Toulouse Geese Thread

[Carrosaur]

Personally I would be afraid to hatch in the winter, because I don't think you could really let them out until they had all of their feathers. If you do, take them inside, just in case mamma goose can't keep them all warm enough.

 

[BarkingChickens]

Thanks, that's what I thought.. Just wasn't sure if they could handle the cold.. Should I just keep taking her eggs away or do I wait til she lays a full nest and then take them all away at once?

 

[Carrosaur]

Take them away all at once I think? Unless she isn't sitting well.

 

[jtn42248]

I NEED A BIGGER POOL!!! Lydia decided that she needed a little "action" this a.m. and coaxed Sting into responding. They were giving it the old college try but the kiddie pools is just too small I guess and Sting kept falling off and finally actually fell out of the pool. He still stood up and gave is victory cry but Lydia walked off to the food dish in disgust. So, short of actually having to dig and install a pond what are my alternatives for getting more of a mating environment for them?

 

[Miss Lydia]

I NEED A BIGGER POOL!!! Lydia decided that she needed a little "action" this a.m. and coaxed Sting into responding. They were giving it the old college try but the kiddie pools is just too small I guess and Sting kept falling off and finally actually fell out of the pool. He still stood up and gave is victory cry but Lydia walked off to the food dish in disgust. So, short of actually having to dig and install a pond what are my alternatives for getting more of a mating environment for them?

I have the largest kiddy pool made and all 4 of my geese can get into it at one time. Poor Sting how embarrassing lol I paid $15 for this pool a couple years ago and it was flimsy so I had to go back and get another to put one inside the other now it stand up and the birds can actually stand on the lip. I put it up for winter though, 30.00 is kinds steep for me to lose it to cracking. It's held up real good though. You could probably keep one out most of winter there. Also you might want to look at TSC or other feeds stores they make pretty big livestock tanks too. mine is 110 gal. which isn't large enough for 4 geese but they come larger than that.

 

[jtn42248]

I have the largest kiddy pool made and all 4 of my geese can get into it at one time. Poor Sting how embarrassing lol I paid $15 for this pool a couple years ago and it was flimsy so I had to go back and get another to put one inside the other now it stand up and the birds can actually stand on the lip. I put it up for winter though, 30.00 is kinds steep for me to lose it to cracking. It's held up real good though. You could probably keep one out most of winter there. Also you might want to look at TSC or other feeds stores they make pretty big livestock tanks too. mine is 110 gal. which isn't large enough for 4 geese but they come larger than that.

I have to go in to Tractor Supply this week anyway to get feed, etc. so will check what they have that I would still be able to empty and the geese could get in and out of without killing themselves. They had a nice one a couple of months ago (about 2.5 feet wide, 5 or 6 feet long and 2.5 feet deep) and it had a drain on the bottom of it. It was on sale too...I should have bought it then. Also, they have larger back yard pools but they were all inflatable and I thought they would pop or get poked by the toe nails of the geese. I wish I could install a pond (what in West Texas is referred to as a tank) with some Catfish to control insects but that would cost a fortune.

 

[Miss Lydia]

I have to go in to Tractor Supply this week anyway to get feed, etc. so will check what they have that I would still be able to empty and the geese could get in and out of without killing themselves. They had a nice one a couple of months ago (about 2.5 feet wide, 5 or 6 feet long and 2.5 feet deep) and it had a drain on the bottom of it. It was on sale too...I should have bought it then. Also, they have larger back yard pools but they were all inflatable and I thought they would pop or get poked by the toe nails of the geese. I wish I could install a pond (what in West Texas is referred to as a tank) with some Catfish to control insects but that would cost a fortune.

It would be expensive, I am pretty sure some of the larger stock tanks have drains. and you could always build an nice ramp or deck to go around I have seen some on the duck thread. I had my dh cut around our stock tank to make it not so high when my drake decided to jump from the side instead of using the ramp, he limped for a week. This large kiddy pool i have is just like the smaller version they sell at Walmart hard plastic but I was so disappointed in the one side collapsing when i filled it the reason I had to go buy another one. Things are just made so junky anymore, but the price isn't.

 

[jtn42248]

It would be expensive, I am pretty sure some of the larger stock tanks have drains. and you could always build an nice ramp or deck to go around I have seen some on the duck thread. I had my dh cut around our stock tank to make it not so high when my drake decided to jump from the side instead of using the ramp, he limped for a week. This large kiddy pool i have is just like the smaller version they sell at Walmart hard plastic but I was so disappointed in the one side collapsing when i filled it the reason I had to go buy another one. Things are just made so junky anymore, but the price isn't.

I could do a shallow pond myself but in order to have one deep enough to have fish and establish an eco-system that would deal with the duck waste would not be cheap I am sure. I will try to find a stock tank that will work or will go for large kiddie pool like you have done.

 

[Miss Lydia]

I could do a shallow pond myself but in order to have one deep enough to have fish and establish an eco-system that would deal with the duck waste would not be cheap I am sure. I will try to find a stock tank that will work or will go for large kiddie pool like you have done.

Simplest and dif less expensive. But not near as pretty, but it would have to be pretty large of a pond to handle the goose poop. lol Mine don't seem to mind a bit using the pool they have a good time in it. I am the one that drools when we drive by someones pond, and then there is not a single duck or goose on it.

What's a pond without water fowl??

 

[jtn42248]

Simplest and dif less expensive. But not near as pretty, but it would have to be pretty large of a pond to handle the goose poop. lol Mine don't seem to mind a bit using the pool they have a good time in it. I am the one that drools when we drive by someones pond, and then there is not a single duck or goose on it.

What's a pond without water fowl??

My feelings exactly. There is a really nice pond directly across the highway from us that is used only for cattle plus they have water in stock tanks all over the place and have water trucked in for those. I am often tempted to heard my ducks and geese across for a swim. But the highway is pretty busy and I know they have snapping turtles in their tank because some of them have crossed the road to get to us for some reason. Oh well, Sting and Lydia (and Pauline) will have to make do with what I can afford. The ducks do fine with their kiddie pool and the Cayugas will be "mature" in a week so look out. We may have little black ducklings running around before winter sets in.