. That is a relief. We are going to go out to look for her some proper food shortly.

 

[Miss Lydia]

OK. Thank you. That is a relief. We are going to go out to look for her some proper food shortly.

@atmaclean they love to graze so hopefully with 50 acres she'll have grass to forage on plus they can eat chicken feed too. She doesn't look very unhealthy from the pics. so some good feed and TLC and she should be fine. You could put the eggs in your bator because most likely she'll not get back on them. She'll also probably take to your goslings when they hatch they have wonderful parental skills. You could candle the eggs and maybe able to tell how far along they are.

Bless you for rescuing her.

 

[atmaclean]

I did go ahead and put them in the incubator. I candled them last night but didn't see any development. Thanks s much for the info. They must be hearty birds to have survived where they were. And yes, we have plenty of pasture where she can graze

 

[RichardKutz]

Decided to order 3 toulouse goslings from Cackle Hatchery. I would have ordered from Ideal Poultry because they're much cheaper, but they were sold out until next year and I wanted some this year. They should be here by the end of next week since they aren't expected to hatch until the 13th. The waiting is going to drive me crazy.

 

[Carrosaur]

Decided to order 3 toulouse goslings from Cackle Hatchery. I would have ordered from Ideal Poultry because they're much cheaper, but they were sold out until next year and I wanted some this year. They should be here by the end of next week since they aren't expected to hatch until the 13th. The waiting is going to drive me crazy.

I ordered a trio of Toulouse three years ago from Cackle

 

[Miss Lydia]

Decided to order 3 toulouse goslings from Cackle Hatchery. I would have ordered from Ideal Poultry because they're much cheaper, but they were sold out until next year and I wanted some this year. They should be here by the end of next week since they aren't expected to hatch until the 13th. The waiting is going to drive me crazy.

Your going to love them. Look forward to pics!!

 

[RichardKutz]

Your going to love them. Look forward to pics!!

. I had some toulouse when I was 8 years old. I'm 30 now, so it's been quite a while. I've mostly raised ducks as pets since then. Although I did raise some African geese a few years ago. They were great pets for myself because they imprinted on me, but they were very aggressive towards my family, friends, visitors, or any other animal in the yard. I chose toulouse because I got the itch to raise some more geese, but I wanted to raise a more gentle and docile breed that my family and friends could also enjoy. It's a bit pricey for me to buy from a hatchery, but all the stores in the area only carry Chinese and African geese. So a hatchery it was. Anyway, thanks. There will be pics.

 

[jtn42248]

. I had some toulouse when I was 8 years old. I'm 30 now, so it's been quite a while. I've mostly raised ducks as pets since then. Although I did raise some African geese a few years ago. They were great pets for myself because they imprinted on me, but they were very aggressive towards my family, friends, visitors, or any other animal in the yard. I chose toulouse because I got the itch to raise some more geese, but I wanted to raise a more gentle and docile breed that my family and friends could also enjoy. It's a bit pricey for me to buy from a hatchery, but all the stores in the area only carry Chinese and African geese. So a hatchery it was. Anyway, thanks. There will be pics.

I have eleven and love them all...except during breeding season which is just ending now...They are beautiful birds and great to have around. Mine get aggressive toward my chickens and ducks so they have their own 3 acres to roam on. I think you will really enjoy them. Look forward to the pictures.